Toxicities of hydrazines: a review

The toxic properties of sixty carcinogenic hydrazines are reviewed and presented. Many of these chemicals are synthesized by man and used in industry, agriculture and medicine, while others occur in nature as ingredients of fungi and plants. The human population is, therefore, exposed to them to a considerable degree. These compounds, in addition to being carcinogens, have toxic effects in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, nervous, lymphoreticular, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal systems, etc., of 15 animal species and man. Because they caused toxic damage in practically every organ and tissue, earlier claims concerning their tissue specificity are discounted. Their hazardous properties deserve careful attention.