What is Vinyl Acetate?

Vinyl acetate is a clear, colourless liquid with the molecular formula C₄H₆O_2. It has a sweet, pleasant, fruity smell, but the odour may be sharp and irritating to some people. You can easily smell vinyl acetate when it is in the air at levels around 0.5 ppm. It readily evaporates into air and dissolves easily in water. Vinyl acetate is flammable and may be ignited by heat, sparks, or flames.

What is Vinyl Acetate used for?

Vinyl acetate is used to make other industrial chemicals (such as polyvinyl acetate polymers and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers). These other chemicals are used mostly to make glues for the packaging and building industries. They are also used to make paints, textiles, and paper. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that vinyl acetate may be safely used as a coating or a part of a coating that is used in plastic films for food packaging and as a modifier of food starch.

Vinyl Acetate Hazards

Vinyl Acetate in Environment

Vinyl acetate does not occur naturally in the environment. It enters the environment from factories and facilities that make, use, store, or dispose of it.

Vinyl acetate breaks down readily in the environment. 

It takes about 6 hours for one-half of the chemical to break down in the air. 

It takes about 7 days for one-half of it to break down in water. 

It is not known how long vinyl acetate stays in the soil

Source of Exposure

You can be exposed to vinyl acetate through industrial facilities, accidental spills, and products that contain the chemical, like glues and paints. If you live near factories or waste sites that handle vinyl acetate, the most likely ways you'll be exposed are by breathing contaminated air or drinking water. Exposure can also happen if your skin comes into contact with products made using vinyl acetate. Additionally, you might ingest it if food is packaged in plastic films that contain vinyl acetate. However, most exposure occurs in workplaces where vinyl acetate is made or used. Workers may breathe it in or absorb it through their skin when handling vinyl acetate solutions.

Routes of Exposure

Vinyl acetate can enter your body in three ways:

• Lungs: By breathing air containing it.
• Stomach and intestines: By eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
• Skin: Through direct contact.

Health Effects

Acute Effect

• Breathing in vinyl acetate can cause irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory system. Animals exposed to high levels have shown nasal irritation, laboured breathing, lung damage, and convulsions. Animal tests suggest vinyl acetate has moderate acute toxicity through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.

Chronic Effects

• Long-term exposure in workplaces hasn’t shown severe health issues, but some workers reported upper respiratory irritation, cough, and hoarseness. Mice and rats exposed for long periods developed nasal irritation and respiratory inflammation. The Reference Concentration (RfC) for vinyl acetate is 0.2 mg/m³, based on nasal lesions in animals. A provisional Reference Dose (RfD) is 1.0 mg/kg/day, based on altered body and kidney weights in rats.

Reproductive/Developmental Effects

No human data is available on reproductive or developmental effects. In animal studies, rats exposed to high levels showed reduced body weight gain and, in severe cases, foetal growth retardation. However, this may be due to the mother’s weight loss, not a direct effect on the foetus. Minor skeletal defects in foetuses were also seen at high exposure levels.

Cancer Risk

There’s no human data on vinyl acetate’s carcinogenic effects. Rats exposed by inhalation developed nasal tumours, while those given vinyl acetate in drinking water showed liver and thyroid tumours. However, the study had limitations, and another study showed no treatment-related tumors. The EPA has not classified vinyl acetate for its potential to cause cancer in humans.

Vinyl Acetate Safety

First Aid Measures

Eye Contact: Remove contact lenses and flush eyes with water for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if necessary.

Skin Contact: Wash skin immediately with water and soap. If irritation persists, seek medical attention.

Inhalation: Move the person to fresh air and seek medical help immediately.

Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Check for mouth injuries and seek medical attention.

Fire Information

Vinyl acetate is flammable, with an auto-ignition temperature of 402°C. In case of fire, use a dry chemical powder for small fires and alcohol foam or water spray for larger fires.

Vinyl Acetate Exposure Controls & Personal Protection

Engineering Controls

• Use ventilation systems to keep vinyl acetate levels below safety limits. Ensure eyewash stations and safety showers are nearby.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Splash goggles
• Lab coat
• Vapour respirator (certified)
• Gloves

For large spills, use additional protection like a full suit, boots, and a self-contained breathing apparatus. Consult a specialist for extra safety measures.

Regulations

United States

• EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency requires that discharges or accidental spills into the environment of 5,000 pounds or more of vinyl acetate be reported to the EPA.
• FDA: The Food and Drug Administration has determined that vinyl acetate may be safely used as a coating or a part of a coating that is used in plastic films for food packaging and as a modifier of food starch.
• ACGIH: The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has established an exposure limit of 10 parts of vinyl acetate per million parts of workplace air (10 ppm) for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.
• NIOSH: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that exposure to vinyl acetate in the workplace not exceed 4 ppm over a 15-minute period.

Australia

Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Australia has established the following exposure limits for vinyl acetate:

• Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 10ppm and 35mg/m³ for 8-hour workday
• Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 20ppm for a 15-minute TWA