site ID
NIOSH

Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS)

Acetic acid, methyl ester

RTECS #

AI9100000

CAS #

79-20-9

Updated

September 201

Molecular Weight

74.09

Molecular Formula

C3H6O2

Synonyms

Acetate de methyle (French)
Devoton
Ethyl ester of monoacetic acid
Methyl acetate
Methyl acetate (ACGIH:OSHA)
Methyl ethanoate
Methylacetaat (Dutch)
Methylacetat (German)
Methyle (acetate de) (French)
Methylester kiseliny octove (Czech)
Metile (acetato di) (Italian)
Octan metylu (Polish)
Tereton

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

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Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
eye /rabbit 100 mg/24H moderate85JCAE -,353,1986
skin /rabbit 500 mg/24H mildFCTXAV 17,859,1979
skin /rabbit 20 mg/24H moderate85JCAE -,353,1986

Mutation Data and Reference

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System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction/Saccharomyes cerevisiae33800 ppmMUREAV 149,339,1985

Acute Toxicity Data and References

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Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/cat Lowest published lethal concentration: 67 gm/m3/1HEye: Lacrimation

Behavioral: Convulsions or effect on seizure threshold

Gastrointestinal: Changes in structure or function of salivary glands		AGGHAR 5,1,1933
inhalation/human lowest published toxic concentration: 15000 mg/m3Eye: Lacrimation

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Cough

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes		AGGHAR 5,1,1933
inhalation/mouse Lowest published lethal concentration: 34 gm/m3/4HBehavioral: General anestheticAGGHAR 5,1,1933
inhalation/rat Lowest published lethal concentration: 32000 ppm/4HAIHAAP 23,95,1962
intraduodenal/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): 3700 mg/kgFCTXAV 17,859,1979
oral/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): 3705 mg/kgIMSUAI 41,31,1972
oral/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): >5 gm/kgFCTXAV 17,859,1979
skin/guinea pig lethal dose (50 percent kill): >20 mL/kgNTIS** OTS0556681
skin/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): >5 gm/kgFCTXAV 17,859,1979
subcutaneous/cat lowest published lethal dose: 3 gm/kgBehavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity)

Behavioral: Ataxia

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression		AGGHAR 5,1,1933
subcutaneous/guinea pig lowest published lethal dose: 3 gm/kgAGGHAR 5,1,1933
subcutaneous/rat lowest published lethal dose: 8 gm/kgBSIBAC 18,45,1943
unreported route/mammal (species unspecified) lethal dose (50 percent kill): 214 mg/kgGISAAA 33(8),107,1968

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

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Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/Dog lowest published toxic concentration: 28 gm/m3/40M/4W- intermittentBehavioral: Ataxia

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory stimulation

Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Body temperature decrease		NTIS** OTS0572401

Reviews

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OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 200 ppm;short term exposure limit 250 ppmDTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWAMIHAB 21,28,1960
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHUTOX* -,577,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEWHUTOX* -,649,1996

Standards and Regulations

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OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3)DTLVS* 3,153,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 200 ppm (606 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 250 ppm (757 mg/m3), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIAMAK-TMW 200 ppm (610 mg/m3);KZW 400 ppm (1220 mg/m3), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 200 ppm(615 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 250 ppm(768 mg/m3), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 150 ppm (455 mg/m3), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 250 ppm (770 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), VLE 250 ppm (760 mg/m3), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANYMAK 100 ppm (310 mg/m3), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARYtime-weighted average 610 mg/m3, short term exposure limit 2440 mg/m3, Skin, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 150 ppm (455 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPANOccupational Exposure Limit 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 250 ppm (760 mg/m3), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 250 ppm (760 mg/m3), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 200 ppm (606 mg/m3); short term exposure limit 250 ppm (757 mg/m3), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAYtime-weighted average 100 ppm (305 mg/m3), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 200 ppm (638 mg/m3); short term exposure limit 250 ppm (798 mg/m3), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLANDMAC(time-weighted average) 100 mg/m3, MAC(short term exposure limit) 750 mg/m3, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIAshort term exposure limit 100 mg/m3, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 150 ppm (450 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 300 ppm (900 mg/m3), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 100 ppm (310 mg/m3), KZG-week 400 ppm (1240 mg/m3), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 610 mg/m3, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEYtime-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 200 ppm (616 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 250 ppm (770 mg/m3), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3)CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 200 ppm (610 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

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OrganizationStandardReference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO METHYL ACETATE-air10H time-weighted average 200 ppm;short term exposure limit 250 ppmNIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 46410; Number of Industries 15; Total Number of Facilities 387; Number of Occupations 31; Total Number of Employees Exposed 20455; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 6018
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 46410; Number of Industries 26; Total Number of Facilities 1604; Number of Occupations 22; Total Number of Employees Exposed 5611

Status in Federal Agencies

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OrganizationReference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Methyl acetate, 1458
On EPA IRIS database

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