Dimethoxymethane - information sheet

Methane, dimethoxy-
CAS Registry Number 109-87-5

On this page

• Overview
• About this substance
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Screening assessment conclusions
• Related information

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducted a science-based screening assessmentunder the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment from dimethoxymethane.
• The risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people and the environment.
• The ecological hazard and exposure potentials of this substance were classified using the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances (ERC) Approach.
• As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that dimethoxymethane is not harmful to human health or to the environment at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.

About this substance

• The screening assessment summarized here focused on the substance methane, dimethoxy-, also referred to as dimethoxymethane. It was assessed under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
• According to the information gathered by the Government, this substance occurs naturally in a limited number of food products, such as cooked shrimp and strawberries.
• In Canada, dimethoxymethane is mainly used as a solvent (that is, used to dissolve other substances) in products available to consumers including cosmetics, cleaning products, paints and coatings, spray adhesives, and batteries.

Human and ecological exposures

• Canadians may be exposed to this substance through its natural presence in food and from products available to consumers, such as cosmetics, cleaning products, and paints.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, dimethoxymethane was identified as having a low ecological exposure potential.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• Dimethoxymethane is not considered to have hazardous properties for human health.
• According to information considered under the ERC Approach, dimethoxymethane was identified as having a low ecological hazard potential.

Risk assessment outcomes

• On the basis of the information presented in this screening assessment, the risk to human health from dimethoxymethane is low.
• Based upon the outcome of the ERC Approach, dimethoxymethane is considered unlikely to be causing ecological harm.
• The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment for Dimethoxymethane on February 6, 2021.

Screening assessment conclusions

• As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that dimethoxymethane is not harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.
• The Government also concluded that dimethoxymethane is not entering the environment at concentrations that are harmful to the environment.

Related information

• Dimethoxymethane may be found in products available to consumers. Canadians should follow any safety warnings and directions on product labels and dispose of products responsibly.
• The screening assessment for dimethoxymethane focused on potential risks of exposure to the general population of Canada, rather than occupational exposure. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. For information concerning workplace health and safety and what steps to take in the workplace, Canadians should consult their employer and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulator in their jurisdiction.