Methyl Cellosolve® acetate

May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)

CAS number: 110–49–6

NIOSH REL: 0.1 ppm (0.5 mg/m3 TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 25 ppm (120 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (24 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

Description of substance: Colorless liquid with a mild, ether-like odor.

LEL: . . 1.7% (10% LEL, 1,700 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 4,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on an analogy with methyl methacrylate which has an IDLH of 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 Flury & Wirth 1933 ----- 1,222 7 hr 2,933 ppm (2.4) 293 ppm
Rat Smyth & Carpenter 1948 ----- 7,000 4 hr 14,000 ppm (2.0) 1,400 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species Reference Route LD50

(mg/kg)

LDLo

(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD Derived value
Rat Smyth & Carpenter 1948 oral 3,390 ----- 4,833 ppm 483 ppm
G. pig Smyth et al. 1941 oral 1,250 ----- 1,782 ppm 178 ppm

Human data: It has been stated that methyl Cellosolve® acetate is slightly less toxic than methyl Cellosolve® [Gosselin et al. 1984].

Revised IDLH: 200 ppm

Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Flury and Wirth 1933; Smyth and Carpenter 1948], a value of about 1,000 ppm would have been appropriate for methyl Cellosolve® acetate. However, the revised IDLH for methyl Cellosolve® acetate is 200 ppm based on being 2,000 times the current NIOSH REL of 0.1 ppm (2,000 is an assigned protection factor for respirators; only the most reliable respirators are recommended above 2,000 times the NIOSH REL).

REFERENCES:

1. Flury F, Wirth W [1933]. Zur toxikologie der lösungsmittel (Verschieden ester, aceton, methylalkohol). Arch Gewerbepath Gewerbehyg 5:1-90 (in German).

2. Gosselin RF, Smith RP, Hodge HC [1984]. Clinical toxicology of commercial products. 5th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins Company, p. II-183.

3. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP [1948]. Further experience with the range finding test in the industrial toxicology laboratory. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30:63-68.

4. Smyth HF Jr, Seaton J, Fischer L [1941]. The single dose toxicity of some glycols and derivatives. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 23:259-268.

Page last reviewed: December 4, 2014