Common Name: METHYL FORMATE CAS Number: 107-31-3 RTK Substance number: 1262 DOT Number: UN 1243 Date: March 1998 Revision: August 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZARD SUMMARY * Methyl Formate can affect you when breathed in and by air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results passing through your skin. from your employer. You have a legal right to this * Methyl Formate can irritate the eyes with possible eye information under OSHA 1910.1020. damage. * If you think you are experiencing any work-related health * Breathing Methyl Formate can irritate the nose and problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational throat. diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you. * Breathing Methyl Formate can irritate the lungs causing * ODOR THRESHOLD = 2,000 ppm. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures * The range of accepted odor threshold values is quite may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary broad. Caution should be used in relying on odor alone as edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of a warning of potentially hazardous exposures. breath. * Exposure to higher levels can cause you to become dizzy WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS and lightheaded, and may cause unconsciousness and OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit death. (PEL) is 100 ppm averaged over an 8-hour * Prolonged or repeated contact may cause drying and workshift. cracking of the skin. * Methyl Formate is a HIGHLY FLAMMABLE LIQUID NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is and a DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. 100 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 150 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 IDENTIFICATION minute work period. Methyl Formate is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. It is used as an insecticide, a solvent, and to manufacture various ACGIH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is organic chemicals. 100 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 150 ppm as a STEL (short term exposure limit). REASON FOR CITATION * Methyl Formate is on the Hazardous Substance List * The above exposure limits are for air levels only. When because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, skin contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though air levels are less than the limits listed above. DOT, NIOSH, DEP, NFPA and EPA. * This chemical is on the Special Health Hazard Substance List because it is FLAMMABLE. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE * Definitions are provided on page 5. * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be 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 Formate 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 Formate to potentially exposed information to their employees. workers. * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area METHYL FORMATE 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 Formate: to this information under OSHA 1910.1020. * Methyl Formate can irritate the eyes with possible eye Mixed Exposures damage. * Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung * Breathing Methyl Formate can irritate the nose and throat. cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may * Breathing Methyl Formate can irritate the lungs causing worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure. coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures may Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a reduce your risk of developing health problems. medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath. * Exposure to higher levels can cause you to become dizzy WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES and lightheaded, and may cause unconsciousness and death. Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous Chronic Health Effects substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to some time after exposure to Methyl Formate and can last for enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at months or years: the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is Cancer Hazard less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is * According to the information presently available to the New sometimes necessary. Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl Formate has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider: in animals. (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether Reproductive Hazard harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls * According to the information presently available to the New should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Methyl significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible. Formate has not been tested for its ability to affect reproduction. In addition, the following controls are recommended: Other Long-Term Effects * Where possible, automatically pump liquid Methyl * Prolonged or repeated contact may cause drying and Formate from drums or other storage containers to process cracking of the skin. containers. * Methyl Formate can irritate the lungs. Repeated * Before entering a confined space where Methyl Formate exposures may cause bronchitis to develop with cough, may be present, check to make sure that an explosive phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. concentration does not exist. MEDICAL Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous exposures. The following work practices are recommended: Medical Testing * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by Methyl For those with frequent or potentially high exposure (half the Formate should change into clean clothing promptly. TLV or greater), the following are recommended before * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by beginning work and at regular times after that: individuals who have been informed of the hazards of exposure to Methyl Formate. * Lung function tests. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate work area for emergency use. * If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency shower facilities should be provided. METHYL FORMATE page 3 of 6 * On skin contact with Methyl Formate, immediately wash * Exposure to 4,500 ppm is immediately dangerous to life or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the and health. If the possibility of exposure above 4,500 ppm workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have exists, use a NIOSH approved self-contained breathing contacted Methyl Formate, whether or not known skin apparatus with a full facepiece operated in a pressure- contact has occurred. demand or other positive-pressure mode equipped with an * Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Methyl Formate is emergency escape air cylinder. handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, HANDLING AND STORAGE smoking, or using the toilet. * Prior to working with Methyl Formate you should be PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT trained on its proper handling and storage. * Methyl Formate is not compatible with OXIDIZING WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); STRONG done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and controls are being installed), personal protective equipment NITRIC); and STRONG BASES (such as SODIUM may be appropriate. HYDROXIDE and POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE). * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated