Ethyl formate

IDLH Documentation

CAS number: 109­94­4

NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA

Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (300 mg/m3) TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (303 mg/m3) TWA

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a fruity odor.

LEL:. . 2.8% (10% LEL, 2,800 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 8,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Smyth [1956] cited in Patty [1963] and by UCC [1968] that 5 of 6 rats died following a 4­hour exposure to 8,000 ppm and no rats died from a 4­hour exposure to 4,000 ppm.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:


Species

Reference
LC50

(ppm)
LCLo

(ppm)

Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)
Derived

value
Cat

Rat

Rat
Flury and Zernik 1931

Smyth 1956

Smyth et al. 1954
-----

LC83: 8,000

-----
10,000

-----

8,000
1.5 hr

4 hr

4 hr
14,500 ppm (1.45)

16,000 ppm (2.0)

16,000 ppm (2.0)

1,450 ppm

1,600 ppm

1,600 ppm


Lethal dose data:


Species

Reference

Route
LD50

(mg/kg)
LDLo

(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD
Derived value
Rat

G. pig

Rabbit
Jenner et al. 1964

Jenner et al. 1964

Munch 1972
oral

oral

oral
1,850

1,110

2,075
-----

-----

-----
4,205 ppm

2,523 ppm

4,716 ppm
421 ppm

252 ppm

472 ppm


Other animal data: It has been stated that rats have survived a 4­hour exposure to 4,000 ppm [UCC 1968].

Human data: It has been reported that 330 ppm produced slight eye irritation and rapidly increasing nasal irritation [Flury and Zernik 1931].

Revised IDLH: 1,500 ppm

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ethyl formate is 1,500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Flury and Zernik 1931; Smyth 1956; Smyth et al. 1954]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers at concentrations above 330 ppm.


REFERENCES:

1. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch­ und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 375 (in German).

2. Jenner PM, Hagan EC, Taylor JM, Cook EL, Fitzhugh OG [1964]. Food flavourings and compounds of related structure. I. Acute oral toxicity. Food Cosmet Toxicol 2:327­343.

3. Munch JC [1972]. Aliphatic alcohols and alkyl esters: narcotic and lethal potencies to tadpoles and to rabbits. Ind Med Surg 41:31­33.

4. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1855.

5. Smyth HF Jr [1956]. Improved communication: hygienic standards for daily inhalation. Am Ind Hyg Assoc Q 17(2):129­185.

6. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC [1954]. Range­finding toxicity data: list V. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 10:61­68.

7. UCC [1968]. Toxicology studies: ethyl formate. New York, NY: Union Carbide Corporation.
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