Chemical Sampling Information
	Ethyl Formate
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: Ethyl ester of formic acid, Ethyl methanoate OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1155 Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 109-94-4 NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: LQ8400000 Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1190 129 [27 KB, PDF] NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Ethyl formate: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more Exposure Limits OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 100 ppm, 300 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 100 ppm, 300 mg/m3 TWA OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 100 ppm, 300 mg/m3 TWA American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 100 ppm, 303 mg/m3 TWA National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 100 ppm, 300 mg/m3 TWA Health Factors NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 1,500 ppm Potential symptoms: Irritation of eyes, upper respiratory system; burning sensation, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath; headache; drowsiness; eye redness, pain; skin redness, dryness, cracking, burning sensation; in animals: narcosis Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16); Narcosis (HE8); Explosive, Flammable (HE18) Affected organs: Eyes, respiratory system, CNS Notes: Vapor/air mixtures may be explosive. Ethyl formate is generally recognized as safe by the FDA as a direct food substance (21 CFR 184.1295). Ethyl formate is hydrolyzed to ethanol and formic acid, the latter being the toxic principal for the use of ethyl formate as a pesticide. The pesticide tolerance for ethyl formate (used to control the flour beetle, Indian meal moth, and raisin moth) was revoked by the EPA in 1999 (removal of 40 CFR 180.520). Interest in ethyl formate as a pesticide, however, continues outside the U.S. Date Last Revised: 11/06/2006 Literature Basis: NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ethyl formate International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Ethyl formate. EPA: Federal Register: Dalapon, Fluchloralin, et al.; Various Tolerance Revocations. Haritos, V.S. and Dojchinov, G.: Cytochrome c oxidase inhibition in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) by formate, the toxic metabolite of volatile alkyl formates. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 136(2): 135-143, 2003. Keenes, M., et al.: Disinfestation of food processing equipment. Presented at the 12th Annual International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction, San Diego, CA, 30 October – 3 November, 2005. Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethyl Formate. In, Sittig’s Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1106-1108. Monitoring Methods used by OSHA Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method: sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh) analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide maximum volume: 10 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1452) [19 KB, PDF] method classification: Partially Validated 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.