Dimethylformamide

IDLH Documentation

CAS number: 68­12­2

NIOSH REL: 10 ppm (30 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 10 ppm (30 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 10 ppm (30 mg/m3) TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless to pale­yellow liquid with a faint, amine­like odor.

LEL(@212 F): 2.2% (10% LEL(@212 F), 2,200 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 3,500 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Clayton et al. [1963] that rats survived a 4­hour exposure to air saturated with dimethylformamide vapor [Smyth and Carpenter 1948] and inhalation of saturated vapors for 6 hours was lethal [Haskell Laboratory]. A.D. Little reports that the saturated concentration at 20 C is 3,550 ppm. Because exposures to rats for 4 hours were at saturated concentrations, 3,500 ppm is chosen as the IDLH.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:


Species

Reference
LC50

(ppm)
LCLo

(ppm)

Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)
Derived

value
Rat

Mouse
Haskell

Stasenkova 1961
-----

3,092
5,000

-----
6 hr

2 hr
11,500 ppm (2.3)

4,947 ppm (1.6)
1,150 ppm

496 ppm


Lethal dose data:


Species

Reference

Route
LD50

(mg/kg)
LDLo

(mg/kg)

Adjusted LD
Derived value
Rat

Mouse

Rat
Druckrey et al. 1967

Lobanova 1958

Massmann 1956
oral

oral

oral
2,800

3,700

3,500
-----

-----

-----
6,447 ppm

8,520 ppm

8,059 ppm
645 ppm

852 ppm

806 ppm


Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.

Revised IDLH: 500 ppm

Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for dimethylformamide is 500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [Stasenkov 1961].


REFERENCES:

1. A.D. Little [?]. A.D. Little, Inc. Information supplied to NIOSH during Standards Completion Project.

2. Clayton JW Jr, Barnes JR, Hood DB, Schepers GWH [1963]. The inhalation toxicity of dimethylformamide (DMF). Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 24:144­154.

3. Druckrey H, Preussmann R, Ivankovic S, Schmahl D [1967]. Organotrope carcinogene wirkungen bei 65 vershiedenen N­nitroso­verbindungen and BD­ratten. Zeitschrift für Krebsforschung 69:103­201 (in German).

4. Haskell Laboratory [?]. Unpublished report. [From Clayton JW Jr, Barnes JR, Hood DB, Schepers GWH [1963]. The inhalation toxicity of dimethylformamide (DMF). Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 24:144­154.]

5. Lobanova KP [1958]. Concerning the toxicity of dimethylformamide. Gig Tr Prof Zabol 23(5):31­37 (in Russian).

6. Massmann W [1956]. Toxicological investigations on dimethylformamide. Br J Ind Med 13:51­54.

7. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP [1948]. Further experience with the range­finding test in the industrial toxicology laboratory. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 30(1):63­68.

8. Stasenkova KP [1961]. Toxicity of dimethylformamide. Toksikol Nov Prom Khim Vesh 1:54­69 (in Russian).
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