Methyl acetate

Synonyms

Acetate de methyle [French]; Acetic acid, methyl ester; Devoton; Ethyl ester of monoacetic acid; Methyl acetate; Methyl acetate (natural); Methyl acetic ester; Methyl ethanoate; Methylacetaat [Dutch]; Methylacetat [German]; Methyle (acetate de) [French]; Methylester kiseliny octove [Czech]; Metile (acetato di) [Italian]; Octan metylu [Polish]; Tereton; [ChemIDplus] UN1231

Category

Esters (<C12)

Description

Colorless liquid with a fragrant, fruity odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a flavoring agent and as a solvent in paint removers and lacquers; [ACGIH]

Comments

In the body, methyl acetate is hydrolyzed into methanol and acetic acid. It causes narcosis in animals exposed to high concentrations. "TLV Basis" is headache, dizziness, nausea, and damage to the ganglion cells in the retina; Main concern is conversion to methanol, which can cause permanent blindness; Eye damage has been reported after chronic exposure to methanol at 1200-8000 ppm; [ACGIH] Ethyl acetate is in the list of "Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation" published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers. [Reference #1] An eye and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression and effects on the optic nerve leading to impaired vision; [ICSC] See "Methanol."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

200 ppm

250 ppm

200 ppm

100 ppm

3100 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: It has been reported that concentrations of 10,000 ppm for a short time caused irritation which persisted after exposure stopped [Clayton and Clayton 1981].

216 mm Hg

0.17 ppm

Odor Threshold High

1733 ppm

LCLo (rat) = 32,000 ppm/4H

Explanatory Notes

IDLH = 10% LEL; Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 180 ppm); Flash point = -10 deg C; VP from HSDB;

may ignite at ambient temp

Acute solvent syndrome

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Solvents)