Glutaraldehyde (1, 5-pentanedial)
Glutaraldehyde
What is Glutaraldehyde?
Glutaraldehyde has fairly small molecules, each with two aldehyde groups, separated by a flexible chain of 3 methylene bridges. Glutaraldehyde or 1, 5-Pentanediol (HOCH2 (CH2)3CH2OH) is a colourless water-miscible bifunctional alcohol with a boiling point of 242.5°C.
What products may contain Glutaraldehyde?
Glutaraldehyde is used as a hydraulic fluid, lube-oil additive, antifreeze, and in the manufacture of polyester and polyurethane resins used in the synthesis of polyester resins, thermoplastic polyurethanes, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, crop protection agents and piperidine. Glutaraldehyde is used as a biocide, in disinfectants (for example cold disinfection of endoscopes), as a hardener in X-Ray film processing, and as a fixing agent in electron and light microscopy. The uses above provides opportunity for increased glutaraldehyde volatilization and dermal exposure.
How might exposure to Glutaraldehyde affect my health?
Workers may be exposed by inhalation of vapours liberated from aqueous solutions of glutaraldehyde from 50% to less than 1% and by skin contact with the solutions. The risk of exposure to glutaraldehyde vapours is increased at higher temperatures and/or concentrations and by use in spray form (International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS)). The ICPS consider that public exposure and indirect exposure via the environment is minimal. It states that the public is unlikely to be exposed during the use of Glutaraldehyde in its industrial applications, and a short residence time in the environment and a lack of bioaccumulation, makes indirect exposure a minor possibility for exposure via the environment.IPCS also notes that “as exposure to glutaraldehyde solutions at 1% or higher is frequent, especially in the health care industry, the risk of dermatitis, eye irritation and skin sensitization in workers is significant where skin and eye protection (and local exhaust ventilation) are not provided”.
The ASCC (Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) formerly the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission or NOHSC) states that Glutaraldehyde produces allergic skin reactions, and confirms that Glutaraldehyde is a skin sensitizer (confirmed by positive responses in patch testing). The ASCC says that “a number of reports of occupational asthma and/or rhinitis have been linked with exposure to glutaraldehyde in the workplace, with some cases concerning workers with no past history of allergic response. Difficulties have arisen in determining whether the response in each case is due to an irritant effect or to an allergic hypersensitivity. The type of allergic mechanism that causes asthma after exposure to glutaraldehyde is not yet known, and no specific antibody has been identified”.
The American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (2004) has Glutaraldehyde as Category A4 (not classifiable as a human carcinogen).
What is the airborne exposure limit for Glutaraldehyde Vapour?
Australia:
The Hazardous Substance Information System (HSIS) supplied by the Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council provides a TWA* of 0.1 parts per million (0.1ppm) and a peak limitation exposure standard of 0.41mg/m3 over 15 minutes. There is no short term exposure limit (STEL). Glutaraldehyde has a strong odour and is said to have an odour threshold of 0.04ppm, in the vapour state. Note: Odour is a poor indicator of toxicity.
* Note: Except for short term exposure limits, or where a peak value has been assigned, the exposure standards for airborne contaminants are expressed as a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of that substance over an eight-hour working day, for a five-day working week.
U.S.A and U.K
The ACGIH has a notice of Intended Change (NIC) to lower the existing TLV of 0.2 ppm to a TLV ceiling of 0.05ppm.
The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a Chemical Hazard Alert Notice in 1997, with a maximum exposure limit (MEL) of 0.05ppm (0.2mg/m3) expressed as a TWA and 0.05ppm (0.2mg/m3) expressed as a 15-min period (STEL). The HSE could not identify a safe level of exposure where it could be certain that there would be no risk of serious health effects. In 1998 a further notice stated that the committee could no longer identify a level which is both safe and practically achievable.
How can exposure to Glutaraldehyde be monitored?
The National Industrial Chemical Notification and Assessments Scheme (NICNAS) recommend that “where there is a significant risk of inhalation of glutaraldehyde vapour an atmospheric monitoring program should be carried out”. Note that NICNAS states “that a product containing more than 0.1% glutaraldehyde is classed as a Hazardous Substance. And that “contact with solutions containing 1% or more glutaraldehyde and inhalation of glutaraldehyde vapours is the most common route for poisoning”.
Glutaraldehyde may be determined in occupational air using collection on adsorbent tubes, solvent desorption and GC/FID and HPLC-UV analysis. Detection limits depend upon the amount of air sampled and accuracy is very good. Sometimes passive samplers are used (however little performance data is available).
For adsorbent tube samples, samples are collected using personal sampling pumps that have been calibrated, with sampling devices attached, to within ±5% at the recommended flow rate of 50 mL/min. The sampling devices consist of adsorbent tubes that are contained in commercially available tube holders. The devices are connected to the pumps with flexible, non-crimpable tubing. SKC adsorbent silica gel tubes are commonly used.
Other techniques are used for the isolation and concentration of Glutaraldehyde in environmental samples.
The Assessment of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
In many cases the first step in planning an Occupational Hygiene Program is to assess the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all the materials used by an organization, in addition to that of the chemical under investigation, Glutaraldehyde. In planning the program, GETEX hygienists must take into account any additive effects of a combination of materials, and may also take into account a different time of exposure, for example, a 10 hour working day.
GETEX can help you instigate monitoring and/or devise a site management plan to control your site’s emissions.
The staff at GETEX has many years of experience in airborne hazardous material risk assessments including many projects involving the monitoring and management of VOCs including Glutaraldehyde, Xylene and Formaldehydes. GETEX are ready to recommend & implement cost-effective monitoring programs in any part of Australia and overseas. Together with the administrative assistance and monitoring GETEX can recommend appropriate engineering controls and Personal Respirable Protective Equipment.
Why Choose GETEX?
- Trained Consultants with many years of experience across a broad range of occupational air quality services
- Trained Consultants employed by Getex are members of Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists, Inc (AIOH)
- GETEX offers specialist occupational hygiene advice, 24 hours/7 days a week.
- GETEX carries full professional indemnity insurance.
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Sources of information used in preparing this webpage
- National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), Department of Environment and Conservation (accessed April, 2007)
- National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (www.nicnas.com.au) (accessed April. 2007)
- International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) (accessed April 2007)
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council (2004), Exposure Standard Glutaraldehyde (accessed April, 2007).
