Substance fact sheet
The background information page contains information and concepts that will be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI. It is strongly recommended that you read this before reading the information presented below.
For an explanation of some of the terms used in this page, see the Glossary
| Substance name | 2-Methoxyethanol acetate |
| CASR number | 110-49-6 |
| Molecular formula | C5H10O3 |
| Synonyms | 2-Methoxyethanol acetate, Acetic acid 2-methyl ester, Ethylene glycol methyl acetate, Ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, Ethylene glycol monomethyl acetate, Methyl cellosolve acetate, Glycol ether em acetate, Glycol monomethyl em acetate, Mecsac, Methyl glycol acetate, Methyl glycol monoacetate, Methyl Cellosolve acetate. |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: Clear colourless liquid, evaporates into the air. Melting Point (°C):-65 Boiling Point (°C): 145 Specific Gravity: 1.009 Vapour Density: 4.07 Chemical properties: |
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Common uses Methoxyethanol acetate is used as a solvent for surface coatings such as paints, coatings, varnishes, lacquers for paper and leather, and as a solvent for acetate adhesives. It is also used in textile printing, photographic film production, and is a component of nail polish and dry cleaning treatments. It has wide application as a solvent for various adhesives, glues, gums, waxes and oils. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources Chemical plants or facilities producing, using or handling paint, paint products, surface coatings, adhesives, varnishes, dry cleaning fluids. (Emissions mainly to air.) Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data People may be exposed to it close to garments that have been recently dry-cleaned. It may be present in vapour from solvents, paints, surface coatings and varnishes. It is a solvent in some glues and adhesives used for bonding floor coverings and waterproof surfaces fitted to household fittings and fixtures. Natural sources Methoxyethanol acetate does not occur in the natural environment. Mobile sources Present in small amounts in fittings and fixtures in some parts of motor vehicles. Consumer products which may contain 2-Methoxyethanol acetate Used in household solvent products, adhesives, paints and paint products and dry cleaning products. These and other products may contain Methoxyethanol acetate as a component for coating and dissolving glues and adhesives, or as a solvent for surface coatings of paints and varnishes. |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to 2-Methoxyethanol acetate? Most people are exposed indoors to very low amounts from contact from newly glued, some painted or varnished surfaces and clothing which has been subjected to specialised dry-cleaning techniques. People living near industries that produce or use methoxyethanol acetate as a major component of their manufacturing or production process could be exposed to the compound from exhaust fumes and odours derived from the work place. By what pathways might 2-Methoxyethanol acetate enter my body? Methoxyethanol acetate can be swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Breathing air containing the vapour is the most common means of absorbing the compound. It can be swallowed or readily absorbed through the skin. Small amounts are present on clothing that has been dry-cleaned, on newly painted or glued surfaces on household fittings or fixtures. Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 2-Methoxyethanol acetate registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). 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.  Health guidelines Worksafe Australia: Suggest that the compound should be limited in exposure to humans in a normal 8 hour work period to a time weighted average (TWA) of no more than 24 milligrams per cubic metre of air. 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. What effect might 2-Methoxyethanol acetate have on my health? Exposure to vapour can cause irritation to the eyes, nose mouth, throat and lungs. Prolonged exposure to concentrated vapour can result in dizziness, headache, nausea and unconsciousness. It has effects on the blood, central nervous system as well as the liver and kidneys. Test results indicate that in high concentrations it can have severe effects on human reproduction and growth. It will impede development of the human foetus and retard growth. Exposure to a high concentration can have severe effects. |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate It enters the environment when liquid waste is disposed from production plants that use methoxyethanol acetate for making paint, varnish or adhesives products. It can dissolve in water and readily enter the groundwater. It will form reactive peroxide compounds when exposed to air and water in the atmosphere and these will break down in contact with organic and other common substances. Environmental Transport Methoxyethanol acetate is stable in water but will readily react with many other organic or acid compounds. Its high solubility in most liquids and moderate rate of evaporation at normal temperatures means that it can persist in the environment for some time. Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 2-Methoxyethanol acetate registers 0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking 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 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.  Environmental guidelines See the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. No national guidelines. What effect might 2-Methoxyethanol acetate have on the environment? Methoxyethanol acetate can have an acute toxic effect on aquatic life and is rapidly absorbed, inhaled or ingested by humans by direct contact with skin, swallowing or breathing in vapour. |
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Comparative data NPI Rank Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. 2-Methoxyethanol acetate was ranked as 74 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 1.2.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this fact sheet
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