Methyl formate

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Comparable to guideline study. According to OECD TG 403 no full study with three dose levels required because there were no mortalities in the Limit Test at a 5.2 mg/l.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1979

Report date:

1979

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

standard acute method

Limit test:

yes

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Methyl formate

EC Number:

203-481-7

EC Name:

Methyl formate

Cas Number:

107-31-3

Molecular formula:

C₂H₄O₂

IUPAC Name:

methyl formate

Details on test material:

- Test substance: Methylformiat
- Analytical purity: 98 %

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source:  MUS RATTUS, Brunnthal.
- Weight at study initiation:  males: 187 g, females: 188 g.
- Fasting period before study:
- Housing:  in groups of 5 animals in wire mesh cages
- Diet: ad libitum, Herilan MRH, H. Eggersmann KG, Rinteln, Germany
- Water: ad libitum
- Acclimation period:

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C):
- Humidity (%):
- Air changes (per hr):
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light):

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Details on inhalation exposure:

- Exposure System: whole-body exposure. 
- Inhalation exposure chamber: glass-steel construction, volume 200 litres.
- Exposure: cages with 5 animals each were placed into the inhalation chamber.
- Duration of exposure period: 4 h. 
- Atmosphere generation: continuous delivery of test substance using an infusion pump to an all-glass evaporator heated to 75°C.

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

yes

Remarks:

Analytical method: gas chromatography, following sampling in 2-propanol.

Duration of exposure:

4 h

Concentrations:

5.19 mg/l

No. of animals per sex per dose:

20

Control animals:

yes

Details on study design:

- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Frequency of observations and weighing: on days 0, 7, and 14
- Necropsy of survivors performed: yes
- Other examinations performed: clinical signs, body weight,organ weights, histopathology, other:

Statistics:

Statistical evaluation: using the binominal test described by Wittig (1974).

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

> 5.2 mg/L air

Exp. duration:

4 h

Mortality:

No mortalities in the male (0/10) or female (0/10) group within the 14-d observation period.

Clinical signs:

other: Discharge of the conjunctivae during exposure, unkempt fur thereafter, forced breathing. No symptoms were seen the second day following exposure.

Body weight:

There was no difference between male and female treated and control groups regarding body weight and body weight gain at 7 and 14 days post treatment.

Gross pathology:

No findings in sacrificed animals.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Mean analytical concentration of TS: 5.19 mg/l.