Biological Effects of Acetamide, Formamide, and Their Mono and Dimethyl Derivatives: An Update

An updated review of the toxicity of acetamide and formamide and their analogs, N-monomethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-monomethylformamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide (MMAC, DMAC, MMF, and DMF, respectively) is presented. In general, all compounds are no more than moderately toxic in acute o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in toxicology 2001-01, Vol.31 (2), p.139-222
Main Author: Kennedy, Gerald L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acetamide
Acetamides - therapeutic use
Acetamides - toxicity
Animals
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinogens - toxicity
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Dimethylformamide - metabolism
Dimethylformamide - therapeutic use
Dimethylformamide - toxicity
Embryo, Mammalian - drug effects
Environmental Exposure
Eye - drug effects
Female
formamide
Formamides - metabolism
Formamides - therapeutic use
Formamides - toxicity
Humans
Lethal Dose 50
Medical sciences
Mutagens - toxicity
N,N-Dimethylacetamide
N,N-Dimethylformamide
N-Methylformamide
Pregnancy
Skin - drug effects
Toxicology
Various organic compounds
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Summary:An updated review of the toxicity of acetamide and formamide and their analogs, N-monomethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-monomethylformamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide (MMAC, DMAC, MMF, and DMF, respectively) is presented. In general, all compounds are no more than moderately toxic in acute or chronic studies. The liver is the target organ. Species are similar in sensitivity, although primates are less sensitive than rodents. Genotoxicity and carcinogenicity studies have generally proved negative. Although the dimethyl derivatives have been classified as developmental and reproductive toxins, recent data in rats shows that fetal toxicity occurs only at levels that are toxic to the dams. Most occupational exposures to high doses of the dimethyl derivatives have involved other compounds. Liver abnormalities resulted from an exposure incident a dying facility that exposed workers to large quantities of DMF. The compounds generally biodegrade, and no biomagnification occurs in the food chain. They are stable in soil, but not in the atmosphere, and are not very volatile. Data on environmental effects in various aquatic organisms, bacteria, and algal species is presented.
ISSN:1040-8444
1547-6898
DOI:10.1080/200140911116861