Methyl methacrylate

Synonyms

Methacrylate monomer; Methyl ester of methacrylic acid; Methyl-2-methyl-2-propenoate; [NIOSH] 2-Methyl-2-propenoic acid methyl ester; MMA; [ACGIH]

Category

(Meth)acrylates

Description

Colorless liquid with an acrid, fruity odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Acrylates and methacrylates are monomers that are combined with other monomers or polymers to produce plastics used in cosmetics, medicine, dentistry, and manufacturing industries. [Marks, p. 181] Occupational asthma in operating room nurse; [Malo] Used to make Lucite, Plexiglas, paper coatings, latex paints, inks, polishes, dental restorations, adhesive cements, surgical implants, and impregnated concrete; [ACGIH]

Comments

"MMA is an ocular and upper respiratory tract irritant, and it is a skin sensitizer and a suspected respiratory sensitizer." [ACGIH] Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure. [CHRIS] Can cause occupational asthma; [Reference #1] The highest exposures to the monomer occur in workers who use the monomer to manufacture other products with lower exposures in workers who produce the monomer. [Reference #2] Dentists are exposed to a median 8-hour time weighted average of 0.8 ug/m3. [PMID 16020090] Methyl methacrylate monomer, stabilized (UN1247) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016] See "VOC sources and exposures in nail salons: a pilot study in Michigan, USA." [PMID 30276513]

In the mid-1970s it was banned by the FDA for use in nail preparations. It was replaced by ethyl methacrylate which also caused sensitization. [Marks, p. 181-2]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

50 ppm

100 ppm

100 ppm

50 ppm

1000 ppm

40 mm Hg

0.01 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.46 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 78,000 mg/m3/4H

Yes

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.049 ppm);

Reference Link #2

may ignite at ambient temp

Yes

Yes

Skin burns

Not classifiable

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asthma, occupational
• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Burning Synthetic Polymers
• Painting (Pigments, Binders, and Biocides)
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Welding Over Coatings
• Working with Glues and Adhesives

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Sculpturing plastics