Irritant acrylate

With respect to acute toxicity, based on lethaHty in rats or rabbits, acryhc monomers are slightly to moderately toxic. Mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and gastrointestinal tract are particularly sensitive to irritation. Acrylates can produce a range of eye and skin irritations from slight to corrosive depending on the monomer. 

Anyone who has used cyanoacrylates on a continuous basis in an area with poor ventilation is familiar with the pungent, irritating, acrylic-type odor. The relatively high vapor pressure of the cyanoacrylate monomers which contributes to the odor can also cause evaporation from uncured fillets the vapors precipitate as a white haze on surfaces adjacent to the bondline. On bright, decorative, or transparent parts this may be unacceptable, often requiring the use of an alternative adhesive. Good ventilation helps, but not universally. This has led to the development and marketing of alkoxyalkyl cyanoacrylate adhesives, which structurally are merely ethyl cyanoacrylates with methoxy or ethoxy... 

Repeated exposures of animals to high (near-lethal) concentrations of vapors result in inflammation of the respiratory tract, as weU as degenerative changes in the Hver, kidneys, and heart muscle. These effects arise at concentrations far above those causing irritation. Such effects have not been reported in humans. The low odor threshold and irritating properties of acrylates cause humans to leave a contaminated area rather than tolerate the irritation. 

Acrylic polymers are considered to be nontoxic. In fact, the FDA allows certain acrylate polymers to be used in the packaging and handling of food. However, care must be exercised because additives or residual monomers present in various types of polymers can display toxicity. For example, some acryflc latex dispersions can be mild skin or eye irritants. This toxicity is usually ascribed to the surfactants in the latex and not to the polymer itself. 

Overexposure to acryhc mbbers is not likely to cause significant acute toxic effects. ACM however may contain residual monomers, mainly acrylate monomers, vapors of which are known to cause eye and/or skin irritation. 

Methyl acrylate -3 CH2 CHC00CH3 2.8-25.0 1.0 3.0 80 Colourless liquid Acrid odour Extremely irritating to respiratory system, skin and mucous membranes... 

The development of monoalkyl phosphate as a low skin irritating anionic surfactant is accented in a review with 30 references on monoalkyl phosphate salts, including surface-active properties, cutaneous effects, and applications to paste and liquid-type skin cleansers, and also phosphorylation reactions from the viewpoint of industrial production [26]. Amine salts of acrylate ester polymers, which are physiologically acceptable and useful as surfactants, are prepared by transesterification of alkyl acrylate polymers with 4-morpholinethanol or the alkanolamines and fatty alcohols or alkoxylated alkylphenols, and neutralizing with carboxylic or phosphoric acid. The polymer salt was used as an emulsifying agent for oils and waxes [70]. Preparation of pharmaceutical liposomes with surfactants derived from phosphoric acid is described in [279]. Lipid bilayer vesicles comprise an anionic or zwitterionic surfactant which when dispersed in H20 at a temperature above the phase transition temperature is in a micellar phase and a second lipid which is a single-chain fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty alcohol which is in an emulsion phase, and cholesterol or a derivative. 

There are several reasons why these cements are bland. Acid irritation is probably minimal. Poly(acrylic acid) is a weak add and, in addition, because of its high molecular weight will not readily diffuse along dentinal tubules and is also immobilized by phosphatic material in these tubules. Moreover, once set these cements rapidly become neutral. 

Ethyl acrylate CH2 CHCOOC2H5 15 - 1.8- - 1.2 100 Colourless liquid Acrid odour Polymerizes readily, accelerated by heat, light, organic peroxides Irritant... 

It was found, when an attempt was made to conduct ship trials that the paint applier would be required to wear long sleeves, gloves, safety glasses, and a protective face shield. It is also a requirement that an eyewash fountain be nearby. These requirements were imposed because acrylates are skin, eye and respiratory tract irritants, but the problem lies mostly with the acrylated reactive diluent rather than with the acrylated resin (2,3). To avoid these problems, tests have been performed with use of trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) as a replacement for TMPTA. TMPTMA has been shown to be much less of an irritant than TMPTA, and is used in dental restorations. 

Since acrylates are skin, eye and respiratory system irritants, it would be desirable to find a system which did not contain these groups. Methacrylates are being tested as possible alternatives, but cure is much slower than with acrylates. 

Osaka Organic Chemical will embark on volume production of a low-toxicity acrylic ester monomer with extremely low skin irritation, it is briefly reported. Principal applications are as a diluent monomer for UV and EB coating materials and inks, and as a modifier in unsaturated polyester resins, acrylic resins and PVC. OSAKA ORGANIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES CO.LTD. 

Direction of innovation (from the standpoint of market actors - 6al Some companies made bad experiences with skin irritation cansed by acrylates and photo initiators in the latmched UV-drying printing inks (warning by employers hability insnrance and trade union 1981) and the formation of bertzene in catiorric processes. 

Toxicology. Acrylic acid is a severe irritant of the eyes, nose, and skin. The major route of absorption is ingestion of inhaled vapors. 

Medical reports of acute human exposures (concentration unspecified) include moderate and severe skin burns, moderate eye burns and mild inhalation effects. Although acrylic acid is acutely irritating at sites of initial contact, it causes little systemic toxicity. The low systemic toxicity of acrylic acid is likely a consequence of its rapid and extensive metabolism to C02. ... 

The application of 0.1ml of a 4% acrylic acid solution in acetone to the skin of mice three times per week for 13 weeks led to distinct skin irritation from 1 week on. Only minimal proliferative processes were observed when 0.1 ml of a 1 % acrylic acid solution was applied. ... 

Tegeris AS, Balmer MF, Gamer FM, et al A thirteen week skin irritation study with acrylic acid in three strains of mice. Abst no.504 Toxicologist 8 504, 1988. 

Toxicology. Butyl acrylate is an irritant of the eyes and skin. 

The rabbit dermal LDso was on the order of 1800mg/l. " On the skin of rabbits, butyl acrylate was moderately irritating. In the rabbit eye, the liquid produced corneal necrosis. 

Toxicology. Methyl acrylate is a lacrimating agent and an irritant of the skin and mucous membranes. 

In rats, the LDso for 4 hours was 1350 ppm. Behavior of the animals suggested irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract, with labored breathing. At necropsy, there were no discernible gross abnormalities of the major organs. In the same study, rats were exposed to methyl acrylate at 110 ppm 4 hours/ day, 5 days/week, for 32 days. There were no overt signs of central nervous system or respiratory effects, although the animals huddled with their eyes closed, possibly indicating some eye discomfort. 

The most widely used UV curable radical-initiated systems are based on acrylate unsaturation with the general formula H2C = CR-COOR (if R = H, the monomer is an acrylatel if R = CH3, it is a methacrylate). Methacrylates are less reactive than acrylates,but are less toxic and cause less skin irritation than acrylates. 

---