Methane, dimethoxy-

RTECS #

PA8750000

CAS #

109-87-5
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2013

Molecular Weight

76.11

Molecular Formula

C₃H₈O₂

Synonyms

Anesthenyl
Bis(methoxy)methane
Dimethoxymethane
Dimethoxymethane (ACGIH:OSHA)
Dimethyl formal
Dioxapentane
Formal
Formaldehyde dimethylacetal
Formaldehyde methyl ketal
Methoxymethyl methyl ether
Methylal
Methylal (ACGIH:OSHA)
Methylene dimethyl ether
Metylal (Polish)

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	100 µL	moderate	NTIS** OTS0536049

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 57 gm/m³/7H		85JCAE -,259,1986
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 57000 mg/m³/7M		VCVGK* -,501,1994
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 15000 ppm		NPIRI* 1,73,1974
intraperitoneal/rat	lowest published lethal dose: 5 gm/kg		NTIS** OTS0524346
oral/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 5708 mg/kg		PSEBAA 29,730,1932
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 6653 mg/kg		GISAAA 11,16,1993
skin/rabbit	Lethal dose: >16 mL/kg	Eye: Iritis Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Liver: Other changes	NTIS** OTS0536049

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 35100 mg/m³/7H/22D- intermittent	Behavioral: Ataxia Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	BJIMAG 8,279,1951
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 7078 mg/kg/3D- intermittent	Behavioral: General anesthetic Behavioral: Ataxia Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Urine volume increased	IJTOFN 19,179,2000

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 1000 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		MUREAV 539,77,2003

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³)	DTLVS* 3,154,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3110 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3155 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3200 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 1300 ppm (4100 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 1000 ppm (3200 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3112 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 1000 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 3500 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	time-weighted average 10 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 30 mg/m³, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), KZG-week 2000 ppm (6200 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 3100 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3160 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 1250 ppm (3950 mg/m³), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 1000 ppm (3100 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO METHYLAL-air	10H time-weighted average 1000 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 26075; Number of Industries 123; Total Number of Facilities 9104; Number of Occupations 70; Total Number of Employees Exposed 156806; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 21093
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 26075; Number of Industries 5; Total Number of Facilities 122; Number of Occupations 6; Total Number of Employees Exposed 399

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Methylal, 1611

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health