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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Endpoint:
health surveillance data
Adequacy of study:
other information

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Preventing Vision Disturbances and Acute Physical Distress Due to Dimethylethylamine (DMEA) Exposure
Author:
NIOSH
Year:
1987
Bibliographic source:
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 88-103 (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/88-103.html)

Materials and methods

Study type:
health record from industry
Endpoint addressed:
eye irritation
repeated dose toxicity: inhalation
Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline available
Principles of method if other than guideline:
This Alert describes the effects of exposure to DMEA among workers in an aluminum casting foundry

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Ethyldimethylamine
EC Number:
209-940-8
EC Name:
Ethyldimethylamine
Cas Number:
598-56-1
Molecular formula:
C4H11N
IUPAC Name:
ethyldimethylamine

Method

Type of population:
occupational

Results and discussion

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

This Alert describes the results of a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation at an aluminum casting foundry where workers exposed to dimethylethylamine (DMEA) reported vision disturbances (blurred, foggy, and halo vision) and systemic effects (headache, nausea, and stomach pain) during coremaking operations. The vision disturbances and systemic effects occurred among workers exposed to DMEA at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration equal to or greater than 6 milligrams per cubic meter of air (6mg/m3, or 2 parts per million [ppm]). The adverse health effects may also have been caused by 15-minute DMEA exposures as high as 29 mg/m3(9.7 ppm). Acute physical distress and halo vision were experienced at concentrations higher than those associated with blurred vision only.

Excessive concentrations of DMEA resulted from a failure to maintain pressure-tight seals in the corebox machine gaskets. NIOSH recommends increased maintenance on these gaskets and more periodic checks of core machine operation to prevent excessive concentrations of DMEA in the workplace. Currently, no OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) exists for DMEA. Thus airborne concentrations of DMEA should be reduced so that vision disturbances and systemic effects do not occur.

Aluminum and gray-iron foundry owners, operators, and workers, manufacturers of polyamides, other users of DMEA, trade associations, labor organizations, and editors of appropriate trade journals are requested to help prevent exposure to DMEA.