Chemical Sampling Information
	Methotrexate
Quick Links General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number General Description Synonyms: Amethopterin; 4-Amino-l0-methylfolic acid; 1-Glutamic acid, N-(4-(((2,4-diamino-6-pteridinyl)methyl)methylamino))benzoyl; Glutamic acid, N-(p-(((2,4-diamino-6-pteridinyl)methyl)methylamino)benzoyl)-, L; Methopterin; Amethopterine; HDMTX; MTX; L-N-(p-(((2,4-diamino-6-pteridinyl)methyl)methylamino)benzoyl) Glutamic acid OSHA IMIS Code Number: M106 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 59-05-2 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: MA1225000 Chemical Description and Physical Properties: Bright yellow-orange, odorless, crystalline powder molecular formula: C20H22N8O5 molecular weight: 454.4 melting point: 185-204°C (monohydrate) Health Factors International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans [1021 KB PDF] Potential symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss; bloody diarrhea; sores inside the mouth; low white blood cell count; hair loss; skin rash; dry cough; liver and kidney damage. Health Effects: Reproductive hazard---Impaired fertility, Miscarriage, Teratogenesis (HE5); Immunosuppression (HE3). Affected organs: Blood, liver, kidneys, reproductive system Notes: OSHA does not have a PEL for methotrexate. One case report indicated allergic contact dermatitis in a worker at a methotrexate manufacturer, which was attributed to cross-sensitivity with a precursor to methotrexate synthesis, 2,4-diamino-6-chloromethylpteridine HCl. Except for rare cases of allergic contact dermatitis, adverse health effects of occupational exposure to methotrexate have not been reported. Health effects, if any, of the increased incidence of genetic damage markers reported for workers (with unknown exposure levels) at a methotrexate production facility in China remain to be elucidated. Teratogenic effects (craniofacial and digital anomalies, growth retardation) have been described in offspring of pregnant women receiving methotrexate for cancer treatment or in attempts to induce abortion. Date Last Revised: 04/20/2006 Literature Basis: Bawle, E.V., Conard, J.V. and Weiss, L.: Adult and two children with fetal methotrexate syndrome. Teratology 57(2): 51-55, 1998. Dastychová, E.: Allergic contact dermatitis in methotrexate manufacture. Contact Dermatitis 48(4): 226-227, 2003. Deng, H., et al.: Investigating genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate using three genetic end-points. Mutagenesis 20(5): 351-357, 2005. Izzedine, H., Launay-Vacher, V. Karie, S., Caramella, C., de Person, F. and Deray, G.: Is low-dose methotrexate nephrotoxic? Case report and review of the literature. Clin. Nephrol. 64(4): 315-319, 2005. Kalantzis, A., Marshman, Z., Falconer, D.T., Morgan, P.R. and Odell E.W.: Oral effects of low-dose methotrexate treatment. Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod. 100(1): 52-62, 2005. Lateef, O., Shakoor, N. and Balk, R.A.: Methotrexate pulmonary toxicity. Expert Opin. Drug Saf. 4(4): 723-730, 2005. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Methotrexate. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1504-1505. Sessink, P.J., Friemel, N.S., Anzion, R.B. and Bos, R.P.: Biological and environmental monitoring of occupational exposure of pharmaceutical plant workers to methotrexate. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 65(6): 401-403, 1994. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: OSHA Versatile Sampler (OVS-2) 13 mm XAD-2 Tube (270/140 mg sections, 20/60 mesh) with Glass Fiber filter enclosed. analytical solvent: 0.4 M sodium carbonate in (75:25) water:methanol maximum volume: 120 Liters   maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UV method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA PV2146) method classification: Partially Validated Bulk method: Limit the amount of bulk submitted to one gram or one mL. All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.