Methyl formate

Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

Use powder, alcohol-resistant foam, water spray, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Rest. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

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.

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

50.0 [ppm]

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish unless flow can be stopped. Use "alcohol" foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Do not use water on material itself.

Water may be ineffective. /Use/ alcohol foam.

1. Remove all ignition sources. 2. Ventilate area of spill or leak. 3. For small quantities, absorb on paper towels. Evaporate in a safe place (such as a fume hood). Allow sufficient time for evaporating vapors to completely clear the hood ductwork. Burn the paper in a suitable location away from combustible materials. Large quantities can be reclaimed or collected and atomized in a suitable combustion chamber.

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.

Methyl formate may be disposed of by atomizing in a suitable combustion chamber.

LC50 Leuciscus idus (Ide) about 120 mg/L/96 hr; static /97.7% pure/

EC50 Daphnia magna (Water flea; immobilization) >500 mg/L/24 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50 Scenedesmus subspicatus (Green algae; cell multiplication inhibition) 240 mg/L/72 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50 Scenedesmus subspicatus (Green algae; cell multiplication inhibition) 190 mg/L/96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50 Pseudomonas putida (aquatic bacteria; cell multiplication inhibition) >10,000 mg/L/17 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 25(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 0.03(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that methyl formate is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of methyl formate from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given a Henry's Law constant of 2.2X10-4 atm-cu m/mole(4). Methyl formate is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 5.9X10+2 mm Hg(5). Methyl formate is expected to undergo hydrolysis in moist soil. A base-catalyzed second-order hydrolysis rate constant of 16 L/mole-sec(SRC) was estimated using a structure estimation method(6); this corresponds to half-lives of 5.1 and 12 days at pH values of 7 and 8, respectively(6).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 25(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 0.03(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that methyl formate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon a Henry's Law constant of 2.2X10-4 atm-cu m/mole(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 5.3 hours and 4.0 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3.2(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(6), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Hydrolysis is expected to be an important fate process for methyl formate. A base-catalyzed second-order hydrolysis rate constant of 16 L/mole-sec(SRC) was estimated using a structure estimation method(7); this corresponds to half-lives of 5.1 and 12 days at pH values of 7 and 8, respectively(7).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), methyl formate, which has a vapor pressure of 5.9X10+2 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase methyl formate 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 71 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 2.3X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3). Methyl formate did not undergo direct photolysis when irradiated with UV light >300 nm(4).

Methyl formate was detected in the volatiles of chicken, beef, and pork flavor(1). Methyl formate was identified as a volatile constituent in brewed, roasted, and dried coffee(2). It has also been detected as an aroma substance in apples(3).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour, through the skin and by ingestion.

inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Shortness of breath. Headache. Drowsiness.

Redness.

Redness. Pain.

Sore throat. Further see Inhalation.

irritation eyes, nose; chest tightness, dyspnea (breathing difficulty); visual disturbance; central nervous system depression; In Animals: pulmonary edema; narcosis

The Koc of methyl formate is estimated as 25(SRC), using a log Kow of 0.03(1)and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that methyl formate is expected to have very high mobility in soil.

Section 8(a) of TSCA requires manufacturers of this chemical substance to report preliminary assessment information concerned with production, exposure, and use to EPA as cited in the preamble in 51 FR 41329.

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Methyl formate is included on this list.

This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Methyl formate is produced, as an intermediate or final product, by process units covered under this subpart.

Methyl formate

1

10000

Flammable chemical that can be released at a facility.