| Agent Name | Methyl formate |
|---|---|
| Alternative Name | Formic acid, methyl ester |
| CAS Number | 107-31-3 |
| Formula | C2-H4-O2 |
| Major Category | Solvents |
| Synonyms | Methyl ester of formic acid; Methyl methanoate; Formic acid, methyl ester; [NIOSH] UN1243 |
| Category | Esters (<C12) |
| Description | Colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. [Note: A gas above 89 degrees F.] [NIOSH] |
| Sources/Uses | Used as a solvent (cellulose acetate and quick drying finishes), fumigant and larvacide (food and tobacco crops), and chemical intermediate; Also used as a refrigeration solvent, blowing agent for foam insulation, and binding agent in mold cores in iron foundries; [ACGIH] |
| Comments | TLV Basis is CNS impairment, upper respiratory tract irritation, and eye damage. In animal inhalation studies, narcosis, pulmonary edema, and death occur at concentrations in the range of 5000 ppm to 10,000 ppm for one to three hours of exposure. Human volunteers exposed to 100 ppm for 8 hours have increased fatigue. Foundry workers exposed to 36 ppm had no adverse effects. Methyl formate breaks down into methanol and fomric acid. Formic acid causes optic neuropathy in cases of methanol poisoning. Exposure to methyl formate at 50 ppm is equivalent to methanol exposure at the TLV. [ACGIH] Intravenous doses of approximately 4g/kg cause significant methemoglobinemia in experimental dogs. [HSDB] No reported cases of toxic pneumonitis in humans; May cause slight skin irritation; [CHEMINFO] A skin and eye irritant that causes CNS effects at high concentrations; [ICSC] |
| Exposure Assessment | |
| Skin Designation (ACGIH) | Yes |
| TLV (ACGIH) | 50 ppm |
| STEL (ACGIH) | 100 ppm |
| PEL (OSHA) | 100 ppm |
| MAK | 50 ppm |
| IDLH (NIOSH) | 4500 ppm |
| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs | No adverse effects were found in humans after exposure to 1,500 ppm for 1 minute [Schrenk et al. 1936]. |
| Vapor Pressure | 476 mm Hg |
| Odor Threshold Low | 67 ppm |
| Odor Threshold High | 2809 ppm |
| Lethal Concentration | LC50 (rat) = 5,200 mg/m3/4H |
| Explanatory Notes | Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 2000 ppm); Flash point = -2 deg F; [CHEMINFO] |
| Reference Link | |
| Adverse Effects | |
| Toxic Pneumonitis | Yes |
| Neurotoxin | CNS Solvent Syndrome |
| Methemoglobinemia | Methemoglobinemia, Secondary |
| Links to Other NLM Databases | |
| Health Studies | Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: |
| Toxicity Information | |
| Chemical Information | |
| Biomedical References | |
| Related Information in HazMap | |
| Diseases | Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: |
| Processes | Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: |
| Activities | Activities with risk of exposure: |
Agent Name
Methyl formate
Alternative Name
Formic acid, methyl ester
CAS Number
107-31-3
Formula
C2-H4-O2
Major Category
Solvents
Synonyms
Methyl ester of formic acid; Methyl methanoate; Formic acid, methyl ester; [NIOSH] UN1243
Category
Esters (<C12)
Description
Colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. [Note: A gas above 89 degrees F.] [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used as a solvent (cellulose acetate and quick drying finishes), fumigant and larvacide (food and tobacco crops), and chemical intermediate; Also used as a refrigeration solvent, blowing agent for foam insulation, and binding agent in mold cores in iron foundries; [ACGIH]
Comments
TLV Basis is CNS impairment, upper respiratory tract irritation, and eye damage. In animal inhalation studies, narcosis, pulmonary edema, and death occur at concentrations in the range of 5000 ppm to 10,000 ppm for one to three hours of exposure. Human volunteers exposed to 100 ppm for 8 hours have increased fatigue. Foundry workers exposed to 36 ppm had no adverse effects. Methyl formate breaks down into methanol and fomric acid. Formic acid causes optic neuropathy in cases of methanol poisoning. Exposure to methyl formate at 50 ppm is equivalent to methanol exposure at the TLV. [ACGIH] Intravenous doses of approximately 4g/kg cause significant methemoglobinemia in experimental dogs. [HSDB] No reported cases of toxic pneumonitis in humans; May cause slight skin irritation; [CHEMINFO] A skin and eye irritant that causes CNS effects at high concentrations; [ICSC]
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Yes
TLV (ACGIH)
50 ppm
STEL (ACGIH)
100 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
100 ppm
MAK
50 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
4500 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
No adverse effects were found in humans after exposure to 1,500 ppm for 1 minute [Schrenk et al. 1936].
Vapor Pressure
476 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
67 ppm
Odor Threshold High
2809 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 5,200 mg/m3/4H
Explanatory Notes
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 2000 ppm); Flash point = -2 deg F; [CHEMINFO]
Reference Link
Adverse Effects
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Neurotoxin
CNS Solvent Syndrome
Methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia, Secondary
Links to Other NLM Databases
Toxicity Information
Chemical Information
Biomedical References
Related Information in HazMap
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: