Dimethylformamide

Synonyms

DMF; DMF (amide); DMFA; Dimethyl formamide; Dimethylamid kyseliny mravenci [Czech]; Dimethylformamid [German]; Dimethylformamide; Dimetilformamide [Italian]; Dimetylformamidu [Czech]; Dwumetyloformamid [Polish]; Formamide, N,N-dimethyl-; Formic acid, amide, N,N-dimethyl-; N,N-Dimethyl formamide; N,N-Dimethylformamide; N,N-Dimethylmethanamide; N,N-Dimetilformamida [Spanish]; N-Formyldimethylamine; U-4224; [ChemIDplus] UN2265

Category

Amides (<C10)

Description

Colorless to pale-yellow liquid with a faint, amine-like odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent in acrylic fiber spinning, textile dyeing, and paint stripping; also used in coating, printing, gluing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing; [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/90-105.html] Used as a solvent for vinyl resins; [Kanerva, p. 1786] Used in synthetic leather manufacturing; [JOEM 2004;46:729-736]

Comments

Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure; [CHRIS] Contact dermatitis reported in epoxy resin handler; Also can provoke alcohol-induced flushing; [Kanerva, p. 1786] DMF is toxic to the liver. [Reference #1] May cause liver injury and jaundice; [ICSC] Animals exposed to single lethal doses have CNS depression, anesthesia, convulsions, and coma. [HSDB] In the list of 15 chemicals classified as potentially fetotoxic even if MAK value observed; [Reference #2] “Detailed reviews of these data indicate adverse effects on reproductive and teratogenic endpoints, but only at maternal toxicity.” [ACGIH] See "Carcinogenicity of some industrial chemicals," Volume 115. [IARC, News Release, 23 February 2016] The BEI for Total N-methylformamide (NMF), which represents the sum of N-methylformamide (NMF) and N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-methylformamide (HMMF), is intended to protect almost all workers from liver damage due to exposure to N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) by all routes of exposure." [ACGIH: BEI Documentation]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

N-Methylformamide in urine = 30 mg/L at end of shift; N-Acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine in urine = 30 mg/L at end of shift at end of workweek; [TLVs and BEIs]

Yes

5 ppm

10 ppm

5 ppm

500 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Clayton et al. [1963] that rats survived a 4­hour exposure to air saturated with dimethylformamide vapor [Smyth and Carpenter 1948] and inhalation of saturated vapors for 6 hours was lethal [Haskell Laboratory]. A.D. Little reports that the saturated concentration at 20 C is 3,550 ppm. Because exposures to rats for 4 hours were at saturated concentrations, 3,500 ppm is chosen as the IDLH. . . . Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

3.87 mm Hg

0.47 ppm

Odor Threshold High

100 ppm

LCLo (rat) = 5,000 ppm/6 hr

Explanatory Notes

Flash point = 58 deg C, closed cup; [ACGIH] Odor threshold from AIHA; VP from HSDB;

Whole body: 4 hours; [TDR, p. 551]

Reference Link #2

high ambient temp required

2 ppm

100 ppm

200 ppm

Acute solvent syndrome

Occupational hepatotoxin (principal effect)

Skin burns

Probable (2a)

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Hepatitis, chemical
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Solvents)
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing
• Semiconductor Manufacturing
• Textiles (Fiber & Fabric Manufacturing)
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)
• Working with Glues and Adhesives