Formic acid, ethyl ester

RTECS #

LQ8400000

CAS #

109-94-4
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

September 2013

Molecular Weight

74.09

Molecular Formula

C₃H₆O₂

Synonyms

Aethylformiat (German)
Areginal
Ethyl formate
Ethyl formate (ACGIH:OSHA)
Ethyl formic ester
Ethyl methanoate
Ethyle (formiate d') (French)
Ethylester kyseliny mravenci (Czech)
Ethylformiaat (Dutch)
Etile (formiato di) (Italian)
Formic ether
Mrowczan etylu (Polish)

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
skin /rabbit	460 mg open irritation test	mild	UCDS** 4/10/1968

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
skin/mouse	lowest published toxic dose: 110 gm/kg/9W- intermittent	Tumorigenic: Equivocal tumorigenic agent by RTECS criteria Skin and Appendages: Tumors	BJCAAI 9,177,1955

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/rat	Lowest published lethal concentration: 8000 ppm/4H		AMIHBC 10,61,1954
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 28950 mg/m³		TOVEFN (1),61,1995
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 300 mg/m³	Behavioral: Change in motor activity (specific assay) Behavioral: Alteration of classical conditioning Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)	TOVEFN (1),61,1995
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 300 mg/m³	Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Peptidases	TOVEFN (1),61,1995
oral/guinea pig	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1110 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Gastrointestinal: Gastritis	FCTXAV 2,327,1964
oral/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2075 mg/kg		IMSUAI 41,31,1972
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 2699 mg/kg	Behavioral: General anesthetic Behavioral: Alteration of classical conditioning Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	TOVEFN (1),61,1995
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1850 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	FCTXAV 2,327,1964
skin/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): >20 mL/kg		AMIHBC 10,61,1954
subcutaneous/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 1 gm/kg		FCTXAV 16,737,1978

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
oral/rabbit	lowest published toxic dose: 619 mg/kg/13W- intermittent	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Interstitial nephritis Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Proteinuria Blood: Other changes	FAONAU 44A,1,1967

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-short term exposure limit 100 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-Not classifiable as a human carcinogen	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMIHAB 20,517,1959

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³)	DTLVS* 3,107,1971
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 100 ppm (303 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 100 ppm (300 mg/m³);KZW 200 ppm (600 mg/m³), skin, 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 100 ppm (307 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 100 ppm (310 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 150 ppm (460 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VME 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 100 ppm (310 mg/m³), skin, 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 150 ppm (450 mg/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 100 ppm (303 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 50 ppm (150 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 100 ppm (303 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 100 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 450 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	ceiling concentration 100 ppm (310 mg/m³), skin, JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 300 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEY	time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 100 ppm (308 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 150 ppm (462 mg/m³), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 100 ppm (300 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 ETHYL FORMATE-air	10H time-weighted average 100 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 32610; Number of Industries 6; Total Number of Facilities 99; Number of Occupations 19; Total Number of Employees Exposed 8151; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 1169
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 32610; Number of Industries 1; Total Number of Facilities 21; Number of Occupations 1; Total Number of Employees Exposed 124

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Ethyl formate, 1452

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health