Agent Name | Methyl formate |
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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 | |
Flammability (NFPA) | |
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: |