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Agent Name Methyl methacrylate CAS Number 80-62-6 Formula C5-H8-O2 Major Category Plastics & Rubber Synonyms Methacrylate monomer; Methyl ester of methacrylic acid; Methyl-2-methyl-2-propenoate; [NIOSH] Category (Meth)acrylates Description Colorless liquid with an acrid, fruity odor; [NIOSH] Sources/Uses Acrylates and methacrylates are monomers that are combined with other monomers or polymers to produce plastics used in cosmetics, medicine, dentistry, and manufacturing industries. [Marks, p. 181] Occupational asthma in operating room nurse; [Malo] Comments Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure. [CHRIS] Can cause occupational asthma; [Reference #1] The highest exposures to the monomer occur in workers who use the monomer to manufacture other products with lower exposures in workers who produce the monomer. [Reference #2] Dentists are exposed to a median 8-hour time weighted average of 0.8 ug/m3. [Exposure to Volatile Methacrylates in Dental Personnel: PMID 16020090] Restricted In the mid-1970s it was banned by the FDA for use in nail preparations. It was replaced by ethyl methacrylate which also caused sensitization. [Marks, p. 181-2] Reference Link Occupational asthma due to methyl methacrylate and cyanoacrylates Exposure Assessment Skin Designation (ACGIH) No TLV (ACGIH) 50 ppm STEL (ACGIH) 100 ppm PEL (OSHA) 100 ppm MAK 50 ppm IDLH (NIOSH) 1000 ppm Vapor Pressure 29 mm Hg Odor Threshold Low 0.01 ppm Odor Threshold High 0.46 ppm Lethal Concentration LC50 (rats) = 78,000 mg/m3/4H Explanatory Notes Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.049 ppm); Reference Link A cross-industry assessment of personal exposures ...[J Occup Environ Hyg. 2008] - PubMed Result Flammability (NFPA) 3: may ignite at ambient temperature Adverse Effects Asthma Yes Dermatotoxin Skin Burns Skin Sensitizer Yes IARC Carcinogen Not Classifiable Links to Other NLM Databases Health Studies Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: METHYL METHACRYLATE   Toxicity Information Search TOXNET Chemical Information Search ChemIDplus Biomedical References Search PubMed Related Information in Haz-Map Diseases Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: Asthma, occupational Contact dermatitis, allergic Processes Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: Burning Synthetic Polymers Welding Over Coatings Working with Glues and Adhesives Activities Activities with risk of exposure: Sculpturing plastics

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