Dimethylformamide

CAS number: 68–12–2

NIOSH REL: 10 ppm (30 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 10 ppm (30 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (30 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless to pale-yellow liquid with a faint, amine-like odor.

LEL(@212 F): 2.2% (10% LEL(@212 F), 2,200 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 3,500 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Clayton et al. [1963] that rats survived a 4-hour exposure to air saturated with dimethylformamide vapor [Smyth and Carpenter 1948] and inhalation of saturated vapors for 6 hours was lethal [Haskell Laboratory]. A.D. Little reports that the saturated concentration at 20 C is 3,550 ppm. Because exposures to rats for 4 hours were at saturated concentrations, 3,500 ppm is chosen as the IDLH.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50 (ppm)	LCLo (ppm)	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived value
Rat Mouse	Haskell Stasenkova 1961	----- 3,092	5,000 -----	6 hr 2 hr	11,500 ppm (2.3) 4,947 ppm (1.6)	1,150 ppm 496 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Rat Mouse Rat	Druckrey et al. 1967 Lobanova 1958 Massmann 1956	oral oral oral	2,800 3,700 3,500	----- ----- -----	6,447 ppm 8,520 ppm 8,059 ppm	645 ppm 852 ppm 806 ppm

Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 500 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for dimethylformamide is 500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Stasenkov 1961].

REFERENCES:

1. A.D. Little [?]. A.D. Little, Inc. Information supplied to NIOSH during Standards Completion Project.

2. Clayton JW Jr, Barnes JR, Hood DB, Schepers GWH [1963]. The inhalation toxicity of dimethylformamide (DMF). Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 24:144-154.

3. Druckrey H, Preussmann R, Ivankovic S, Schmahl D [1967]. Organotrope carcinogene wirkungen bei 65 vershiedenen N-nitroso-verbindungen and BD-ratten. Zeitschrift für Krebsforschung 69:103-201 (in German).

4. Haskell Laboratory [?]. Unpublished report. [From Clayton JW Jr, Barnes JR, Hood DB, Schepers GWH [1963]. The inhalation toxicity of dimethylformamide (DMF). Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 24:144-154.]

5. Lobanova KP [1958]. Concerning the toxicity of dimethylformamide. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 23(5):31-37 (in Russian).

6. Massmann W [1956]. Toxicological investigations on dimethylformamide. Br J Ind Med 13:51-54.

7. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP [1948]. Further experience with the range-finding test in the industrial toxicology laboratory. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30(1):63-68.

8. Stasenkova KP [1961]. Toxicity of dimethylformamide. Toksikol Nov Prom Khim Vesh 1:54-69 (in Russian).