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 | Methyl methacrylate |
| CASR number | 80-62-6 |
| Molecular formula | C5H8O2 |
| Synonyms | Methacrylic Acid; Methyl 2-Methyl-2-Propenate;MME; MMA; 2-methylacrylic acid methyl ester; methyl methylacrylate; methyl alpha-methylacrylate; methyl 2-methylpropenoate |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: Methyl methacrylate is a colourless liquid with an acrid fruity odour. Melting Point (°C) -48 Boiling Point (°C) 100; Vapour Density 3.45, Specific Gravity 0.943 Chemical properties: |
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Common uses The primary use of methyl methacrylate is the production of acrylic plastics and resins (trade names are Lucite, Plexiglas and Perspex) for sheeting and molding compounds. These are used in construction, automotive, consumer products and in making signs. It (methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene, MBS) is used as an impact modifier in PVC for bottles. It is also used in exterior latex housepaint, and impregnating pulp paper and wood. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources The primary sources of methyl methacrylate are the industries that manufacture it or use it in production. Some of the industries that manufacture it or use it in production are the chemical and plastics industry and the paints and coatings industry. These emissions mainly are to the air, but are also to the soil and water. Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data Other possible emitters of methyl methacrylate are vapours and spilling of commercial and household painting. These emissions are to the air unless there is a spill. Natural sources There are no known sources of natural methyl methacrylate. Mobile sources No mobile sources. Consumer products which may contain Methyl methacrylate Methyl methacrylate is found in synthetic resin and rubber adhesives, some pharmaceutical preparations, floor polish and some exterior latex paints. |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to Methyl methacrylate? Consumers can be exposed to methyl methacrylate by exposure to air from production and processing facilities using methyl methacrylate. Consumers may also be exposed to methyl methacrylate using consumer products containing methyl methacrylate (paints, floor polish and adhesives) especially if there is not good ventilation. By what pathways might Methyl methacrylate enter my body? Methyl methacrylate will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air, or consume food or water that contains methyl methacrylate. It can also pass through the skin. Human exposure occurs mainly by breathing air containing methyl methacrylate Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 Methyl methacrylate registers 1.3. 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: For methyl methacrylate, it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations of 100 parts per million over an eight hour workshift. 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 Methyl methacrylate have on my health? Acute (short-term) exposure to methyl methacrylate may cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, hypotension, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms may include headache, pain in the extremities, excessive fatigue, sleep disorders, memory loss, and allergic response on contact. |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate Methyl methacrylate quickly evaporates to a gas if released as a liquid. It dissolves when mixed with water. Most releases of methyl methacrylate are to the air. It can also evaporate from the soil or water when they are exposed to air. In the air it breaks down into other chemicals (pyruvic acid, methyl pyruvate, epoxides, and formaldehyde ), with in a couple of days. Microorganisms will break it down in the soil and the water, this may take hours or days. Since it does not bind well to soil if it is released to the ground it may make its way into the groundwater (bore water). Environmental Transport Industrial emissions of methyl methacrylate can produce elevated, concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Because of its short life expectancy in the atmosphere methyl methacrylate is expected to be confined to the local area within which it is emitted. Methyl methacrylate that makes its way into the ground, and does not evaporate, may move through the ground and enter groundwater (bore water), it is degraded in the water with in days. Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 Methyl methacrylate registers 1.7. 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 Methyl methacrylate have on the environment? Methyl methacrylate has low acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. Methyl methacrylate can contribute to the formation of photochemical smog when it reacts with other volatile substances in the air. |
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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. Methyl methacrylate was ranked as 26 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 3.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this article
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