BASIC ACRYLIC MONOMER MANUFACTURERS, INC.
BASIC ACRYLIC ESTERS:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
NOTICE
BAMM is a nonprofit, tax-exempt incorporated association, which has
developed these materials to provide general background information on
acrylic acid and the basic acrylate monomers. Use of this information is
voluntary and should only be undertaken after an independent review of
the applicable facts and circumstances of particular situations. Users
should also consult the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
for up-to-date information and precautions for safe handling and use of
these chemical products. Although BAMM has made all reasonable
efforts to present accurate information and guidance, no guarantees
or warranties, including any express or implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness, are made with respect to this material by
BAMM, its officers, directors, members or agents. In addition, no
liability, loss or damage is assumed, and all liability for any government
fines or penalties, or any other claim, demand, or loss for negligence or
misconduct of any kind, is expressly disclaimed, whether direct,
indirect, or consequential.
ABOUT BAMM
The Basic Acrylic Monomer Manufacturers, Inc. (BAMM) is a trade association of
manufacturers and importers of acrylic acid and its basic esters including butyl
acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. BAMM current
membership includes: BASF Corporation; Elf Atochem North America, Inc.;
Celanese Ltd; Rohm and Haas Company; and Union Carbide Corporation.
ABOUT THIS BROCHURE
Basic Acrylic Monomers ?acrylic acid and its esters ?are versatile chemicals that
have widespread use. The manufacturers, and others, have conducted scientific
studies on the health and environmental effects of these products. This brochure
provides a summary of technical, exposure, and regulatory information for use by
government officials, health professionals, and others who would like a brief
introduction to the data. This brochure includes data that BAMM is aware of as of
the date of publication. BAMM has been careful to accurately summarize the data
and conclusions; however, newer data may be or become available.
Users should also consult their suppliers' Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
up-to-date information and precautions for safe handling and use of these chemical
products.
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INTRODUCTION
Acrylic acid has served, for more than 30 years, as an essential building block in
the production of some of our most commonly used industrial and consumer
products.
Approximately two-thirds of the acrylic acid manufactured in the United States is
used to produce acrylic esters ?methyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and
2-ethylhexyl acrylate ?which, when polymerized (see below), are ingredients in
paints, coatings, textiles, adhesives, plastics, and many other applications.
The remaining one-third of the acrylic acid is used to produce polyacrylic acid, or
crosslinked polyacrylic acid compounds, which have been successfully used in the
manufacture of hygienic products, detergents, and waste water treatment
chemicals.
Polymerization
Acrylic monomers are highly reactive chemicals and, therefore, are used nearly
exclusively as intermediates in the production of other materials. For example,
individual molecules of acrylic acid or esters, called "monomers," readily combine
with themselves or other monomers to form long chains of repeating units, or
"polymers." The polymers have different physical and chemical properties than
the constituent monomers.
These polymers can be used in the production of goods that for decades have
provided added benefits and convenience to consumers and manufacturers
worldwide.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Methyl Ethyl Butyl 2-Ethylhexyl
Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate
Molecular Weight 86 100 128 184
Molecular Formula C4H602 C5H8O2 C7H12O2 C11H20O2
CAS Number 96-33-3 140-88-5 141-32-2 103-11-7
80 100 148 216
Boiling Point (癈)
<-76 <-72 <-65 <-76
Freezing Point (癈)
Density (20/20 癈) 0.957 0.923 0.900 0.886
Flash Point (Tag Closed Cup 癈) -3 8 41 87
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EXPOSURE TO ACRYLIC ESTERS
Acrylate vapor has a very strong acrid odor that leads to early detection of any
potential releases. The following table contains a list of current standards for
levels to which the standard-setting bodies consider that most workers can be
exposed during an 8-hour workday without harmful effects, as well as the results
of tests used to determine the levels at which the acrylates usually will be smelled.
As illustrated, acrylate odor usually will be detected before it reaches the levels of
the current standards. While unpleasant, smelling acrylate vapor is not necessarily
indicative that such levels have been exceeded.
Methyl Ethyl Butyl 2-Ethylhexyl
Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate
OSHA Permissible 10, skin 25, skin none none
Exposure Limit (ppm)
ACGIH Threshold
2, skin, 5, A4 2, A4, sensitizer Not
Limit Value?(ppm)
sensitzer 15 ppm STEL established
Odor Threshold 0.014 to 0.020 0.00036 to 0.001 0.0001 to 0.009 0.016 to 0.18
(ppm)
Because consumer products contain only trace levels of acrylic esters as a result of
the polymerization process, consumers are not generally exposed to these
compounds in finished products. Although potential for exposure does exist
during acrylic ester manufacture, transportation, and use, enclosed systems limit
the exposure to worker populations and nearby communities. Employees and
contractors involved in acrylic ester manufacturing should wear appropriate safety
equipment and undergo special training.
In spite of the manufacturer's efforts to contain the manufacturing process, vapors
can potentially escape from leaks in the piping system, during repair or
replacement of the piping system (including tanks and reactors), or during removal
of samples for quality control purposes. Worker exposure should be monitored in
manufacturing facilities with specialized monitoring systems. Because odors will
be detected at such low levels, leaks should be detected and repaired before a
product can cause adverse health effects
Exposure could also occur during loading, unloading, and transportation of tank
trucks, railroad tankers, barges, and drums. However, dedicated systems designed
to handle acrylic esters are typically used for loading and unloading purposes and
procedures should be in place to prevent spills or leaks during transportation.
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TOXICOLOGY PROFILE
The likely primary routes of human exposure to the acrylic esters are skin contact
and inhalation; toxicity is due to tissue damage at the site of contact. The undiluted
esters are moderately irritating to corrosive liquids that can cause permanent tissue
damage upon direct contact with the body. Contact with dilute solutions of the
esters or monomer vapors can be irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
In animal studies, the irritation caused by repeated exposure to acrylic esters vapor
at levels exceeding the TLV?has resulted in nasal lesions. The esters have caused
skin sensitization, and individuals allergic to one ester may exhibit a sensitization
reaction when exposed to other esters.
In general, the esters that are absorbed are rapidly broken down in the body by two
different mechanisms. The resulting metabolites are eliminated via expired air and
urine.
Toxicity associated with repeated exposures of experimental animals to acrylate
esters typically has been comprised of changes in body and organ weights as well
as clinical chemistry. Although the National Toxicology Program has determined
these results are not relevant to man, ethyl acrylate has caused tumors in animals
when large doses were injected by tubes directly into the animals' forestomachs.
Except for dermal and nasal lesions which have been observed at the site of
contact, the microscopic examination of other body tissues post-exposure has
indicated no significant difference compared to non-exposed animals.
The acute toxicity of acrylic acid to fish and invertebrates ranged from "slightly"
toxic to "practically non-toxic." The acute toxicity of the acrylic esters was
"moderately" toxic. Acrylic acid and the acrylic esters tested do not accumulate in
the environment. If released to surface water, acrylic acid and the esters would all
be rapidly biodegraded; some portion should volatilize to the air.
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REGULATORY STANDARDS
The manufacture, transportation, and use of basic acrylates are regulated or
addressed by a number of government agencies and other expert groups to control
exposure to workers and the environment. The following table records major U.S.
federal regulatory and similar information as of June 1999. Such regulations
frequently change, and many states and localities adopt their own regulations.
Therefore, you should consult applicable laws and regulations, as well as the
manufacturer's MSDS, for current requirements.
REGULATORY STANDARDS
Methyl Ethyl Butyl 2-Ethylhexyl
Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate Acrylate
OSHA PEL 10 ppm, 25 ppm, skin none none
skin
2 ppm, 5 ppm 2 ppm, none
ACGIH TLV?br>
skin, 15 ppm STEL sensitizer
sensitizer
IARC 3 2B 3 none
(Suspect
Human
Carcinogen)
See footnote 3
NTP BRC no no no
DOT Hazard Class flammable flammable, flammable no
corrosive
SARA/CERCLA RQ no 1000 lbs no no
SARA ?13 yes yes yes no
RCRA no yes no no
CAA ?12(b) no yes no no
CWA no no no no
FDA Uses 1 yes yes yes yes
NFPA Rating: 2
?Health 2 2 2 2
?Flammability 3 3 2 2
?Reactivity 2 2 2 2
1
Acrylic esters used as monomer to make specific polymers are listed for certain, specific indirect food additive uses.
2
NFPA Rating Definitions: 2/Health=Materials hazardous to health, but areas may be entered with full-face mask, self-contained breathing
apparatus which provides eye protection; 2/Flammability =Materials that must be moderately heated before ignition will occur;
3/Flammability=Materials that can be ignited under almost all normal temperature conditions; 2/Reactivity=Materials that (in themselves) are
normally unstable and readily undergo violent chemical change but do not detonate.
3
Recommended to be delisted from the NTP Report on Carcinogens, December 1998. Final decision expected in 1999. Listed in the 8th Annual
Report on Carcinogens as "Reasonably Anticipated to be a Carcinogen." See 63 Fed. Reg. 68763 (Dec. 14, 1998)
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ACRONYMS
ACGIH TLV? American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists, Threshold Limit Value?br>
CAA Clean Air Act, ?12(b)
CWA Clean Water Act, Ё116.4, 112 App. D, 131.36, 401.15,
423 App. A.
DOT Hazard Class Dept. Of Transportation: Hazard Class 49 C.F.R.
?72.101
FDA Food & Drug Administration: 21 C.F.R. Parts 174 to 178
IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NTP BRC National Toxicology Program Biennial Report on
Carcinogens
OSHA PEL Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
Permissible Exposure Limit, 29 C.F.R., Table Z,
?910.1200
RCRA RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 40
C.F.R. ?61.33
SARA/CERCLA RQ Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (1986),
40 C.F.R. ?75/Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, & Liability Act (1980), 40
C.F.R. ?02.4 Reportable Quantity
SARA 313 Section 313 of Title III of SARA - Toxic Release
Inventory Reporting & Community Right-To-Know, 40
C.F.R. ?2.65
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact your supplier or BAMM at the following
address:
1250 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Office: (202) 637-9040
Fax: (202) 637-9178
Email: ekhunt@aol.com
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