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Methyl methacrylate

May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 80–62–6

NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (410 mg/m3) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (410 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (410 mg/m3) TWA

Description of substance: Colorless liquid with an acrid, fruity odor.

LEL: . . . 1.7% (10% LEL, 1,700 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 4,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that 4,400 ppm was fatal to rats and rabbits in 8 hours [Deichmann 1941]. Also, Patty [1963] cited an approximate rat LC50 of 3,750 ppm [Deichmann 1941; Spealman et al. 1945].

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 Blagodatin et al. 1976 18,750 ----- 4 hr 37,500 ppm (2.0) 3,750 ppm
Mouse Blagodatin et al. 1976 4,447 ----- 2 hr 7,115 ppm (1.6) 712 ppm
Rat Deichmann 1941 ----- 4,400 8 hr 11,000 ppm (2.5) 1,100 ppm
Rabbit Deichmann 1941 ----- 4,400 8 hr 11,000 ppm (2.5) 1,100 ppm
Rabbit Deichmann 1941 ----- 4,207 4.5 hr 8,751 ppm (2.08) 875 ppm
G. pig Deichmann 1941 ----- 4,567 5 hr 9,819 ppm (2.15) 982 ppm
Rat Deichmann 1941 3,750 ----- ? ? ?
Mammal Gig Sanit 1986 4,808 ----- ? ? ?

Human data: Workers have experienced irritation, but tolerated 200 ppm without complaint [Spealman et al. 1945]. It has also been reported that 2,300 ppm was intolerable [Coleman 1963].

Revised IDLH: 1,000 ppm

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for methyl methacrylate is 1,000 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Coleman 1963] and animals [Blagodatin et al. 1976; Deichmann 1941].

REFERENCES:

1. ACGIH [1971]. Methyl methacrylate. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 168.

2. Blagodatin VM, Smiznova ES, et al. [1976]. Substantiation of the maximum permissible concentration of methacrylic acid methyl ether in the air of the working zone. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 20(6):5-8 (in Russian).

3. Coleman AL [1963]. Letter to the TLV Committee from State of Connecticut, Labor Department, Occupational Health Section (March 15, 1963).

4. Deichmann W [1941]. Toxicity of methyl, ethyl, and n-butyl methacrylate. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 23:343-351.

5. Gig Sanit [1986]; 51(5):61 (in Russian).

6. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1880.

7. Spealman CR, Main RJ, Haag HB, Larson PS [1945]. Monomeric methyl methacrylate. Am J Ind Med 14(4):292-298.

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