On the fate of methyl methacrylate in blood.

The fate of methyl methacrylate in fresh human blood was investigated in vitro by using gas chromatography. It was found that methyl methacrylate is present in cells in concentrations twice as large as in plasma, but it disappears exponentially with time at a rate that is at least 10 times faster than that in cells. The rate constant in cells is very small or even zero. The half-life of methyl methacrylate in whole blood is 3 hr at 20 degrees C. Gas chromatography is a convenient method for the rapid determination of methyl methacrylate levels in blood.