Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about acetonitrile. It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about acetonitrile and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of acetonitrile emissions in Australia.
Acetonitrile is toxic to humans. Ingestion is highly unlikely under normal conditions. Inhalation of acetonitrile may cause irritation of mucous membranes and inhalation of higher concentrations can produce flushing of the face, chest tightness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath and death. Cyanosis (blue-grey discolouration of the skin and lips) may be a delayed symptom. Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to acetonitrile results in cyanide poisoning from metabolic release of cyanide after absorption. The major effects consist of those on the central nervous system (CNS), such as headaches, numbness and tremors. Other manifestations of repeated exposure may be enlargement of the thyroid gland or damage to liver and kidneys. Skin contact may also produce cyanide poisoning and dermatitis. Acetonitrile vapour can cause redness of the eyes.
Exposure may occur by inhalation of vapour and by skin contact. Absorption through intact skin occurs rapidly. Ingestion is unlikely.
Only occupational exposure in industries using acetonitrile is relevant.
See Sources for more information.
Worksafe Australia has set the exposure standard for acetonitrile to 40 ppm (equivalent to 67 milligram/m3) (TWA). The short-term exposure level (STEL) is 60 ppm (equivalent to 101 milligram/m3). Worksafe Australia also issued a skin absorption notice which indicates that absorption through the skin may be a significant source of exposure.
See the Additional Information page for current health information.
The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information.
Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines.
Acetonitrile is slightly persistent in water, with a half-life of between 2 to 20 days. Acetonitrile has slight acute and chronic toxicity to aquatic life. No data are available on the short-term and long-term effects of acetonitrile on plants or land animals.
Acetonitrile can be transported in air as vapour, and in water.
Acetonitrile vapour will be diluted in air to low levels which are harmless to the environment. Acetonitrile completely dissolves in water, decomposing over time to produce fumes and vapour which are diluted in air.
No national guidelines.
Acetonitrile is used as a solvent in the production of vitamin B, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, pesticides, plastics and as a non-aqueous solvent for inorganic salts. It is also used in the photographic industry, in the extraction and refining of copper, in the textile industry, in lithium batteries, for the extraction of fatty acids from animal and vegetable oils, and in analytical chemistry laboratories.
Acetonitrile may enter the environment through manufacturing effluent, municipal waste treatment plant discharges or spills.
Sub-threshold facilities.
There are no natural sources for acetonitrile.
There are no mobile sources for acetonitrile.
There are no consumer products that contain acetonitrile.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
Acetonitrile was ranked as 57 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 2.7.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 acetonitrile registers 1.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 acetonitrile registers 1.0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.
| Substance name | Acetonitrile |
| CASR number | 75-05-8 |
| Molecular formula | CH3CN |
| Synonyms | Cyanomethane, ethyl nitrile, methyl cyanide, ethane nitrile, methane carbonitrile, AN, ethanonitrile |
| Physical properties: Acetonitrile is a flammable colourless liquid with a sweet ether-like odour which is detectable at ppm levels. Melting Point (°C): -48 |
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| Chemical properties: Acetonitrile is very soluble in water. It mixes with most organic solvents, e.g. alcohols, esters, acetone, ether, benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and many unsaturated hydrocarbons. Acetonitrile does not mix with petroleum ether and many saturated hydrocarbons. Acetonitrile is incompatible with water, acids, bases, oleum, perchlorates, nitrating agents, reducing agents and alkali metals. Acetonitrile decomposes on contact with acids, water and steam, producing toxic fumes and flammable vapour. Acetonitrile reacts with strong oxidants such as nitric acid, chromic acid and sodium peroxide, causing fire and explosion hazards. Acetonitrile forms toxic fumes of hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides on combustion. It attacks some forms of plastics, rubber and coatings. |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.