Formic acid

RTECS #

LQ4900000

CAS #

64-18-6
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods

Updated

October 2015

Molecular Weight

46.03

Molecular Formula

CH₂O₂

Synonyms

Acide formique (French)
Acido formico (Italian)
Ameisensaeure (German)
Aminic acid
Formic acid (ACGIH:OSHA)
Formylic acid
Hydrogen carboxylic acid
Kwas metaniowy (Polish)
Kyselina mravenci (Czech)
Methanoic acid
Mierenzuur (Dutch)
RCRA waste number U123

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
eye /rabbit	122 mg	severe	UCDS** 8/5/1968
eye /rabbit	122 mg		HPV246 -,-,2001
skin /rabbit	610 mg open irritation test	mild	UCDS** 8/5/1968
skin /rabbit	610 mg	mild	HPV246 -,-,2001

Mutation Data and Reference

System Test	Route/Organism/Tissue	Dose	Reference
Cytogenetic Analysis	other cell types/non-mammalian species	100 mmol/L	CAANAT 56,712,1972
Cytogenetic Analysis	ovary/hamster	10 mmol/L	MUREAV 240,195,1990
mutation in microorganisms	/Escherichia coli	70 ppm/3H (-enzymatic activation step)	AMNTA4 85,119,1951
other mutation test systems	other cell types/non-mammalian species	100 mmol/L	CAANAT 56,712,1972
phage inhibition capacity	/Escherichia coli	100 mmol/L	MDMIAZ 31,11,1979
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction	inhalation/Drosophila melanogaster	1000 ppm/24H	THAGA6 39,330,1969
sex chromosome loss and nondisjunction	oral/Drosophila melanogaster	1000 ppm	THAGA6 39,330,1969
sister chromatid exchange	lymphocyte/human	10 mmol/L	MUREAV 279,75,1992

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
In Vitro/Human, liver tumor	Inhibitor Concentration (50 percent kill): 45 mmol/L/24H	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell protein synthesis	TIVIEQ 3,189,1989
In Vitro/Human, skin	Inhibitor Concentration Low: 0.08 mL/well/3M	In Vitro Toxicity Studies: Cell viability (mitochondrial reductase assays): MTT, XTT, MTS, WSTs assays etc.	TIVIEQ 28,616,2014
inhalation/man	lowest published toxic concentration: 7300 µg/m³/8H	Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes in urine composition	ARTODN 66,522,1992
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 6200 mg/m³/15M	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GTPZAB 23(12),49,1979
inhalation/mouse	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 6200 mg/m³/15M		HPV246 -,-,2001
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 7400 mg/m³/4H		HPV246 -,-,2001
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 15000 mg/m³/15M		HPV246 -,-,2001
inhalation/rat	lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 15 gm/m³/15M	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GTPZAB 23(12),49,1979
intraperitoneal/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 940 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001
intravenous/Dog	lowest published lethal dose: 3 gm/kg		HBTXAC 1,146,1955
intravenous/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 145 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001
intravenous/rabbit	lowest published lethal dose: 239 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/Dog	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 4 gm/kg		AMIHAB 20,517,1959
oral/domestic animal	lowest published toxic dose: 150 mg/kg	Behavioral: Food intake (animal)	HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 700 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GTPZAB 23(12),49,1979
oral/mouse	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 700 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): >4000 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1830 mg/kg		ENTOX* -,378,2005
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 730 mg/kg	Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rat	lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1100 mg/kg	Behavioral: Somnolence (general depressed activity) Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Dyspnea	GTPZAB 23(12),49,1979
oral/woman	lowest published toxic dose: 2200 mg/kg	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Sputum Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Hematuria Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Metabolic acidosis	JTCTDW 32,199,1994
oral/woman	lowest published lethal dose: 2440 µg/kg	Vascular: Shock Blood: Other hemolysis with or without anemia Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Changes in: Metabolic acidosis	AJEMEN 7,286,1989
subcutaneous/rabbit	lethal dose (50 percent kill): >300 mg/kg		HPV246 -,-,2001

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/Organism	Dose	Effect	Reference
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 500 ppm/6H/12D- intermittent	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	NTPTR* NIH-92-3342
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 64 ppm/6H/13W- intermittent	Liver: Changes in liver weight Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in bladder weight Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	NTPTR* NIH-92-3342
inhalation/mouse	lowest published toxic concentration: 64 ppm/13W- intermittent	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Liver: Changes in liver weight Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight	HPV246 -,-,2001
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 500 ppm/6H/12D- intermittent	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Other changes Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	NTPTR* NIH-92-3342
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 64 ppm/6H/13W- intermittent	Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in lung weight Liver: Changes in liver weight Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Phosphatases	NTPTR* NIH-92-3342
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 50 mg/m³/16W- intermittent	Brain and Coverings: Recordings from specific areas of CNS Liver: Liver function tests impaired Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Proteinuria	GTPZAB 19(12),49,1975
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 20 ppm/3D- intermittent	Liver: Other changes Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Other changes Biochemical: Enzyme inhibition, induction, or change in blood or tissue levels: Multiple enzyme effects	HPV246 -,-,2001
inhalation/rat	lowest published toxic concentration: 120 mg/m³/13W- intermittent	Olfaction: Other olfaction effects Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Changes in lung weight Liver: Changes in liver weight	HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 87500 mg/kg/5W- intermittent	Liver: Changes in liver weight Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight Endocrine: Changes in spleen weight	HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 42840 mg/kg/7W- intermittent	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain Related to Chronic Data: Death in the "MULTIPLE DOSE" data type field	HPV246 -,-,2001
oral/rat	lowest published toxic dose: 22680 mg/kg/9W- continuous	Behavioral: Food intake (animal) Nutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gain	JPETAB 16,463,1921

Reviews

Organization	Standard	Reference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)	Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 5 ppm;short term exposure limit 10 ppm	DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AMIHAB 20,517,1959
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ARTODN 39,299,1978
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 17,349,2003
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		AINCM* 7,63,2006
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		CHHSA* 9,6,2002
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		ENTOX* -,378,2005
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		HUTOX* -,683,1996
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		REPTED 29,1,2010
TOXICOLOGY REVIEW		TOLED5 199,203,2010

Standards and Regulations

Organization	Standard	Reference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-air	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³)	DTLVS* 3,119,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-ARAB Republic of Egypt	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIA	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9.4 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 10 ppm (19 mg/m³), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIA	MAK-TMW 5 ppm (9 mg/m³);KZW 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUM	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9.5 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 10 ppm (19 mg/m³), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARK	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-EC	time-weighted average 9 mg/m³ (5 ppm), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLAND	time-weighted average 3 ppm (5 mg/m³), short term exposure limit 10 ppm (19 mg/m³), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCE	VLE 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-GERMANY	MAK 5 ppm (9.5 mg/m³), 2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-HUNGARY	time-weighted average 9 mg/m³, short term exposure limit 9 mg/m³, SEP2000
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELAND	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), skin, NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-JAPAN	Occupational Exposure Limit 5 ppm (9.4 mg/m³), MAY2012
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREA	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICO	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALAND	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9.4 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 10 ppm (19 mg/m³), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-NORWAY	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERU	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9.4 mg/m³); short term exposure limit 10 ppm (18.8 mg/m³), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-POLAND	MAC(time-weighted average) 5 mg/m³, MAC(short term exposure limit) 15 mg/m³, JAN1999
Occupational Exposure Limit-RUSSIA	short term exposure limit 1 mg/m³, Skin, JUN2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDEN	time-weighted average 3 ppm (5 mg/m³);short term exposure limit 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLAND	MAK-week 5 ppm (9.5 mg/m³), KZG-week 10 ppm (19 mg/m³), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDS	MAC-TGG 9 mg/m³, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINES	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOM	time-weighted average 5 ppm (9.6 mg/m³), OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)	8H time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)	8H time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)	8H time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)	8H time-weighted average 5 ppm (9 mg/m³)	CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

Organization	Standard	Reference
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level TO FORMIC ACID-air	10H time-weighted average 5 ppm	NIOSH* DHHS #92-100,1992
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983	Hazard Code 33720; Number of Industries 95; Total Number of Facilities 6368; Number of Occupations 77; Total Number of Employees Exposed 158933; Total Number of Female Employees Exposed 37338
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974	Hazard Code 33720; Number of Industries 59; Total Number of Facilities 3537; Number of Occupations 48; Total Number of Employees Exposed 34087

Status in Federal Agencies

Organization	Reference
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: Formic acid, 2011
NTP Toxicity studies, RPT# TOX-19, October 2000
On EPA IRIS database
OSHA ANALYTICAL METHOD #ID-112

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018

Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health