Toxicological Assessment of Lower Alkyl Methacrylate Esters by a Category Approach
The health effects of lower alkyl methacrylate esters (methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl and 2-ethylhexyl) are well understood. MMA has the most comprehensive data set and although the data on the other esters is more limited their close structural similarity to MMA enables prediction of their hazard properties without the need to conduct unnecessary testing in animals. This is commonly referred to as the “reading across” of data between a group of structurally related chemicals or “category”. In an attempt to promote the use and consistency of Read Across within the EU REACH[1] process the EU Regulatory Agency has issued an Assessment Framework, referred to as the RAAF (ECHA, 2017[2]). In response MPA sponsored a study of the health effects data on lower alkyl methacrylate esters (C1-C8) and an assessment of how well the RAAF criteria could be satisfied. This study was published in a peer reviewed journal and is available under open access for download at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.11.013.
The study confirmed that these chemicals have similar structures, chemical reactivity and fate within the body and consequently Read Across could be used to fill in data gaps for health effects with high confidence. By developing Read Across for these chemicals MPA member companies have gained a far deeper insight into the health effects of lower alkyl methacrylate esters that can be used to better promote their safe handling and use.
[1]https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/reach/legislation
[2] European Chemicals Agency, 2017. Read-Across Assessment Framework (RAAF). https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13628/raaf_en.pdf