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Methyl methacrylate and respiratory sensitization: a critical review

Jonathan Borak1, Cheryl Fields, Larry S Andrews

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA. jonathan.borak@yale.edu

Critical Reviews in Toxicology
|March 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is unlikely to be a respiratory sensitizer, despite some case reports. Extensive review of toxicological and occupational data indicates MMA does not cause occupational asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Respiratory Health

Background:

  • Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is recognized as a respiratory irritant and dermal sensitizer.
  • Case reports have suggested a potential link between MMA exposure and occupational asthma, raising concerns about its respiratory sensitizing potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively evaluate the evidence regarding MMA's potential as a respiratory sensitizer.
  • To synthesize findings from toxicological studies and occupational health reports to determine the risk of MMA-induced respiratory sensitization.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in silico, in chemico, in vitro, and in vivo toxicology literature.
  • Analysis of epidemiologic and occupational medicine reports, including cohort, cross-sectional, and case studies.
  • Assessment of experimental data on skin sensitization, cytotoxicity, and inhalation responses.

Main Results:

  • In silico and in chemico studies suggest MMA is unlikely to be a respiratory sensitizer.
  • In vitro studies indicate generally weak effects, while in vivo studies show contact skin sensitization and weak local lymph node assay responses.
  • Worker studies reported upper respiratory tract irritation but little evidence of sensitization; case reports of asthma were often confounded by co-exposures.

Conclusions:

  • The overall weight of evidence from experimental and observational data strongly suggests that MMA is not a respiratory sensitizer.
  • While MMA can cause irritation, it does not appear to induce occupational asthma or respiratory sensitization.
  • Further research on specific exposure scenarios and confounding factors in occupational settings may be beneficial.

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