U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazard Summary - Methyl Methacrylate: 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): Group 3 [89 KB PDF, 31 pages] (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans)

EPA carcinogenic classification: Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): 7x10^-1 mg/m³

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

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration: 1,000 ppm

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

1. Methyl methacrylate is highly flammable, and vapor/air mixtures may be explosive (NIOSH/IPCS 2003).
2. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) oral reference dose (RfD) for methyl methacrylate is 1.4 mg/kg/day (EPA 1998).
3. Adverse reactions to cosmetic fingernail preparations have resulted in dermatitis and prolonged paresthesia (Fisher and Baran 1991; Freeman et al. 1995).
4. Because acrylate-based materials have largely replaced amalgams in restorative dentistry, dental personnel represent another occupational group at risk for developing contact allergy to methyl methacrylate (Piirilä et al. 1998).
5. Methanol is a hydrolysis product of methyl methacrylate in the body and has been proposed as a biological marker of occupational exposure to airborne methyl methacrylate when measured in blood, serum, or urine. In one study, end of workday levels of approximately 8.2 mg and 14.5 mg methanol per liter of urine were suggested to correspond to TWA exposure levels of 50 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively (Mizunuma et al. 1993).

Date last revised: 09/06/2012

Literature Basis

• ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Methyl Methacrylate. 2001.
• California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board: Initial [70 KB PDF, 11 pages] and Final [124 KB PDF, 10 pages] Statement of Reasons. July 6, 2006.
• EPA: Integrated Risk Information System - Methyl Methacrylate (CASRN 80-62-6). March 2, 1998.
• Fisher, A.A. and Baran, R.L.: Adverse reactions to acrylate sculptured nails with particular reference to prolonged paresthesia. Am. J. Contact Dermatitis 2(1): 38-42, 1991.
• Freeman, S., Lee, M.-S. and Gudmundsen, K.: Adverse contact reactions to sculpted acrylic nails: 4 case reports and a literature review. Contact Dermatitis 33(6): 381-385, 1995.
• Mizunuma, K., et al.: Biological monitoring and possible health effects in workers occupationally exposed to methyl methacrylate. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 65(4): 227-232, 1993.
• NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Methyl Methacrylate. September 1978.
• NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Cards - Methyl methacrylate. November 26, 2003.
• Piirilä, P., et al.: Occupational respiratory hypersensitivity caused by preparations containing acrylates in dental personnel. Clin. Exp. Allergy 28(11): 1404-1411, 1998.

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

• sampling media: Coated Charcoal Tube (110/55 mg sections; 20/40 mesh); Coating is 10% (w/w) 4-t-Butylcatechol
  analytical solvent: Toluene
  alternate analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
  maximum volume: 3 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 94)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  

• sampling media: XAD-2 Tube (400/200 mg sections; 20/50 mesh)
  analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
  maximum volume: 8 Liters
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
  method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 2537 [95 KB PDF, 4 pages])
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: ship cold.
  

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