| Agent Name |
Acetonitrile |
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| CAS Number |
75-05-8 |
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| Formula |
C2-H3-N |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Acetonitril [German, Dutch]; Acetonitrile; Cyanomethane; Cyanure de methyl [French]; Ethanenitrile; Ethyl nitrile; Methane, cyano-; Methanecarbonitrile; Methyl cyanide; Methylkyanid [Czech]; [ChemIDplus] UN1648 |
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| Category |
Nitriles |
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| Description |
Colorless liquid with an aromatic odor; Note: Forms cyanide in the body; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used as a solvent for extraction of hydrocarbons, for separation of fatty acids from vegetable oils, and as a specialty solvent; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
In subchronic animal studies, histopathological liver effects occur. In a human inhalation study, all five subjects detected the odor at 40 ppm, the initial concentration of the experiment. After two or three hours, some olfactory fatigue was observed. A fatality was reported in a worker who painted for 2 days in a confined space with a resin containing 30-40% acetonitrule. [ACGIH] Cases have been reported of children developing symptoms of cyanide poisoning within hours of drinking acetonitrile-based artificial nail remover. [ATSDR Case Studies # 15] In reproductive studies of experimental animals, acetonitrile causes fetal skeletal abnormalities. [Frazier, p. 349-50] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
20 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
40 ppm |
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| MAK |
20 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
500 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Exposures to 160 ppm for 4 hours has caused flushing of the face and a feeling of constriction in the chest; exposures to 500 ppm for brief (undefined) time periods has resulted in only irritation to the nose and throat [Deichmann and Gerarde 1969]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
88.8 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
40 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
1161 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 7,551 ppm/8H |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 1160 ppm); Flash point = 12.8 deg C |
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| Half Life |
Whole body: 15-32 hours; [TDR, p. 23] |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| Other Poison |
Chemical Asphyxiant |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ACETONITRILE
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