Dimethoxymethane

Excerpt from ERG Guide 127 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible)]:

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

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.

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. 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.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Methylal:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

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

500.0 [ppm]

TO FIGHT FIRE: FOAM, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL ...

Water may be ineffective. Alcohol foam.

1. REMOVE ALL IGNITION SOURCES. 2. VENTILATE AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 3. FOR SMALL QUANTITIES, ABSORB ON PAPER TOWELS. EVAPORATE IN SAFE PLACE (SUCH AS FUME HOOD). ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLETELY CLEAR HOOD DUCTWORK. BURN PAPER IN SUITABLE LOCATION AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. 3. LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE COLLECTED, DISSOLVED IN ALC OF GREATER MOLECULAR WT THAN BUTYL ALC, & ATOMIZED IN SUITABLE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. METHYLAL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER CONFINED SPACE, SUCH AS SEWER, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION.

Consult an expert! Personal protection: filter respirator for organic vapours of low boiling point adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Remove all ignition sources. Cover the spilled material with sand or other non-combustible material. Collect leaking liquid in covered containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

SRP: The scientific literature supports the wearing of contact lenses in industrial environments, as part of a program to protect the eye against chemical compounds and minerals causing eye irritation. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases contact lenses should not be worn.

SAFE-HANDLING PRECAUTIONS SHOULD INCL USE OF ADEQUATE VENTILATION TO BE CERTAIN THAT AVG CONCN ARE WELL BELOW 1000 PPM, & AVOIDANCE OF EXCESSIVE OR PROLONGED SKIN CONTACT. METHYLAL SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH DUE REGARD FOR ITS FLAMMABLE PROPERTIES.

To prevent injury from occurring as a result of contact with an aldehyde in the form of liquid or vapor, the process in which the substance is present should, if possible be conducted in enclosed plant. If openings are necessary for the purposes of manipulation, vapor should be prevented from escaping into the workroom by the application of exhaust ventilation to the plant or enclosure. When the process cannot be enclosed, exhaust ventilation hoods should be fitted to trap and extract escaping vapor before it can diffuse into the workroom atmosphere. /Aldehydes and ketals/

The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard.

In the EPA National Human Adipose Survey for fiscal year 1982, 46 composite samples categorized broadly by region and age group were analyzed for pollutants(1). Methylal was identified in one sample from the northeast US in the >45 age group.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: If released on land, methylal would volatilize rapidly due to its high vapor pressure and Henry's Law constant and low adsorptivity to soil. It would also exhibit high mobility in soil. The importance of biodegradation in soil is unknown. (SRC)

AQUATIC FATE: If released to water, methylal will be primarily lost through volatilization. Its half-life in a model river is estimated from a calculated Henry's Law constant to be 7.2 hr(1-3). Adsorption to sediment and particulate matter in the water column, and bioconcentration should not be important. The importance of biodegradation in water is unknown. Hydrolysis is fairly slow(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: The atmosphere is the sink for methylal. In the atmosphere, methylal will degrade by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals. The half-life for this reaction is estimated to be 2.3 days(1). Methylal is highly soluble in water, 2.44X10+5 ppm(2), and would be washed out by rain. However, methylal thus remove would be recycled back into the atmosphere. (SRC)

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Dizziness. Drowsiness. Headache. Sore throat. Unconsciousness.

Dry skin.

Redness. Pain.

Abdominal pain. Nausea. Vomiting. Further see Inhalation.

irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; anesthesia

In a comprehensive survey of wastewater from 4000 industrial and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) sponsored by the Effluent Guidelines Division of the U.S. EPA, methylal was identified in discharges of the following industrial category (positive occurrences; median concn in ppb): leather tanning (1; 1637.5), plastics and synthetics (3; 30.8), organic chemicals (6; 45.6), publicly owned treatment works (3; 5.0)(1). The highest effluent concn was 1637 ppb in the leather tanning industry(1). Detected in effluent concentrates from the advanced treatment plant in Orange County, CA, but not in that of five other communities(2).

... PROPERTIES OF SIMPLE UNSUBSTITUTED ACETALS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY ETHER-LIKE ANESTHETIC ACTION, & BY RELATIVELY LOW DEGREE OF PRIMARY IRRITATION COMPARED TO PARENT ALDEHYDE. /ACETALS/

INHALATION CAUSES IRRITATION OF RESP SYSTEM & DEPRESSION OF CNS. LIQ CAUSES IRRITATION OF EYES & WILL IRRITATE SKIN IF ALLOWED TO REMAIN.

Methylal used as a solvent and reagent in organic synthesis(2) may be released to the environment in waste water and as fugitive emissions relating to its manufacture and use. Mean vapor emission rates of methylal measured at two locations at an industrial waste water treatment facility in December were 28.6 and 14.7 mg/min sq-m, at which time the ambient and liquid surface temperatures were 6 and 15 °C, respectively(1).

METHYLAL WAS ONE OF THE COMPONENTS IN WASTE WATER FROM A UREA-FORMALDEHYDE GLUE PLANT.

A reduction in BOD in 8 hr was obtained in one study in which well acclimated sewage seed was incubated with 333 ppm of methylal(1). However this reduction was small compared with the theoretical oxygen demand and toxicity resulted in an initial increase in BOD.

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. Methane, dimethoxy- is included on this list.