Methacrylonitrile

Eye irritation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

eye irritation

Remarks:

other: human data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

no data

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Peer reviewed literature data

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

The Mammalian Toxicity of Methacrylonitrile

Author:

Pozzani UC, Kinkead ER & King JM

Year:

1968

Bibliographic source:

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 29:202-210

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: no data

Deviations:

not specified

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Groups of eight to nine human subjects were exposed by inhalation twice to a series of methacrylonitrile concentrations for periods of 1 minute each, with 45-minute or longer intervals between exposures. The exposure concentrations were 24, 14, 0, 7, 14, 24, 7, 2, 0 and 2 ppm (in that order).

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

study predates GLP

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methacrylonitrile

EC Number:

204-817-5

EC Name:

Methacrylonitrile

Cas Number:

126-98-7

Molecular formula:

C4H5N

IUPAC Name:

2-methylprop-2-enenitrile

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Methacrylonitrile
- Source: Vistron Corporation, Midland Building, Cleveland, Ohio
- Molecular weight: 67.09
- Substance type: organic, monoconstituent
- Physical state: clear, colourless liquid
- Analytical purity: minimum of 99.0 wt %
- Boiling point: 90.3 degrees Centigrade at 760 mm
- Specific gravity: d 30°/4°, 0.7896
- Solubility in water: 2.54 wt % at 30 degrees Centigrade
- Flash point (Tag open cup): 55 degrees Fahrenheit
- Vapor pressure: 65 mm at 25 degrees Centigrade
- Inhibitor (MEHQ): 35-45 ppm
- Other: Air saturated with methacrylonitrile at 25 degrees Centigrade at 760 mm contains 85,526 ppm vapour, which has a relative vapour density of 1.11 (dry air=1)

Test animals / tissue source

Species:

human

Strain:

other: not applicable

Details on test animals or tissues and environmental conditions:

No data

Test system

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Controls:

not specified

Amount / concentration applied:

In the first study, groups of eight to nine subjects were exposed to methacrylonitrile vapour at 0, 2, 7, 14 and 24 ppm. In the second study, subjects were exposed to 2 ppm or 14 ppm.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

First study - 1 min with intervals of 45 min or longer
Second study - 10 min

Observation period (in vivo):

No data

Number of animals or in vitro replicates:

First study - 7 to 9 subjects per exposure group
Second study - 9 subjects (2 ppm) or 7 subjects (14 ppm)

Results and discussion

In vivo

Results

Results 1

Irritation parameter:

overall irritation score

Basis:

other: no data

Time point:

other: ≥ 1 min

Score:

0

Reversibility:

not specified

Remarks on result:

other: 22 % of subjects experienced eye irritation when exposed to 24 ppm for 1 min. No irritation was reported at lower concentrations.

Results 2

Irritation parameter:

overall irritation score

Basis:

other: no data

Time point:

other: ≥ 10 min

Score:

0

Reversibility:

not specified

Remarks on result:

other: only 1-2 subjects experienced eye irritation when exposed to 2 ppm or 14 ppm for 10 min

Irritant / corrosive response data:

No data

Other effects:

First study - 6 % of subjects experienced nasal irritation when exposed to 24 ppm for 1 min
First study - 17 % of subjects experienced throat irritation when exposed to 24 ppm for 1 min
Second study - only 1-2 subjects experienced any form of nasal, throat or eye irritation

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Eye irritation was experienced by 22 % of human subjects when exposed to 24 ppm for 1 min. No eye irritation was reported for 1 min exposure at at lower concentrations. However, methacrylonitrile caused irritation of the nose, throat or eyes in some subjects at concentrations of 2 ppm and 14 ppm when the exposure period was increased to 10 minutes.