Ethyl formate

CAS number: 109–94–4

NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m³) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m³) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (303 mg/m³) TWA

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a fruity odor.

LEL:. . 2.8% (10% LEL, 2,800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 8,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Smyth [1956] cited in Patty [1963] and by UCC [1968] that 5 of 6 rats died following a 4-hour exposure to 8,000 ppm and no rats died from a 4-hour exposure to 4,000 ppm.

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
Cat Rat Rat	Flury and Zernik 1931 Smyth 1956 Smyth et al. 1954	----- LC83: 8,000 -----	10,000 ----- 8,000	1.5 hr 4 hr 4 hr	14,500 ppm (1.45) 16,000 ppm (2.0) 16,000 ppm (2.0)	1,450 ppm 1,600 ppm 1,600 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Rat G. pig Rabbit	Jenner et al. 1964 Jenner et al. 1964 Munch 1972	oral oral oral	1,850 1,110 2,075	----- ----- -----	4,205 ppm 2,523 ppm 4,716 ppm	421 ppm 252 ppm 472 ppm

Other animal data: It has been stated that rats have survived a 4-hour exposure to 4,000 ppm [UCC 1968].

Human data: It has been reported that 330 ppm produced slight eye irritation and rapidly increasing nasal irritation [Flury and Zernik 1931].

Revised IDLH: 1,500 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ethyl formate is 1,500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Flury and Zernik 1931; Smyth 1956; Smyth et al. 1954]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers at concentrations above 330 ppm.

REFERENCES:

1. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch- und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 375 (in German).

2. Jenner PM, Hagan EC, Taylor JM, Cook EL, Fitzhugh OG [1964]. Food flavourings and compounds of related structure. I. Acute oral toxicity. Food Cosmet Toxicol 2:327-343.

3. Munch JC [1972]. Aliphatic alcohols and alkyl esters: narcotic and lethal potencies to tadpoles and to rabbits. Ind Med Surg 41:31-33.

4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1855.

5. Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 17(2):129-185.

6. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC [1954]. Range-finding toxicity data: list V. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 10:61-68.

7. UCC [1968]. Toxicology studies: ethyl formate. New York, NY: Union Carbide Corporation.