What are Dim Supplements?
DIM stands for Dimethyl Methacrylate. This is a chemical compound used in many products such as food packaging, medicine bottles, medical equipment, etc. DIM is a plastic that’s been treated with chemicals to make it flexible and strong enough to resist cracking or breaking when exposed to heat or pressure. It’s also resistant against bacteria growth and odor.
Benefits of Dimethyl Methacrylate:
It’s very durable and resists cracking or breaking under stress. It’s resistant to mold, mildew, fungus, rot and other types of decay. It’s also resistant to UV rays.
Dimethyl methacrylate is widely used in food packaging because it provides a smooth surface without any cracks or holes. It can be found in everything from soda bottles to baby bottle nipples. You may have seen them in soft drinks, candy bars, ice cream containers and even in some toothpaste tubes.
The FDA recommends that all foods containing dimethyl methacrylate be stored at room temperature. If they’re being sold in a store, they need to be kept refrigerated. Foods that contain dimethyl methacrylate should not be eaten raw or undercooked since these foods could cause severe allergic reactions.
You can find dimethyl methacrylate in contact lenses, dentures, and some medical equipment like syringes or plastic tubing. It’s a cheap and very effective plastic that comes in many different forms for many different uses.
It’s used in skin-tightening treatments because it pulls moisture out of the skin for several hours after the treatment. It’s also used as a safe and natural estrogen supplement for women during menopause.
It’s found in a lot of foods that are considered to be unhealthy or bad for you because it causes the food to spoil faster. It’s found in such foods as mayonnaise, fatty meats, oily junk food and even potato chips. It’s also used to preserve certain types of alcohol and add flavor to them. Smoker and drinkers who use a pipe or a cigarette holder probably have dimethyl methacrylate in the plastic mouthpiece.
Health Concerns With Dimethyl Methacrylate:
Dimethyl Methacrylate is very toxic to the liver. It is a known irritant that can cause serious skin reactions, especially for people who have allergies to plastics. People who work with dimethyl methacrylate on a regular basis are at the highest risk of developing skin cancer. It can also cause respiratory issues when inhaled.
It can cause excessive sweating, dizziness and headaches. It can also cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If dimethyl methacrylate gets into the eyes it could cause extreme pain, temporary blindness and even permanent eye damage.
Since dimethyl methacrylate absorbs water, prolonged exposure to this chemical can dry out the skin leaving it chapped or cracked. It could also cause weak bones since it leaches the calcium right out of them. It has not been determined if it causes reproductive or developmental problems, but they can’t be ruled out since this chemical is so toxic.
The FDA has not established any kind of regulation for how much dimethyl methacrylate a product can contain and still be considered safe. This chemical is on California’s safety list and has been linked to cancer. Due to its many risks, dimethyl methacrylate should be avoided when possible.
Regulatory Information:
Dimethyl Methacrylate is a known carcinogen and has been linked to liver cancer. It is also on California’s list of known carcinogens. The FDA has not assigned a safe exposure limit, but the ACGIH has set theirs at 0.03 ppm (0.258 mg/m3).
The FDA has determined that dimethyl methacrylate can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It can also cause eye, skin irritation or respiratory tract irritation.
The National Toxicology Program has not classified dimethyl methacrylate.
Dimethyl Methacrylate could be found in:
Acrylic and Plexiglass (window and counter top coverings and some aquarium supplies)
Adhesive (could be found in the glue on envelopes or price tags)
Shampoos, conditioners, oils, nail polish, hair dyes and other cosmetic products
Nail polish and remover
Chewing Gum and candy (bubble gum)
Lipstick and make-up
Backing for carpets and some clothing fabrics
Paint, sealants and adhesives
NOTE: Since dimethyl methacrylate is used so widely, it can also be found in thousands of other products in smaller quantities.
Workplace Health and Safety Risks:
Dimethyl methacrylate is very flammable and a potential fire hazard around heat or open flames. It can be harmful if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. It is a skin and eye irritant that can cause respiratory issues when inhaled. In addition to cancer, dimethyl methacrylate could cause liver damage. Prolonged exposure can cause bone weakness due to calcium depletion and allergic dermatitis.
If dimethyl methacrylate gets into the eyes, it could cause pain, burning, swelling or even blindness depending on the severity of exposure.
Methyl methacrylate can be toxic if ingested. The kidneys are most likely to be affected, but the liver and central nervous system could also be in danger. It could cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, stupor, coma and even death.
Sources:
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Occupational Health and Safety Administration
200 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20201
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
National Toxicology Program
Division of Laboratory Sciences
10 Centerville Turnpike
Building 226, Room 2A-50
Johns Hopkins Rd.
Indian Creek Industrial Park
Hampton, VA 23661
Mayo Clinic
200 1st St. SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Cancer Prevention and Detection Facts- 2014 Edition
CAS Registry Number: 107-99-9
Density: 0.98 g/cm3 at 20°C (68°F)
Melting Point: -114°C (-173.2°F)
Flash Point: -12°C (10.4°F)
Boiling Point: -82.5°C (-117.5°F)
Vapor Pressure: 0 mm Hg (approx.)
pKa: N/A
% Fat Solubility: 0.0056% at 25°C (77°F)
% Non-Volatile Residue After Burning: 100.0%
NOTE: Values for the above properties are typical, but may not be exact.
Sources & references used in this article:
Pilot study: effect of 3, 3′-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer by KM Dalessandri, GL Firestone, MD Fitch… – Nutrition and …, 2004 – Taylor & Francis
Indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane induce apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells and in murine HPV16-transgenic preneoplastic cervical epithelium by DZ Chen, M Qi, KJ Auborn, TH Carter – The Journal of nutrition, 2001 – academic.oup.com
Inactivation of uPA and its receptor uPAR by 3, 3′‐diindolylmethane (DIM) leads to the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth and migration by A Ahmad, D Kong, SH Sarkar, Z Wang… – Journal of cellular …, 2009 – Wiley Online Library
