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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Acetic ester; Acetic ether; Ethyl ester of acetic acid; Ethyl ethanoate

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1040

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 141-78-6

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: AH5425000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook [4 MB PDF, 392 pages]: 1173 129

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethyl Acetate: Chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

Exposure Limits and Health Effects

Exposure Limit

Limit Values

HE Codes

Health Factors and Target Organs

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) - General Industry
See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1

400 ppm
(1,400 mg/m3) TWA

HE8

Mild narcosis at high concentrations

HE16

Mild eye, nose, and upper respiratory irritation

HE20

Strong odor

OSHA PEL - Construction Industry
See 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A

400 ppm
(1,400 mg/m3) TWA

HE8

Mild narcosis at high concentrations

HE16

Mild eye, nose, and upper respiratory irritation

HE20

Strong odor

OSHA PEL - Shipyard Employment
See 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards

400 ppm
(1,400 mg/m3) TWA

HE8

Mild narcosis at high concentrations

HE16

Mild eye, nose, and upper respiratory irritation

HE20

Strong odor

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)

400 ppm
(1,400 mg/m3) TWA

HE8

Narcosis at high concentrations

HE16

Eye and respiratory irritation

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (2001)

400 ppm
(1,440 mg/m3) TWA

HE16

Eye, nose, and upper respiratory irritation

HE20

Strong odor

CAL/OSHA PEL

400 ppm
(1,400 mg/m3) TWA

HE16

Eye, nose, and upper respiratory irritation

HE20

Strong odor

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 (IDLH) concentration: 2,000 ppm (LEL)

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

  1. Ethyl acetate is highly flammable and vapor/air mixtures are explosive. Ethyl acetate decomposes when exposed to UV light, acids, and bases, and reacts with strong oxidants, bases, and acids. Ethyl acetate attacks aluminum and plastics (NIOSH/IPCS 1997).
  2. Ethyl acetate is hydrolyzed to ethanol and acetic acid. Much higher levels of ethanol than ethyl acetate were found in tissues of a worker who died of anoxia from a toxic exposure to ethyl acetate (Coopman et al. 2005).

Date Last Revised: 9/6/2012

Literature Basis:

  • ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethyl Acetate. 2001.
  • Coopman, V.A., Cordonnier, J.A., and De Meyere C.A.: Fatal workplace accident involving ethyl acetate - a distribution study. Forensic Sci. Int. 154(2-3): 92-95, 2005.
  • NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Ethyl Acetate. 1978.
  • NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Cards - Ethyl Acetate. October 1997.

Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

  • sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
    analytical solvent: Carbon disulfide
    alternate solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide: Dimethylformamide
    alternate solvent: (95:5) Methylene Chloride: Methanol
    maximum volume: 6 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1457 [20 KB PDF, 4 pages])
    method classification: Fully Validated
    note: Samples must be refrigerated for shipment to laboratory.

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