Dichloromethane

Dichloromethane, also called methylene chloride (CH2Cl2), is a colourless, volatile liquid with a moderately sweet aroma. It is widely used as a solvent in industrial processes and as a propellant in aerosol products. Overexposure to dichloromethane causes a characteristic set of symptoms: dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches and weakness. It is highly dangerous if it comes into direct contact with the eyes, because it damages the cornea -- making dichloromethane a compound whose everyday industrial usefulness (as a cheap, effective, volatile solvent) has to be weighed carefully against these real h …