Acetamide

Synonyms

Acetic acid amide; Acetimidic acid; Acetimidic acid (VAN); Amid kyseliny octove [Czech]; Ethanamide; Methanecarboxamide; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Other Nitrogen Compounds

Description

Colorless, deliquescent solid; [Hawley] Colorless crystals; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent, plasticizer, stabilizer, humectant for paper, hygroscopic agent, wetting agent, penetrating agent, and denaturant of alcohol; Also used in lacquers, explosives, and soldering fluxes; [HSDB] Used as a solvent in the following applications: plasticizers, lacquers, explosives, soldering flux, wetting agents, and synthesis of other agents; [ACGIH]

Comments

"There are no human data, but long-term feeding studies in rats using high doses of acetamide (up to 5% in diet) produced liver damage and hepatocellular carcinomas. . . . high doses producing maternal toxicity may cause developmental toxicity." The acute toxicity after ingestion is relatively low: an LD50 of 1000-7000 mg/kg in rats and mice; [ACGIH] A skin and eye irritant; [ICSC]

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

1 ppm, inhalable fraction and vapor

0.04 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) = 16,000 ppm

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Possible (2b)

Confirmed Animal

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Solvents)
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Soldering