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April 24, 2024

According to Decree 280-2024 published on February 28, 2024, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the amendment to the Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13) will come into force on March 14, 2024. These regulatory changes have not yet been incorporated into the current Substance Data Sheets of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace. An update is currently underway and will be available as soon as possible. Consequently, the information contained in the data sheets of substances modified or added in Decree 280-2024 is partially inaccurate or incomplete. Please consult our infoLABO (in French only) for more details. Please contact our client service: [email protected] for further information.

Formic acid

French name in the regulation: Acide formique
CAS : 64-18-6
Synonyms: Hydrogen carboxylic acid

Exposure Standards in RROHS regulation

Permissible exposure values (PEV)
ppm mg/m3 f/cc Notes
TWAEV 5 9,4 - -
STEV 10 19 - -
Ceiling - - - -
Simple asphyxiant Percutaneous
Minimum exposure Sensitizer
Prohibited use Prohibited recirculation
Carcinogenicity

TWA adjustment for unusual work schedules

1B : No adjustment

CNESST – Toxicological Index Service

Consult REPTOX file: Formic acid

Analysis:

Acide formique

Recommended method by the IRSST:
Method: NIOSH - 2011

Sampling device: PTFE filter with treated silica gel tube 400/200 mg
Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,05-0,2 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 24 L
STEL sampling volume: 3 L
Remarks: Contact the IRSST before sampling. The sample is stable for 1 week at 25°C.

Principle: Ion chromatography with conductivity detection (IC-CD)

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 4th ed., Method 2011 : Formic acid. NIOSH, 1994.
Following the amendment of Appendix 1 of the Quebec Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13), part of Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Act, which came into effect on March 26, 2020, the TWAEV, STEL and Ceiling values for certain substances are now expressed in ppm. For these substances, the IRSST performed the conversion calculations to express these TWAEV, TWA and Ceiling values in mg/m3, which thus appears in its Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace (Guide d'échantillonnage des contaminants de l'air en milieu de travail ) and the associated Substance Data Sheets. However, it is imperative to refer to the values expressed in the RSST which are legally binding.