At a glance
| Chemical family | Chlorinated ether — industrial chemical / reaction by-product |
| CAS number | 542-88-1 |
| Classification | IARC Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans — lung cancer, specifically oat-cell carcinoma); EU Carc. 1A; Canada SOR/2025-270 prohibited |
| Where you encounter it | Industrial chemical (ion-exchange resin manufacturing); reaction by-product when formaldehyde and HCl are present together; trace contaminant in some industrial processes |
| Sleep micro-environment relevance | Not in any consumer product. Theoretical trace-formation risk during industrial processes that combine formaldehyde and HCl, including some textile treatments. No documented bedroom exposure at consumer-relevant concentrations |
Regulatory & certification status
| European Union | CLP: Carc. 1A (H350). Not manufactured or imported in the EU for any commercial purpose. Occupational exposure limits set at the lowest practically measurable level. Regulatory |
| United States | OSHA has a specific standard for BCME (29 CFR 1910.1008) — one of 13 specific carcinogen standards. Occupational exposure must be reduced to the lowest feasible level. No consumer product relevance. Regulatory |
| Canada | Prohibited under the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2025 (SOR/2025-270), in force 30 June 2026 — manufacture, use, sale and import are banned. Regulatory — Canada authority |
| International | IARC Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans — lung cancer). One of the most clearly established occupational carcinogens. Regulatory — International authority |
What it is
BCME is a symmetrical chlorinated ether (ClCH2-O-CH2Cl). It is a known human carcinogen based on strong epidemiological evidence: workers in ion-exchange resin manufacturing and chemical plants exposed to BCME developed lung cancer (specifically small-cell/oat-cell carcinoma) at dramatically elevated rates. BCME can also form spontaneously as a by-product when formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid are present together — a reaction that is well-documented in industrial chemistry. The related compound chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME, CAS 107-30-2) shares the same IARC Group 1 classification and similar regulatory status.
Where it shows up in bedding
BCME is not an ingredient in any bedding product and has no consumer application. Its inclusion in the Atlas is a completeness entry linked to formaldehyde — another Atlas compound. The theoretical pathway is: some textile-finishing processes use formaldehyde-based resins, and if hydrochloric acid is present (from other process chemicals), trace BCME formation is chemically possible. In practice, this is an occupational exposure concern for textile-factory workers, not a consumer exposure pathway. No study has documented BCME in finished textile products or bedroom air at measurable concentrations.
Citations
- IARC (2012). Bis(chloromethyl) ether and chloromethyl methyl ether. IARC Monographs Vol. 100F. Source Peer-reviewed
- Government of Canada. SOR/2025-270. Source Regulatory
Frequently asked questions
Is BCME in any consumer product?
No. BCME has no consumer application whatsoever. It is listed in this Atlas as a completeness entry because it can theoretically form as a by-product when formaldehyde (another Atlas compound) reacts with hydrochloric acid. This is an occupational-chemistry concern, not a consumer product risk. No study has found BCME in finished consumer goods or residential air.
Why is BCME so dangerous?
BCME is an alkylating agent — it directly damages DNA by adding chloromethyl groups to nucleotide bases. This mechanism of carcinogenesis is extremely efficient, which is why BCME produces lung cancer (specifically small-cell carcinoma) at occupational exposure levels that would be considered low for many other chemicals. The epidemiological evidence is unambiguous: workers exposed to BCME had lung cancer rates many times higher than expected.
Related compounds
Embr is a sleep environment company researching and addressing the chemistry of the bedroom. Research and product development in progress.
Last reviewed 2026-07-07. If you find a factual error, contact us.