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Ethyl Acrylate
Description: Ethyl acrylate (C.A.S. 140-88-5) is a colorless, flammable liquid with a penetrating acrid odor. It is used primarily as an intermediate in the production of emulsion-based polymers, including those used in textile treatment (29% of the ethyl acrylate produced), surface coatings (23%), paper treatment (9%), polishes (7%), adhesives (4%), leather treatment (4%), and other emulsion-based polymers (4%). Ethyl acrylate is also used in the production of other polymers, including solvent-based surface coatings (16%). Chemical properties: Ethyl acrylate is soluble in ethanol, ether, and chloroform and is slightly soluble in water. It is incompatible or reactive with oxidizers, peroxides, polymerizers, strong alkalis, moisture, and chlorosulfonic acid. It polymerizes readily unless an inhibitor such as hydroquinone is added. When heated to decomposition, ethyl acrylate emits smoke and acrid fumes. Synonyms for ethyl acrylate are acrylic acid ethyl ester, ethyl propenoate, ethoxycarbonylethylene, ethyl-2-propenoate, and NCI-C50384. Identification: Health effects: Ethyl acrylate is a substance which may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen, according to the Seventh Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1994. Humans can be exposed to ethyl acrylate by inhaling it, absorbing it through the skin, ingesting it, or making skin or eye contact with it. It can cause irritation to the eyes, respiratory system, and skin. Exposure Values: Economics: U.S. manufacturers of ethyl acrylate are BASF Corporation, Freeport, TX; Celanese Ltd., Clear Lake, TX; Rohm and Haas Company, Deer Park, TX; and Union Carbide Corporation, Taft, LA. Regulation: Ethyl acrylate is regulated by EPA under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Toxic Substances Control Act. The Food and Drug Administration regulates ethyl acrylate as a component of synthetic flavorings and as a component of packaging that comes in contact with food. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised the permissible exposure limit to less than or equal to 5 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average with 25 ppm (100 mg/m3) [skin] as the short-term exposure limit. Under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986, releases of more than one pound of ethyl acrylate into the air, water, and land must be reported annually and entered into the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). National Overview of 1998 Toxics Release Inventory See EPA's Toxic Release Inventory. Notations: The NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs) are time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations for up to a 10-hour workday during a 40-hour workweek. A short-term exposure limit (STEL) is designated by "ST" preceding the value; unless noted otherwise, the STEL is a 15-minute TWA exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during a workday. A ceiling REL is designated by "C" preceding the value. Any substance that NIOSH considers to be a potential occupational carcinogen is designated by the notation "Ca." The OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) are found in Tables Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3 of the OSHA General Industry Air Contaminants Standard (29 CFR 1910.1000). Unless noted otherwise, PEL are TWA concentrations that must not be exceeded during any 8-hour workshift of a 40-hour workweek. A STEL is designated by "ST" preceding the value and is measured over a 15-minute period unless noted otherwise. OSHA ceiling concentrations (designated by "C" preceding the value) must not be exceeded during any part of the workday; if instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, the ceiling must be assessed as a 15-minute TWA exposure. In addition, there are a number of substances from Table Z-2 (e.g., beryllium, ethylene dibromide, etc.) that have PEL ceiling values that must not be exceeded except for specified excursions. For example, a "5-minute maximum peak in any 2 hours" means that a 5-minute exposure above the ceiling value, but never above the maximum peak, is allowed in any 2 hours during an 8-hour workday. Information Sources:
Originally published in Environment Writer by the National Safety Council. Reprinted with permission. Environment Writer Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Office of Marine Programs Narragansett, RI 02882 Tel: 401-874-6211; Fax: 401-874-6485 Disclaimer * Copyright 2002-2006 * All rights reserved. * University of Rhode Island |