 |
Safety and Health Topics: |
|
| Methyl Alcohol |
|
General Description
Synonyms: Methanol; Wood alcohol; Columbian spirits; Carbinol
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1660
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 67-56-1
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: PC1400000
Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1230 131
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Methyl Alcohol: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 200 ppm, 260 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 200 ppm, 260 mg/m3 TWA
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 200 ppm, 260 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 200 ppm, 262 mg/m3 TWA; 250 ppm, 327 mg/m3 STEL; Skin; BEI (Listed under Methanol)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 200 ppm, 260 mg/m3 TWA; 250 ppm, 325 mg/m3 STEL; Skin
Health Factors
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 6,000 ppm
Potential symptoms: Eye, skin, upper respiratory irritation; headache; drowsiness, dizziness; nausea, vomiting; dilation of the pupils, visual disturbance (spotted vision, sensitivity to light), blindness; excessive sweating, dermatitis; INGES ACUTE: Abdominal pain; shortness of breath; vomiting; cold clammy extremities; blurring of vision, hyperemia of the optic disc; metabolic acidosis; convulsions; unconsciousness.
Health Effects: Acute toxicity---Acidosis (HE4); Cumulative CNS Disturbances---Impaired vision, headaches, neurological damage (HE7); Narcosis (HE8); Irritation-Eye, Nose, Throat, Skin---Mild (HE16); Explosive, flammable (HE18).
Affected organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS, gastrointestinal tract
Notes: 1) Vapor/air mixtures are explosive. 2) Ingestion of as little as 15 ml has caused blindness. 3) Both acute and chronic exposures can cause specific brain lesions that lead to movement disorders. 4) Metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to formaldehyde, which is metabolized to formic acid (considered to be the major toxic metabolite). The ADH inhibitor, fomepizole (Antizol) is approved as an antidote to methanol poisoning. Ethanol is also used as an antidote.
Date Last Revised: 02/19/2004
Literature Basis:
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Methyl Alcohol.
- International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Methanol.
- Finkelstein, Y. and Vardi, J.: Progressive parkinsonism in a young experimental physicist following long-term exposure to methanol. Neurotoxicology 23(4-5): 521-525, 2002.
- Hageman, G., van der Hoek, J.A. and Faber, C.G.: Spastic paraparesis without optic atrophy after occupational methanol exposure. J. Neurol. 250(7): 876-877, 2003.
- Klaassen, C.D.: Nonmetallic environmental toxicants (Chapter 68). In, Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Tenth Edition. Hardman, J.G., Limbird, L.E. and Gilman, A.G., eds. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 1877-1902, 2001.
- Mycyk, M.B. and Leikin, J.B.: Antidote review: fomepizole for methanol poisoning. Am. J. Ther. 10(1): 68-70, 2003.
- Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethyl Alcohol. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1045-1046.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
-
sampling media: Two Anasorb 747 Tubes in series (First tube 400 mg, second tube 200 mg section) See note
analytical solvent: 50:50 Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
maximum volume: 3 Liters (RH<50% @ 25°C) maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (TWA)
maximum volume: 5 Liters (RH>50% @ 25°C) maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (TWA)
maximum volume: 0.75 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (STEL)
current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 91)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: Separate tubes and seal each after sampling.
-
sampling media: Silica Gel Tube (520/260 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
analytical solvent: 0.02 N H2SO4
maximum volume: 6 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
maximum volume: 1.5 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (STEL)
current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
method reference: NIOSH Modified Analytical Method (NIOSH 2000)
method classification: Fully Validated
note: The larger size tube is recommended due to low capacity of the 150/75 mg tubes at high humidities.
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: AUER/MSA
model/type: Ethanol-100, MSA P/N 804136, AUER P/N 5086-818
sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
upper measurement limit: 2350 ppm
detection limit: approximately 50 ppm
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 111
sampling information: 0.5 to 4 strokes
upper measurement limit: 4.5%
detection limit: 0.0004%
overall uncertainty: 25% for 0.02 to 0.5%, 16% for 0.5 to 1.5%
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 111L
sampling information: 1 to 2 strokes
upper measurement limit: 1000 ppm
detection limit: 5 ppm
overall uncertainty: 25% for 40 to 200 ppm, 16% for 200 to 1000 ppm
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 111LL
sampling information: 2 to 4 strokes
upper measurement limit: 56 ppm
detection limit: 0.2 ppm
overall uncertainty: 25% for 2 to 5 ppm, 16% for 5 to 20 ppm
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
model/type: 8014-119SA
sampling information: 1 stroke
upper measurement limit: 6%
detection limit: approximately 0.05%
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
-
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
model/type: 8014-119U
sampling information: 1 stroke
upper measurement limit: 1000 ppm
detection limit: approximately 20 ppm
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
* All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
|
| |
|
 |
|
Back to Top
www.osha.gov
