Information Regarding Methyl Acetate and Solvent

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~v2Zc5h:1
METHYL ACETATE
CASRN: 79-20-9

U. S. Production :

Cellulosic solvent, 40%; vinyl solvent, 40%; Miscellaneous, 20% (1979)
[CHEMICAL PRODUCTS SYNOPSIS: Methyl Acetate, 1979]**PEER REVIEWED**

Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts :

A number of aprotic solvents /including methyl acetate/ which had previously been found to induce mitotic aneuploidy in yeast were tested for their effects on reassembly of twice recycle tubulin from pig brain. Some of the solvents which were strong aneuploidy inducing mutagens in yeast slowed down tubulin assembly in vitro at concentrations lower than those required for aneuploidy induction.
[Groeschel-Stewart U et al; Mutat Res 149 (3): 333-8 (1985)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Formulations/Preparations :

It is generally mixed with acetone & methyl alcohol /when used as solvent/.
[International Labour Office. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Vols. I&II. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1983.781]**PEER REVIEWED**

General Manufacturing Information :

IT IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF METHYL ACETONE, A MIXED SOLVENT DERIVED FROM DISTILLATION OF WOOD... .
[American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices. 5th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1986.367]**PEER REVIEWED**

Major Uses :

SOLVENT FOR NITROCELLULOSE, ACETYLCELLULOSE, RESINS & OILS; MFR ARTIFICIAL LEATHER.
[Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1996.1029]**PEER REVIEWED**

Major Uses :

Paint remover compounds, laquer solvent, intermediate, synthetic flavoring.
[Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 12th ed. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Rheinhold Co., 1993754]**PEER REVIEWED**

Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary :

Methyl acetate's production and use mainly as a solvent and as a chemical intermediate may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. It also naturally occurs in certain plants. If released to air, a vapor pressure of 216 mm Hg at 25 deg C indicates methyl acetate will exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase methyl acetate will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 47 to 94 days. If released to soil, methyl acetate is expected to have very high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 30. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon a Henry's Law constant of 1.15X10-4 atm-cu m/mole. Volatilization from dry soils may occur based on the vapor pressure of this compound. Limited data suggest that methyl acetate is expected to biodegrade in both soil and water under both aerobic(5 day BOD from 26 to >95% biodegradation) and anaerobic (rate of biodegradation= 16.6 ppm C/day) conditions. Hydrolysis of methyl acetate in soil and water is not expected to be a significant process except in highly basic soils with a pH >9. If released into water, methyl acetate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in water based on the estimated Koc. Volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based on its Henry's Law constant. The half-life for volatilization from a model river and a model pond is 9 hr and 5 days, respectively. An estimated BCF of 0.8 suggests that the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Occupational exposure to methyl acetate may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where methyl acetate is produced or used. The general public is likely to be exposed to methyl acetate through the ingestion of foods or alcoholic beverages containing this compound. (SRC)
**PEER REVIEWED**

Artificial Pollution Sources :

Methyl acetate's production and use as a solvent for cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetates, resins and oils, in the manufacture of artificial leathers, synthetic flavorings, and in organic synthesis(1,2), and as a chemical intermediate (3) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).
[(1) Elam EU; Kirk-Othmer Encycl Chem Tech 3rd Ed. NY,NY: John-Wiley 9: 311-37 (1978) (2) Lewis RJ Sr; Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary 12th ed NY,NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. p. 754 (1993) (3) Ashford RD; Ashford's Dictionary of Industrial Chemicals. London, England: Wavelength Publ Ltd p. 571 (1994)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Other Environmental Concentrations :

Methyl acetate was identified as a solvent in a sample of printer's inks at a concn of 0.1% (W/W)(1).
[(1) Rastogi SC; Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 20: 543-47 (1991)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Sampling Procedures :

Samples are collected on silica gel or fritted scrubbers, using ethanol or isopropanol as solvent, but air volumes of 100 to 200 liters are necessary to obtain measurable sample size.
[Clayton, G.D., F.E. Clayton (eds.) Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Volumes 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F: Toxicology. 4th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1993-1994.2977]**PEER REVIEWED**

Analytic Laboratory Methods :

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY WAS USED TO DETECT ORGANIC SOLVENT VAPORS IN AIR FROM DYE & LACQUER INDUSTRY. LOWEST CONCN OF METHYL ACETATE VAPORS DETECTED WAS 1.0 MG/CU M.
[KOWALSKI WJ ET AL; ORCH POWIETRZA 9 (4): 118-20 (1975)]**PEER REVIEWED**

Special Reports :

Tanaka S et al; Industrial Health 34 (2): 125-131 1996. Breakthrough times for vapors of organic solvents with low boiling points in steady-state and pulsating flows on respirator cartridges.

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