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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Acetic acid, vinyl ester; Acetic acid, ethenyl ester; 1-Acetoxyethylene; Ethenyl acetate; Ethenyl ethanoate; VAC; Vinyl acetate monomer; Vinyl ethanoate Ethenyl acetate

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2572

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 108-05-4

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: AK0875000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1301 129P

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Vinyl Acetate: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 ppm, 35 mg/m3 TWA; 15 ppm, 53 mg/m3 STEL; Appendix A3 - Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 4 ppm, 15 mg/m3 Ceiling (15 Minutes)

Health Factors

Carcinogenic Classification:
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans [1 MB PDF, 23 pages]
Potential Symptoms: Eye, nose, throat irritation; hoarseness, cough, shortness of breath; loss of smell; eye redness, pain, minor burns; skin redness, blisters; INGES ACUTE: Drowsiness; headache.

Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16); Explosive, Flammable (HE18).

Affected Organs: Respiratory system, eyes, skin

Notes:
  1. OSHA does not have a PEL for vinyl acetate. A workplace standard of 10 ppm has been proposed by a manufacturer, based upon human-equivalent modeling of rat experiments involving the intracellular production of the metabolites, acetic acid and acetaldehyde.
Date Last Revised: 07/29/2003

Literature Basis:
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Vinyl Acetate (monomer).
  • Bogdanffy, M.S., Sarangapani, R., Plowchalk, D.R., Jarabek, A. and Andersen, M.E.: A biologically based risk assessment for vinyl acetate-induced cancer and noncancer inhalation toxicity. Toxicol. Sci. 51(1): 19-35, 1999.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: Ambersorb XE-347 Tube (Orbo-92) (160/80 mg sections)
    analytical solvent: (95:5) Methylene Chloride:Methanol (v/v)
    maximum volume: 24 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
    maximum volume: 3 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL)
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: OSHA Manual of Analytical Methods (OSHA 51)
    method classification: Fully Validated
  • sampling media: Ambersorb XE-347 Tube (Orbo-92) (160/80 mg sections)
    analytical solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide (v/v)
    maximum volume: 24 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
    maximum volume: 3 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL)
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: OSHA SLTC In-House File
    method classification: Not Validated
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 143
    sampling information: 1 to 4 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 250 ppm
    detection limit: 1 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 25% for 10 to 20 ppm, 16% for 20 to 100 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 141
    sampling information: 1 stroke
    upper measurement limit: 0.9%
    detection limit: 0.006%
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 0.024 to 0.18%, 8% for 0.18 to 0.9%
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
    model/type: 8014-237S
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 120 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
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Page last updated: 03/16/2005

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