Toxicity of hexamethylenediamine.

Hexamethylendiamine (HMDA; CAS No. 124-09-4; 6055-52-3 for the dihydrochloride salt) is moderately toxic following acute doses/exposures with oral lethal doses in rats ranging from 750 to 1500 mg/kg. HMDA is extremely irritating to the skin and eyes and is not a sensitizer in guinea pigs. Repeated exposure inhalation studies have defined the upper respiratory tract to be the first target of HMDA. The irritation seen is proportional to the exposure concentration. Systemic damage is limited. Genetic testing is not extensive, but there is no indication of activity. HMDA is neither a developmental nor a reproductive toxin, but in one developmental study, the fetal No-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was lower than that of the maternal animal. No carcinogenicity studies have been conducted. Documented human experience is limited, but indications of HMDA's irritative properties are found in the literature. HMDA does not persist or bioaccumulate in the environment. The chemical is not particularly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates but is quite toxic to algae. HMDA is rapidly absorbed and metabolized by the rat with little tissue storage.