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Methyl Methacrylate - PSL1

Synopsis

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is not produced in Canada, but is imported for use in manufacturing cast acrylic sheet, acrylic emulsions, and molding and extrusion resins. Although data on concentrations of methyl methacrylate in the environment are not available, concentrations of MMA in various media to which humans and other organisms may be exposed have been predicted on the basis of modelling.

Exposure of aquatic organisms was estimated from the predicted concentration of methyl methacrylate in surface water. This exposure is considerably less (by about 1 000 000 times) than levels estimated to cause effects in algae and fish. Based on predicted concentrations of methyl methacrylate in air, water, and fish, the total average daily intake for wild mink was estimated. This estimate is also considerably less (by about 100 000 000 times) than the levels causing effects in chronic inhalation studies on mammals.

Because of the short persistence of methyl methacrylate in the troposphere (a few hours to a few days) and its predicted low concentrations, it is not considered to be associated with depletion of stratospheric ozone or with global warming.

Based on predicted concentrations of methyl methacrylate in ambient air, water, soil, and fish, the total average daily intakes of MMA have been estimated for various age groups in the general population. These estimates are considerably less (by approximately 200 000 times) than the intake to which it is believed that a person can be exposed over a lifetime without deleterious effects, i.e., the Tolerable Daily Intake derived on the basis of data from bioassays in animal species.

Based on these considerations, the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of National Health and Welfare have concluded that the predicted concentrations of methyl methacrylate in the Canadian environment do not constitute a danger to the environment, or to the environment on which human life depends, or to human life or health. Therefore, methyl methacrylate is not considered to be "toxic" as defined under Section 11 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.