Common Name: METHYL

CAS Number: 79-20-9 RTK Substance number: 1217 DOT Number: UN 1231 Date: December 1996 Revision: June 2003 ------

HAZARD SUMMARY * Methyl Acetate can affect you when breathed in and by * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health passing through your skin. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational * Contact can irritate and burn the eyes with possible diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. permanent damage. * ODOR THRESHOLD = 180 ppm. * Methyl Acetate can irritate the skin and cause itching, * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite redness, rash, drying and cracking. broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as * Breathing Methyl Acetate can irritate the nose and throat. a warning of potentially hazardous exposures. * Breathing Methyl Acetate can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of (PEL) is 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour breath. workshift. * Exposure can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea and passing out. NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is * Methyl Acetate is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a FIRE 200 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and HAZARD. 250 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute work period. IDENTIFICATION Methyl Acetate is a colorless liquid with a fruity odor. It is ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is used as a in lacquers and paint removers and to make 200 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and pharmaceuticals. 250 ppm as a STEL (short-term exposure limit).

REASON FOR CITATION * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When * Methyl Acetate is on the Hazardous Substance List skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, though air levels are less than the limits listed above. DOT, NIOSH and NFPA. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE List because it is FLAMMABLE. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust * Definitions are provided on page 5. ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING worn. EXPOSED * Wear protective work clothing. The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Methyl to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public Acetate and at the end of the workshift. employers to provide their employees with information and * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The addition, as part of an ongoing education and training federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200, effort, communicate all information on the health and requires private employers to provide similar training and safety hazards of Methyl Acetate to potentially exposed information to their employees. workers.

* Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results from your employer. You have a legal right to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. METHYL ACETATE page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the potential and most severe health hazards that may result from following is recommended: exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the * Consider chest x-ray after acute overexposure. potential effects described below. ------Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION damage already done are not a substitute for controlling exposure. Acute Health Effects The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right immediately or shortly after exposure to Methyl Acetate: to this information under OSHA 1910.1020.

* Contact can irritate and burn the eyes. Mixed Exposures * Methyl Acetate can irritate the skin and cause itching, * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung redness, rash, drying and cracking. cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may * Breathing Methyl Acetate can irritate the nose and throat. worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. * Breathing Methyl Acetate can irritate the lungs causing Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can reduce your risk of developing health problems. cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES * Exposure can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea and passing out. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most Chronic Health Effects effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at some time after exposure to Methyl Acetate and can last for the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also months or years: reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is Cancer Hazard sometimes necessary. * According to the information presently available to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: Acetate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer in (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the animals. substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls Reproductive Hazard should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when * According to the information presently available to the New significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl Acetate has not been tested for its ability to affect In addition, the following controls are recommended: reproduction. * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Methyl Acetate Other Long-Term Effects from drums or other storage containers to process containers. * Repeated exposure may cause eye damage with possible * Before entering a confined space where Methyl Acetate loss of vision. may be present, check to make sure that an explosive

concentration does not exist. MEDICAL Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous Medical Testing exposures. The following work practices are recommended: For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the PEL or greater), the following are recommended before * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Methyl beginning work and at regular times after that: Acetate should change into clean clothing promptly. * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by * Lung function tests. individuals who have been informed of the hazards of * Vision exam. exposure to Methyl Acetate. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. METHYL ACETATE page 3 of 6

* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency * If while wearing a filter or cartridge respirator you can shower facilities should be provided. smell, taste, or otherwise detect Methyl Acetate, or if while * On skin contact with Methyl Acetate, immediately wash or wearing particulate filters abnormal resistance to breathing shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the is experienced, or eye irritation occurs while wearing a full workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have facepiece respirator, leave the area immediately. Check to contacted Methyl Acetate, whether or not known skin make sure the respirator-to-face seal is still good. If it is, contact has occurred. replace the filter or cartridge. If the seal is no longer good, * Do not eat, , or drink where Methyl Acetate is you may need a new respirator. handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be * Be sure to consider all potential exposures in your swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, workplace. You may need a combination of filters, applying cosmetics, smoking, or using the toilet. prefilters or cartridges to protect against different forms of a chemical (such as vapor and mist) or against a mixture of PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT chemicals. * Where the potential for high exposure exists, use a NIOSH WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN approved supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs mode. For increased protection use in combination with an done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a controls are being installed), personal protective equipment pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode. may be appropriate. * Exposure to 3,100 ppm is immediately dangerous to and health. If the possibility of exposure above 3,100 ppm OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure- to train employees on how and when to use protective demand or other positive-pressure mode. equipment. HANDLING AND STORAGE The following recommendations are only guidelines and may not apply to every situation. * Prior to working with Methyl Acetate you should be

trained on its proper handling and storage. Clothing * Methyl Acetate reacts slowly with to form Acetic * Avoid skin contact with Methyl Acetate. Wear solvent- and . resistant gloves and clothing. Safety equipment suppliers/ * Methyl Acetate is not compatible with OXIDIZING manufacturers can provide recommendations on the most AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, protective glove/clothing material for your operation. PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, * All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG should be clean, available each day, and put on before (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and work. NITRIC); and STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM * ACGIH recommends Butyl Rubber as a protective material. HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE). * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated Eye Protection area away from COMBUSTIBLES, DIRECT SUNLIGHT * Wear indirect-vent, impact and splash resistant goggles and MOISTURE. when working with liquids. * Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are * Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with prohibited where Methyl Acetate is used, handled, or corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances. stored. * Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this * Metal containers involving the transfer of Methyl Acetate substance. should be grounded and bonded. * Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially Respiratory Protection when opening and closing containers of Methyl Acetate. IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS written program that takes into account workplace conditions, requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic health effects? * Where the potential exists for exposure over 200 ppm, use A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from a NIOSH approved full facepiece respirator with an organic repeated exposures to a chemical. vapor cartridge. Increased protection is obtained from full facepiece powered-air purifying respirators. METHYL ACETATE page 4 of 6

Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short------term effects? The following information is available from: A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services you immediately sick. Occupational Health Service PO Box 360 Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 exposed to chemicals? (609) 984-1863 A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is (609) 984-7407 (fax) increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is determined by the length of time and the amount of Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/ material to which someone is exposed. Industrial Hygiene Information Q: When are higher exposures more likely? Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust physical and mechanical processes (heating, pouring, ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good spraying, spills and evaporation from large surface areas hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of such as open containers), and "confined space" exposures industrial hygiene survey data. (working inside vats, reactors, boilers, small rooms, etc.).

Medical Evaluation Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to community residents? chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those Health Service, who can help you find the information you found in the workplace. However, people in the need. community may be exposed to contaminated water as well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This Public Presentations may be a problem for children or people who are already Presentations and educational programs on occupational health ill. or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions, trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer questions about the identity and potential health effects of chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health, references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the Right to Know Survey, education and training programs, labeling requirements, and general information regarding the Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to (609) 984-2202. ------

METHYL ACETATE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS

ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental NAERG is the North American Emergency Response Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of material involved in a transportation The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts incident, and to protect themselves and the general public Service to identify a specific chemical. during the initial response phase of the incident.

A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. NCI is the National Cancer Institute, a federal agency that determines the cancer-causing potential of chemicals. A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies substances according to their fire and explosion hazard. DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators, DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards that regulates the transportation of chemicals. to OSHA.

EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.

A fetus is an unborn human or animal. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which adopts and enforces health and safety standards. A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will ignite easily and burn rapidly. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison Inhalation Hazards. HHAG is the Human Health Assessment Group of the federal EPA. ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a measure of concentration by volume in air. IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases cancer-causing potential. energy under certain conditions.

A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by in another. damaging the fetus. mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). limit recommended by ACGIH.

A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is The is a measure of how readily a liquid or a a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer. indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.

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Common Name: METHYL ACETATE ======DOT Number: UN 1231 FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire NAERG Code: 129 department. You can request emergency information from the CAS Number: 79-20-9 following:

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP FLAMMABILITY - 3 ======

- 0 REACTIVITY HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3) FLAMMABLE POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE FIRST AID CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222 Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; 3=serious; 4=severe Eye Contact * Immediately flush with large amounts of water for at least FIRE HAZARDS 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. * Methyl Acetate is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID. * Use dry chemical, CO2, alcohol or polymer foam Skin Contact extinguishers, as water may not be effective in fighting * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash fires. contaminated skin with large amounts of soap and water. * POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE. * CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE IN FIRE. Breathing * Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. * Remove the person from exposure. * Vapors may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if * Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a distance to cause breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. a fire or explosion far from the source. * Transfer promptly to a medical facility. * If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156. after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES PHYSICAL DATA If Methyl Acetate is spilled or leaked, take the following steps: Vapor Pressure: 173 mm Hg at 68oF (20oC) o o * Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from Flash Point: 14 F (-10 C) area of spill or leak until clean-up is complete. Water : Soluble * Remove all ignition sources. * Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES material and deposit in sealed containers. * Ventilate and wash area after clean-up is complete. Chemical Name: * Keep Methyl Acetate out of a confined space, such as a , Methyl sewer, because of the possibility of an explosion, unless the Other Names: sewer is designed to prevent the build-up of explosive Methyl Ethanoate; Devoton; Tereton concentrations. * It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Methyl ------Acetate as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your purposes. regional office of the federal Environmental Protection ------Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND * If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be SENIOR SERVICES properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be Right to Know Program applicable. PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368 (609) 984-2202 ------