Synonyms: Methanol; Wood alcohol; Columbian spirits; Carbinol

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1660

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 67-56-1

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: PC1400000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook [4 MB PDF, 392 pages]: 1230 131

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Methyl Alcohol: Physical description, chemical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazard Summary - Methyl Alcohol: Uses, sources and potential exposure, acute and chronic health hazard information, and more

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Not listed

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

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: 6,000 ppm

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

1. Vapor/air mixtures are highly flammable and explosive (NIOSH/IPCS 2000).
2. Both acute and chronic exposures can cause specific brain lesions that lead to movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease (Finklestein and Vardi 2002), seizures, polyneuropathy, trigeminal anesthesia, and visual/smelling loss (Hageman et al. 2003).

Date Last Revised: 9/6/2012

Literature Basis

• ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Methanol. 2009.
• Finkelstein, Y. and Vardi, J.: Progressive parkinsonism in a young experimental physicist following long-term exposure to methanol. Neurotoxicology 23(4-5): 521-525, 2002.
• Hageman, G., van der Hoek, J.A. and Faber, C.G.: Spastic paraparesis without optic atrophy after occupational methanol exposure. J. Neurol. 250(7): 876-877, 2003.
• NIOSH. Occupational Health Guideline for Methyl Alcohol. September 1978.
• NIOSH. Criteria for a Recommended Standard - Occupational Exposure to Methyl Alcohol. March 1976.
• NIOSH/IPCS. International Chemical Safety Cards - Methanol. November 4, 2000.
  

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

• sampling media: Two Anasorb 747 Tubes in series (First tube 400 mg, second tube 200 mg section) See note
  analytical solvent: 50:50 Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
  maximum volume: 3 Liters (RH<50% @ 25°C)
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (TWA)
  maximum volume: 5 Liters (RH>50% @ 25°C)
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (TWA)
  maximum volume: 0.75 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (STEL)
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 91)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: Separate tubes and seal each after sampling.

• sampling media: Silica Gel Tube (520/260 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
  analytical solvent: 0.02 N H2SO4
  alternate analytical solvent: 95:5 water/isopropanol
  maximum volume: 6 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
  maximum volume: 1.5 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (STEL)
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
  method reference: NIOSH Modified Analytical Method (NIOSH 2000 [24 KB PDF, 4 pages])
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: The larger size tube is recommended due to low capacity of the 150/75 mg tubes at high humidities.

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: AUER/MSA
  model/type: Ethanol-100, MSA P/N 804136, AUER P/N 5086-818
  sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
  upper measurement limit: 2350 ppm
  detection limit: approximately 50 ppm
  overall uncertainty: unknown
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Gastec
  model/type: 111
  sampling information: 0.5 to 4 strokes
  upper measurement limit: 4.5%
  detection limit: 0.0004%
  overall uncertainty: 25% for 0.02 to 0.5%, 16% for 0.5 to 1.5%
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Gastec
  model/type: 111L
  sampling information: 1 to 2 strokes
  upper measurement limit: 1000 ppm
  detection limit: 5 ppm
  overall uncertainty: 25% for 40 to 200 ppm, 16% for 200 to 1000 ppm
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Gastec
  model/type: 111LL
  sampling information: 2 to 4 strokes
  upper measurement limit: 56 ppm
  detection limit: 0.2 ppm
  overall uncertainty: 25% for 2 to 5 ppm, 16% for 5 to 20 ppm
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
  model/type: 8014-119SA
  sampling information: 1 stroke
  upper measurement limit: 6%
  detection limit: approximately 0.05%
  overall uncertainty: unknown
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
  model/type: 8014-119U
  sampling information: 1 stroke
  upper measurement limit: 1000 ppm
  detection limit: approximately 20 ppm
  overall uncertainty: unknown
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

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