Methyl Anthranilate

This compound is not very flammable but any fire involving this compound may produce dangerous vapors. You should evacuate the area. All firefighters should wear full-body protective clothing and use self-contained breathing apparatuses. You should extinguish any fires involving this chemical with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide, foam, or halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)

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.

Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.

Water or foam may cause frothing. /Use/ alcohol foam.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, use absorbent paper to pick up all liquid spill material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with alcohol followed by washing with a strong 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: 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 air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.

Product: Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.

Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES; Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains.

Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid inhalation of vapor or mist.

Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses by industrial workers is inconsistent. The benefits or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. 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. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

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)

Eye/face protection: Safety glasses with side-shields conforming to EN166. Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166 (EU).

Skin protection: Handle with gloves.

Body Protection: Impervious clothing. The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.

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).

LC50; Species: Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish) fry; Conditions: static; Concentration: 20.08 mg/L for 24 hr (95% confidence interval: 12.77-30.35 mg/L)

LC50; Species: Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish) fry; Conditions: static; Concentration: 17.35 mg/L for 48 hr (95% confidence interval: 12.17-24.4 mg/L)

LC50; Species: Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish) fry; Conditions: static; Concentration: 16.94 mg/L for 72 hr (95% confidence interval: 11.88-23.95 mg/L)

LC50; Species: Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish) fry; Conditions: static; Concentration: 16.23 mg/L for 96 hr (95% confidence interval: 11.57-22.47 mg/L)

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for Methyl anthranilate (18 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 75(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.88(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that methyl anthranilate is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). However, aromatic amines are expected to bind strongly to humus or organic matter in soils due to the high reactivity of the aromatic amino group(4,5), suggesting that mobility may be much lower in some soils(SRC). Volatilization of methyl anthranilate from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.9X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 2.7X10-2 mm Hg(6), and water solubility, 2,850 mg/L(7). Methyl anthranilate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(6). Utilizing a soil biodegradation screening test, 100% biodegradation in 64 days of analogous 2-aminobenzoic acid(8) indicates that biodegradation of methyl anthranilate may be an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 75(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.88(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that methyl anthranilate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(4) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.9X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 2.7X10-2 mm Hg(5), and water solubility, 2,850 mg/L(6). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(4), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 24 and 180 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(7), an estimated BCF of 8(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Methyl anthranilate, present at 50 mg/L, exhibited 100% biodegradation in 20 days when incubated in dechlorinated, charcoal-filtered water(8) indicating that biodegradation of methyl anthranilate may be 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), methyl anthranilate, which has a vapor pressure of 2.7X10-2 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase methyl anthranilate 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 11 hrs(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 3.5X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Methyl anthranilate contains chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and, therefore, may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Methyl anthranilate can occur a colorless to pale-yellow liquid, or crystals with bluish fluorescence. It is used as a non-toxic and non-lethal bird repellent. It is used also in flavorings and perfumes. Although methyl anthranilate was not 100% effective in preventing honey bee stinging, it seemed to reduce number of stings below the average human LD50, indicative of a promising tool for preventing honey bee venom toxicity and wasp colonization. HUMAN STUDIES: Maximization tests were carried out on groups of 24 and 26 volunteers. The material was tested at a 10% concentration in petrolatum and produced no sensitization reactions. It produced no irritation after a 48 hr closed-patch test on human subjects and this result was confirmed when the test was repeated. ANIMAL STUDIES: Methyl anthranilate applied full strength to intact or abraded rabbit skin for 24 hr under occlusion was moderately irritating. Groups of 10 male and 10 female weanling rats were maintained for a period of 115 days on diets containing methyl anthranilate at levels of 0, 3,000 and 10,000 ppm. The only observable effects noted at the 10,000 ppm level were increases in the average weights of the liver and kidneys, and slight (minimal) histological changes in the kidneys. There was no increase in the incidence of primary lung tumors in mice over a period of 24 weeks, that received a total dose of methyl anthranilate of 2.25 or 11.2 g/kg bw (repeated ip injections three times a week for a total of 24 injections). Methyl anthranilate was found to be negative when tested for mutagenicity using the Salmonella/ microsome preincubation assay, Methyl anthranilate was tested in as many as 5 Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA1535, TA1537, TA97, TA98, and TA100) in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. ECOTOXICITY STUDIES: No treatment-related mortality of catfish was observed. Handling times of catfish fingerlings captured by herons from tubs treated with methyl anthranilate-based bird repellent increased at application rates of 19.6 kg/ha or greater.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ ...The acute toxicity of methyl anthranilate /was tested/ in a static system against the fry of four species of fish. The LC50 at 24 hr for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was 32.3 mg/L, with the no observable effect limit at 6 mg/L.

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ ...The methyl anthranilate-based bird repellent, ReJeX-iT TP-40TM (TP-40), /was evaluated/ for 1) its toxicity to channel catfish fingerlings (catfish), Ictalurus punctatus; 2) its effect on great blue heron (heron), Ardea herodias feeding behavior; 3) its efficacy in reducing heron predation on catfish; and 4) its effects on catfish growth. TP-40 effectively maintained MA /methyl anthranilate/ concentrations near the water's surface and below toxic levels for catfish in the water column. Water samples collected from 0.03 and 0.35 m below the surface of catfish rearing tanks (6,664 L) treated at application rates up to the equivalent of 200 kg/ha contained less than 5 ppm active ingredient, which is less than the no observable effect limit for catfish fry. No treatment-related mortality of catfish was observed. Handling times of catfish fingerlings captured by herons from tubs treated with TP-40 initially increased at application rates of 19.6 kg/ha or greater.

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Status of Agents Search page, which tabulates the results and current status of tests such as "Short-Term Toxicity Studies", "Long-term Carcinogenicity Studies", "Developmental Studies", "Genetic Toxicology Studies", etc., performed with this chemical. Testing status for methyl anthranilate is available.[Available from, as of February 1, 2019: https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?e=True&ContentType=Testing+Status]

EPA has released the Interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability (iCSS) Dashboard. The iCSS Dashboard provides an interactive tool to explore rapid, automated (or in vitro high-throughput) chemical screening data generated by the Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast) project and the federal Toxicity Testing in the 21st century (Tox21) collaboration. /The title compound was tested by ToxCast and/or Tox21 assays/[USEPA; ICSS Dashboard Application; Available from, as of February 4, 2019: http://actor.epa.gov/dashboard/]

The Koc of methyl anthranilate is estimated as 75(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.88(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that methyl anthranilate is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). However, aromatic amines are expected to bind strongly to humus or organic matter in soils due to the high reactivity of the aromatic amino group(4,5), suggesting that mobility may be much lower in some soils(SRC).

Methyl anthranilate is reported found in several essential oils: neroli, orange, bergamont, lemon, mandarin, jasmine, tuberose, gardenia, champaca, ylang-ylang and grape. It is also reported found in the juice and oil of Citris labrusca, peel oil of orange, bitter orange and tangerine, grapes, strawberry, cocoa, starfruit, tea, red and white wine, rice bran and babco fruit (Carica pentagona Heilborn)(1).

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Maximization tests were carried out on groups of 24 and 26 volunteers. The material was tested at a 10% concentrationin petrolatum and produced no sensitization reactions.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ Tested at 10% in petrolatum, it produced no irritation after a 48 hr closed-patch test on human subjects and this result was confirmed when the test was repeated.

Methyl anthranilate's production and use as a flavor additive(1,2) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. Its use as a perfume(1,2) and bird repellant(3) will result in its direct release to the environment(SRC).

Synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants /for animal drugs, feeds, and related products/ that are generally recognized as safe for their intended use, within the meaning of section 409 of the Act. Methyl anthranilate is included on this list.

Synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants /for human consumption/ that are generally recognized as safe for their intended use, withn the meaning of section 409 of the Act. Methyl anthranilate is included on this list.

Sunscreen active ingredients. The active ingredient of the product consists of any of the following, within the concentration specified for each ingredient, and the finished product provides a minimum SPF value of not less than 2 as measured by the testing procedures established in subpart D of this part: ... (h) Methyl anthranilate up to 5 percent.

New Active Ingredients ... includes pesticide active ingredients initially registered after November 1, 1984, that currently have active product registrations. By law, these newer pesticides are not subject to the reregistration program. They must, however, meet the new safety standard of the FQPA, and will be reviewed on a 15-year cycle under the registration review program. ... Active Ingredient Number: 128725; Type of Pesticide: biological - bird repellant; Use Site: food use, industrial, turf, commercial use; Year: 1995.

Residues of methyl anthranilate, a biochemical pesticide, are exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all food commodities, when used in accordance with good agricultural practices.