Myristic Acid

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: Should a spill occur while you are handling this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION, then you should dampen the solid spill material with 60-70% ethanol and transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with 60-70% ethanol to pick up any remaining material. Seal the absorbent paper, and any of your clothes, which may be contaminated, in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with 60-70% ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

30 [mg/m3]

330 [mg/m3]

2000 [mg/m3]

RECOMMENDED RESPIRATOR: Where the neat test chemical is weighed and diluted, wear a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with an organic vapor/acid gas cartridge (specific for organic vapors, HCl, acid gas and SO2) with a dust/mist filter. (NTP, 1992)

CELL GROWTH OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE ATCC 12341 WAS INHIBITED BY THE ANTIBIOTIC CERULENIN, A SPECIFIC INHIBITOR OF FATTY ACID & STEROL SYNTHESIS, WAS REVERSED BY MYRISTIC ACID IN A 14:0 RATIO. IT PRODUCED OVER 70% REVERSION OF CELL GROWTH INHIBITION. MYRISTIC ACID TAKEN INTO THE CELLS WAS METABOLIZED & SYNTHESIZED INTO FATTY ACIDS OF A COMPOSITION CLOSELY SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE NATIVE FATTY ACIDS, & THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECOVERY OF CELL GROWTH.

... Reports the results of a 6 week feeding study in rats exposed to a diet that contained 50% fat as caprilic and myristic acids. This resulted in hyperlipidemia but no other effects were reported. ... Describes the results of a 90 day feeding study in rabbits that received 25 mg/kg/day of hydrogenated coconut oil (containing glycerides of lauric, capric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids). Rabbits exhibited hypercholesteremia, increased plasma triglycerides and fatty acids, accumulation of cholesterol in the liver and aorta, and alteration of hepatic enzyme activity.

The effect of dietary myristic acid, fed as trimyristin either mixed or interesterified with groundnut oil, on serum cholesterol levels was examined in rats. Incorporation of trimyristin in the oil resulted in marked incr in serum cholesterol levels, compared with rats fed groundnut oil only, although a direct relation between serum cholesterol & the myristic acid content of the dietary fat was not apparent. /Ttrimyristin/

... Associations between serum fatty acid composition as well as fatty acid intakes and prostate cancer risk were examined ... The cohort included 29,133 male smokers aged 50-69 years. During 5-8 years of follow-up, 246 prostate cancer cases were diagnosed. One control was selected and matched by age (1 month) for each case from the cohort subjects alive and free of prostate cancer at the time the case was diagnosed. This study included 198 case-control pairs with baseline serum sample available for both. Fatty acids of serum cholesterol esters were measured as a percentage of total fatty acids, using capillary gas chromatography. Intakes of fatty acids were assessed from a validated self-administered dietary questionnaire ... Twofold risk was found in the highest quartile of serum myristic acid compared with the lowest quartile (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.64) ...

LC50 Oryzias latipes (red killifish) 118 mg/L/96 hr; Conditions: semistatic test, renewal every 24 hr. /Sodium salt/

EC50 Methanothrix sp. (bacteria) 4.8 mmol (1096 mg)/L/24 hr; Conditions: upflow anaerobic sludge bed rector (predominant methanogen in sludge: Methanothrix), 30 °C, pH 7, intermittent stirring every 30 min for 30 sec, acetate as carbon source; Effect: inhibition of methanogenic activity (minimum inhibitory concn 2.6 mmol (594 mg)/L/24 hr). /Technical grade/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 50,000 for the free acid(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 6.11(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that undissociated myristic acid is expected to be immobile in soil(SRC). The pKa of myristic acid is 4.90(4), indicating that this compound will exist almost entirely in anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5). Volatilization of myristic acid from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given the pKa(4). Myristic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 1.4X10-6 mm Hg(6). Myristic acid reached 2% of its theoretical BOD over 5 days in a sewage inoculum(7); a half-life of 20 hours was observed for the sodium salt in Warburg tests using an unacclimated sludge inoculum at 25 °C(8).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 50,000 for the free acid(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 6.11(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that undissociated myristic acid is expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa of 4.90(4) indicates myristic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(5). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 56(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderate(SRC). Myristic acid reached 2% of its theoretical BOD over 5 days in a sewage inoculum(8); a half-life of 20 hours was observed for the sodium salt in Warburg tests using an unacclimated sludge inoculum at 25 °C(9).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), myristic acid, which has a vapor pressure of 1.4X10-6 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase myristic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 23 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.7X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Particulate-phase myristic acid may be removed from the air by wet or dry deposition(SRC). Myristic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(4).

Myristic acid has been identified as a volatile flavor component of mutton and beef(1). Myristic acid was identified as a volatile constituent of blended nectarine skin and pulp(2). Aerosol emission rates of myristic acid from charbroiling hamburger were 17.1 mg/kg of meat cooked for extra lean hamburger (approx. 10.0% fat) and 87.0 mg/kg of meat cooked for regular hamburger (approx. 21% fat); frying hamburger meat led to a myristic acid emission rate of 6.2 mg/kg of meat cooked(3). Myristic acid was found in paprika oleoresin at <0.1 mg/kg(4).

The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following ingredients are safe in the present practices of use andconcentration described in the safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing, which may be basedon a QRA...Myristic Acid...

Safe for use in cosmetics, with qualifications

The existing information was reviewed by the independent Expert Panel for Fragrance Safety and supports the use of Myristic acid as described in this fragrance ingredient safety assessment. Data for myristic acid and from read-across analog palmitic acid show that Myristic acid is not expected to be genotoxic. The repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and local respiratory toxicity endpoints were evaluated using the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) for a Cramer Class I material, and the exposures are below the TTC for these endpoints. Data for myristic acid and for read-across analog nonionic acid show that there are no safety concerns for skin sensitization under the current declared levels of use. Myristic acid is not expected to be photoirritating/photoallergenic based on evaluation of the ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectra.

Fatty acids are an important part of the normal daily diet of mammals, birds and invertebrates.

Annual consumption is 1400.00 lb. Individual consumption is 0.001186 mg/kg/day.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ A non-photosynthetic mutant of /Euglena gracilis (algae)/ strain Z was used /in/ determination of growth /(biomass)/ at ... /5 g/L of myristic acid with/ continuous shaking /at/ 27 °C, pH 3.3. Test substance floated on surface in initial phase of growth, but insol material was consumed during growth. Previous adaptation was required for growth. Stationary phase was reached after 5 days.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ No mortality /of Hyale plumulosa (gammarus)/ occured at saturation /of myristic acid/ at 25 + / - 2 °C, pH 8.2, salinity 25 ppt for 48 hr in a saltwater test.

/OTHER TERRESTRIAL SPECIES/ Beauveria bassiana (fungus) was incubated in complex medium at 25 °C for 24 hr with 500 mg/L myristic acid (acetone as solvent). After the addition of test substances pH was adjusted to 6.0 with NaOH. Germination of conidia were 75% for myristic acid and 71% for acetone control.

/OTHER TERRESTRIAL SPECIES/ Paecilomyces fumoso-roseus (fungus) was incubated in complex medium at 25 °C for 24 hr with 500 mg/L myristic acid (acetone as solvent). After the addition of test substances pH was adjusted to 6.0 with NaOH. Germination of conidia were 50% for myristic acid and 71% for acetone control.

/OTHER TERRESTRIAL SPECIES/ Myristic acid was included at a final concn of 2.5% (25 g/L) in a diet containing amino acids, vitamins and glucose and fed to /Pseudosarcophaga affinis (not soil dwelling arthropod)/ larvae at 23 °C. There were 1.7% mortality after 24 hr and 3.1% after 7 days. /Potassium salt/

Myristic acid was found in fine particulate matter released (by resuspension and agitation of the leaf composites) from green and dead plant leaves, from plant species characteristic of the Los Angeles area, at concns of 147.8 and 237.4 ug/g, respectively(1). Myristic acid was identified as a volatile constituent of blended nectarine skin and pulp(2). Myristic acid was found in paprika oleoresin at <0.1 mg/kg(3).

Myristic acid was detected in aqueous industrial effluent extracts collected between Nov 1979-81 in the following industrial categories (concn in one effluent extract): paint and ink (17 ng/uL); printing and publishing (23 ng/uL); textile mills (4 ng/uL); electronics (5513 ng/uL); amusements and athletic goods (470 ng/uL); and publicly owned treatment works at an unknown concn(1). Myristic acid was identified in the effluent of two publicly owned treatment works (POTW) facilities located in an industrial area of NJ and a rural area of NJ at estimated concns of 5 and 69 ppb, respectively(2). Grab samples of the final effluent from the Addison and Decatur, IL POTWs, obtained in April and June 1980, respectively, were found to contain myristic acid at unreported concns(3). A sample of final effluent, 50% grab and 50% 8 hour composite, obtained from the St. Charles, IL POTW in March 1980, was found to contain myristic acid at an unreported concn(3). Myristic acid was detected in the bleaching effluent from straw pulping and in the combined mill effluent from a straw pulp mill in Denmark at unreported concns(4). Myristic acid was detected in Los Angeles County wastewater treatment plant effluent, collected between Nov 1980 and Aug 1981, at a concn of 1200 ug/L(5). Myristic acid was identified in vapor at concns of 100 to 300 ng/cu m and on particles at concns of 8 to 600 ng/g emitted during combustion of coal at the Ames power plant in Iowa(6). Wastewater from two kraft paper mills in Georgia sampled in March 1972 were found to contain approximately 0.010 and 0.020 mg/L myristic acid (identified as the methyl derivative)(7). An effluent-irrigated citrus grove near Glil-Yam, Israel was found to contain 15 ppb myristic acid at a depth of 20 m in the unsaturated soil zone(8). Myristic acid was identified in the acidic fraction of 5 to 7 day sewage and sludge composites from the Iona Island Sewage Treatment Plant, British Columbia at concns ranging from 23 to 150 ug/L(9). Myristic acid was found at a maximum concn of 109 ng/L in groundwater contaminated by industrial wastes near Barcelona, Spain(10). The mean myristic acid concn in discharged effluent waters (24 hour composite samples) from a pulp mill producing 75,000 tons of pulp annually near Kawerau, New Zealand, in Nov to Dec 1991 and Jan to Feb 1992, was 41 ppb(11). Myristic acid was detected in two effluent samples taken from a sewage treatment plant in Prestwich, North West England, at a mean concn of 4.05 ug/L(12). Myristic acid has been identified in leachate samples collected from the interior of a municipal landfill situated in Gryta, Vasteras, Sweden in May 1990, concn unknown(13).

Fine particle aerosol emission rates of myristic acid from heavy-duty diesel trucks, noncatalyst-equipped, and catalyst-equipped automobiles were 45.7, 1.7, and 11.9 ug/km, respectively(1). Myristic acid was detected in road dust particles collected from paved streets in a residential area of Pasadena, CA in May 1988 at a concn of 171.8 ug/g of particle sample; brake lining particles at a concn of 8.1 ug/g of particle sample; and tire wear particles at a concn of 634.5 ug/g of particle sample(2). Myristic acid was emitted from medium duty diesel trucks at 5.3 ug/km(3).

Myristic acid is a food additive permitted for direct addition to food for human consumption, as long as 1) the quantity of the substance added to food does not exceed the amount reasonably required to accomplish its intended physical, nutritive, or other technical effect in food, and 2) any substance intended for use in or on food is of appropriate food grade and is prepared and handled as a food ingredient.

CIR ingredient: Myristic Acid

Found in most animal and vegetable fats; [Merck Index] Used as a flavor and fragrance in food, soaps, shaving creams, perfumes, and cosmetics; Also used in lubricants and coatings for anodized aluminum; [HSDB]

Aluminum Producing [Category: Industry]

CHEM INT FOR NITROGEN DERIVS-EG, ALKANOLAMINE CONDENSATES

CHEM INT FOR ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE (EMOLLIENT, PLASTICIZER)

Myristic acid is used in the food industry as a flavor ingredient. It is found widely distributed in fats throughout the plant and animal kingdom, including common human foodstuffs, such as nutmeg.

2023: 10,000,000 - <50,000,000 lb

(1979) 6.95X10+9 G (MIXT WITH C12 ACID)

(1981) 5.54X10+9 G (MIXT WITH C12 ACID)

Production volumes for non-confidential chemicals reported under the Inventory Update Rule. [Table#5500]

Tetradecanoic acid is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) chemical (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S. in >1 million pounds in 1990 and/or 1994. The HPV list is based on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule. (IUR) (40 CFR part 710 subpart B; 51FR21438).

Preparation from tall-oil fatty acids: Segessmann, Molnar, U.S. pat 2,481,356 (1949); from 9-ketotetradecanoic acid; by electrolysis of methyl hydrogen adipate + decanoic acid; by Maurer oxidation of myristyl alcohol; from cetanol: Selwitz, U.S. pat. 2,969,380 (1961 to Gulf).

Fractional distillation of coconut acid and other vegetable oils.

Lauric acid, broad cut (fractionation; coproduced with lauric acid, narrow cut).

From fatty acid mixture of palm seed oil.

EPA Safer Chemical Functional Use Classes -> Surfactants

Safer Chemical Classes -> Green circle - The chemical has been verified to be of low concern

Fragrance Ingredients

Flavouring Agent -> FLAVOURING_AGENT -> JECFA Functional Classes

Flavoring Agents -> JECFA Flavorings Index

Cosmetics -> Cleansing; Emulsifying

Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable

Tetradecanoic acid: ACTIVE

Potassium salts of fatty acids are used as insecticides, acaricides, herbicides and algaecides. They are used to control a variety of insects and mosses, algae, lichens, liverworts and other weeds, in or on many food and feed crops, ornamental flower beds, house plants, trees, shrubs, walks and driveways, and on dogs, puppies and cats. /Fatty acid salts/

Commercial products contain 91 to 93% C14 or 96 to 99% C14.