| GHS classification | DangerH314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P321, P363, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for < 0.1% (1 of 1373) of reports.H290 (32.3%): May be corrosive to metals [Warning Corrosive to Metals] |
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| Regulatory information | Chemical: Methanesulfonic acidMethanesulfonic acid is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Methanesulfonic acid are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)Status: Active Update: 06-01-2022 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/14198Methanesulphonic acid: HSNO Approval: HSR003638 Approved with controlsThe New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.) |
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| Hazards summary | Corrosive to skin[Quick CPC] CNS depression occurs in high-dose animal studies[HSDB] Causes burnsInhalation of high concentration can cause chemical pneumonitis[Aldrich MSDS] |
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| Special Reports | European Chemicals BureauIUCLID Dataset, Methanesulphonic Acid (75-75-2) (2000 CD-ROM edition) contains information on use, toxicology, and environmental effects of this chemical as supplied to the European Union by industry.[Available from, as of October 1, 2009: http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/IUCLID-] |
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| EPA Safer Chemical | Chemical: Methanesulfonic acid |
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| Toxic Combustion Products | Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions: Carbon oxides, Sulfur oxides |
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| Hazard Classes and Categories | Met. Corr. 1 (32.3%)Skin corrosion - category 1BAcute toxicity (Oral) - Category 3CorrosivesSkin Corr. 1B |
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| Shipment Methods and Regulations | Methanesulfonic acid is shipped in tank trucks and in plastic 55-gal drums or smaller containers with polyethylene inserts.The freight classification is Alkyl Sulfonic Acid, Liquid8 Corrosive Material, UN 2586, Chemical N01BN. |
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| Shipping Name/ Number DOT/UN/NA/IMO | UN3265, Class 8, Corrosive liquid, acidic, organic, n.o.s. (Methanesulfonic acid)[Sigma-Aldrich Material Safety Data Sheet for Methanesulfonic acid (CAS: 75-75-2). Available from, as of November 20, 2009: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com] |
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| Explosive Limits and Potential | Lower explosive limit: 11.4% (by volume)upper explosive limit: 24.3% (by volume)Electrolysis of a mixture /of hydrogen fluoride and methanesulfonic acid/ produced oxygen difluoride which exploded. |
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| Hazardous Reactivities and Incompatibilities | Materials to avoid: Amines, strong reducing agents, strong oxidizing agents, basesExplosive reaction with ethyl vinyl ether.Incompatible with hydrogen fluoride.Methanesulfonic acid is too powerful a catalyst for O-alkylation with the vinyl ether, causing explosive polymerisation of the latter on the multimol scale. Dichloroacetic acid is a satisfactory catalyst on the 3 g mol scale. |
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| Fire fighting procedures | Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.Special protective equipment for fire-fighters: Wear self contained breathing apparatus for fire fighting if necessary. |
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| Storage conditions | Store in cool place. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Recommended storage temperature: 2 - 8 °C. Heat sensitive. |
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| Cleanup methods | SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.Personal precautions: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains. Methods for cleaning up: Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal. |
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| Disposal methods | SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity 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 qualitypotential migration in soil or watereffects on animal and plant lifeand conformance with environmental and public health regulations.Observe all federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. |
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| Preventive Measures | Hygiene measures: Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.In case of skin contact: Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash off with soap and plenty of water. Consult a physician.In case of eye contact: Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician. |
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| Protective Action Criteria (PAC) | 0.18 [ppm]2.8 [ppm]17 [ppm] |
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| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Respiratory protection: Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a full-face respirator with multipurpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).Hand protection: The selected protective gloves have to satisfy the specifications of EU Directive 89/686/EEC and the Standard EN 374 derived from it. Handle with gloves.Eye protection: Safety glasses.Skin and body protection: Choose body protection according to the amount and concentration of the dangerous substance at the work place. |
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| Ecotoxicity values | EC50Species: Daphnia magna (Crustacea)Concentration 1.7 mg/L for 24 hrEffect: immobilization /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source/Species: Daphnia pulex (Crustacea)Concentration: 33 mg/L for 24 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source/Concentration: 12 mg/L for 48 hr/ Conditions of bioassay not specified in source/Species: Selenastrum capricornutum /Freshwater algae/Conditions: freshwater, static (pH 7.5-9.4)Concentration: 7.2 mg/L for 96 hr (pH 8.3)Effect: inhibition of cell multiplicationFor more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for Methanesulfonic acid (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page. |
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| Environmental fate | TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 1(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that methanesulfonic acid is expected to have very mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of methanesulfonic acid is -1.86(3), indicating that this compound will exist almost entirely in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(4). Volatilization from moist soil is not expected because the acid exists as an anion and anions do not volatilize. Methanesulfonic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 4.28X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C(5). Utilizing the Japanese MITI test, 100% of the Theoretical BOD was reached in four weeks(6) indicating that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 1(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that methanesulfonic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa of -1.86(3) indicates methanesulfonic 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(4). Methanesulfonic acid is miscible with water(5) and therefore bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Utilizing the Japanese MITI test, 100% of the Theoretical BOD was reached in four weeks(6) indicating that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in water(SRC).ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), methanesulfonic acid, which has a measured vapor pressure of 4.28X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase methanesulfonic 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 58 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 2.8X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Methanesulfonic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC). |
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| Adverse effects | Neurotoxin - Other CNS neurotoxin |
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| Soil Adsorption/Mobility | Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of methanesulfonic acid can be estimated to be 1(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that methanesulfonic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. The pKa of methanesulfonic acid is -1.86(3), indicating that this compound will almost entirely exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(4). |
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| TSCA Test Submissions | Methansulfonic acid (CAS # 75-75-2) undiluted, was evlauated for acute peroral toxicity. The LD50 for non-fasted male rats was 0.281 ml/kg. Dosage and mortality data are as follows: 0.25 (2/5), 0.5 (5/5), and 1.0 (2/3) ml/kg. Clinical signs at all doses included sluggishnes and unsteady gait. Gross pathology included livers mottled and burnedstomachs burnedpylorus hemorrhaged and gas filledintestines hemorrhaged, injected, and gas filledand kidneys mottled and slightly congested. The test substance was found to be highly toxic following acute peroral intubation.Methansulfonic acid (CAS # 75-75-2) was evlauated for subchronic toxicity. The test substance was administered to Harlan-Wistar albino rats at doses of 0, 10, 50, 200, or 500 mg/kg in the diets. As no effect was visible after the first day of dosing, the 10 mg/kg was increased to 2000 mg/kg. None of the rats died in this study. There was no significant effect during the remainder of the 7 days of treatment and none of the criteria of stress measured (appetite, body weight change, liver and kidney weight) were significantly altered.Methanesulfonic acid was evaluated in an epidemiology study. The methodology used to assess health effects from potential exposure included a work/family history questionnairephysical measurementschest x-raypulmonray function testsgeneral blood chemistriesCBC with indices and differentialurinalysisurinary phenolsputum cytologyand a physician's examination. The workforce consisted of 10 male employees. Chest x-rays, sputum cytology, all liver and kidney function tests, and urine pheonol were normaland no serious blood disorder or skin disorder was reported. It was determined that there was no evidence of hematolgoical, biochemical or clinical aberrations caused by occupational exposures. One person may have an allegic response to contact with cellosolve. |
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| Natural Pollution Sources | Methanesulfonic acid is produced by atmospheric hydrolysis of dimethyl sulfoxide(1), which itself is produced from the atmospheric photochemical oxidation of dimethyl sulfide, which comes from marine algae and salt marsh plants(2). |
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| Atmospheric Concentrations | URBAN/SUBURBAN: Methanesulfonic acid concentration in air particle samples collected from atop an office building in Kobe City, Japan, 1 km distant from Osaka Bay(1).RURAL/REMOTE: Methanesulfonic acid had sub-micrometer-aerosol concentration peaks of approximately 0.47 and 0.4 mol/cu m in February and December, respectively, in the atmosphere at Cape Grim off of Australia in 1989(1). Methanesulfonic acid was found at the highest levels in atmospheric samples collected around noon and concentrated in the smaller size particles (0.25-2 um in diameter) at concentrations of 5.3, 5.5, and 15.7 ng/cu meter in samples taken from the Southern Bahamas, the Northern Bahamas, and the Sargasso Sea, respectively(2). Methanesulfonic acid was found in Germany at concentrations of 0.02 - 0.43 ug/cu m in atmospheric samples taken in October and November of 1978(3). Aerosol methanesulfonic acid was detected at six stations in the Pacific at mean concentrations of 0.097, 0.029, 0.044, 0.026, 0.021, and 0.024 ug/cu m(4). Aerosol methanesulfonic acid has been found at mean concentrations of 9.27X10-9 and 1.14X10-9 mol/cu m in July of 1985 and December of 1986 in the marine atmosphere of the British Isles(5).RURAL/REMOTE: Methanesulfonic acid was detected in 62 out of 62 air samples collected from the UK to Antarctica between Mar 10, 1992 to Oct 1, 1993 at concentrations ranging from 1.72 to 362 ng/cu m, average 77 ng/cu m(1). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in 18 out of 18 air samples collected from the UK to the Falkland Islands between Mar 10, 1992 to Jan 11, 1992 at concentrations ranging from 1.72 to 39.7 ng/cu m, average 14.3 ng/cu m(1). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in 44 out of 44 air samples collected from areas south of the Falkland Islands between May 11, 1992 to Oct 1, 1993 at concentrations ranging from 1.94 to 362 ng/cu m, average 103 ng/cu m(1). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in 23 out of 23 air samples collected from the Halley Bay in the east Weddell Sea between Aug 12, 1992 to Oct 1, 1993 at concentrations ranging from 2.48 to 362 ng/cu m, average 136 ng/cu m(1). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in the upper limit of 39 samples collected from the Atlantic ocean between March 1987 to September 1988 at concentrations ranging from 3.9-8.5 ng/cu m(2). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in the upper limit of 4 samples collected from the English channel between April 1987 to September 1988 at concentrations ranging from 13.8-24.3 ng/cu m(2). Methanesulfonic acid was detected in the upper limit of 43 samples collected from the North Sea between April 1986 to April 1989 at concentrations ranging from 12.8 to 66.2 ng/cu m(2). |
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| Human Toxicity Excerpts | /SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Corrosive to tissues (eyes, skin, mucous membranes)./SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ May be harmful if inhaled. Material is extremely destructive to the tissue of the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract. May be harmful if absorbed through skin. Causes skin burns. Causes eye burns. |
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| Artificial Pollution Sources | Methanesulfonic acid's production and use as a catalyst in esterification, alkylation, olefin polymerization, peroxidation reactions(1) and as a solvent(2) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC). |
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| Environmental Biodegradation | AEROBIC: Methanesulfonic acid, present at 100 mg/L, reached 100% of its theoretical BOD in 4 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(1). |
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| Environmental Bioconcentration | Methanesulfonic acid is miscible with water(1) and therefore bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). |
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| Volatilization from Water/Soil | A pKa of -1.86(1) indicates methanesulfonic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces or moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(2). Methanesulfonic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure of 4.28X10-4 mm Hg(3). |
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