Synonyms: N,N-Dimethylethanamine; N,N-Dimethylethylamine; Ethyldimethylamine; N-ethyldimethylamine; Methanamine, N-ethyl-N-methyl

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0915

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 598-56-1

Physical and Chemical Properties:

physical description: Clear liquid with a strong ammonia-like odor
molecular formula: C₄H₁₁N
molecular weight: 73.14
boiling point: 37°C
flash point: -36°C
melting point: -140°C

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): Not established

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Inhalation Minimal Risk Level (MRL): Not established

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): Not established

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

1. Visual disturbances (except blindness from direct contact of liquid with eyes) may occur at concentrations above 5 ppm TWA and are reversible within three hours after the end of exposure (Ståhlbom et al. 1991; Warren and Selchan 1988).
2. Dimethylethylamine has been shown to irritate the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes and induce blurred vision, headache, nausea, faintness, chest and abdominal pain, and increased heart rate (NIOSH 1987).
3. Some dimethylethylamine is excreted in the urine unchanged (mean post-shift half-life = 1.5 hours), but most is excreted as the metabolite dimethylethylamine-N-oxide (mean post-shift half-life = 2.9 hours) (Lundh et al. 1991).
4. Although dimethylethylamine can be absorbed through the skin, this is not an important route for systemic exposure compared with pulmonary absorption (Lundh et al. 1997).
5. Used in "cold box" coremaking with isocyanates-polyurethane systems in foundries.
6. Employees may be at risk to injury at or after work because of visual disturbances (Albrecht 1999).

Date Last Revised: 11/16/2012

Literature Basis:

• Lundh, T., Boman, A., and Åkesson. B.: Skin absorption of the industrial catalyst dimethylethylamine in vitro in guinea pig and human skin, and of gaseous dimethylethylamine in human volunteers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 70(5): 309-313, 1997.
• Lundh, T., Ståhlbom, B., and Åkesson. B.: Dimethylethylamine in mould core manufacturing: exposure, metabolism and biological monitoring. Br. J. Ind. Med. 48(3): 203-207, 1991.
• NIOSH: Preventing Vision Disturbances and Acute Physical Distress Due to Dimethylethylamine (DMEA). 1987.
• Ståhlbom, B., Lundh, T., Floren, I., and Åkesson, B.: Visual disturbances in man as a result of experimental and occupational exposure to dimethylethylamine. Br. J. Ind. Med. 48(1): 26-29, 1991.
• Warren, D.W., Jr. and Selchan, D.F.: An industrial hygiene appraisal of triethylamine and dimethylethylamine exposure limits in the foundry industry. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 49(12): 630-634, 1988.
• Albrecht WN and  Stephenson RL, Health hazards of tertiary amine catalysts: Scan J Work Env Health, 14:209-218, 1999

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

• sampling media: Alumina Tube (400/200 mg sections)
  analytical solvent: Deionized Water (pH 7)
  maximum volume: 4 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/NPD
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2096)
  method classification: Partially Validated

** All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.