Overview
Glutaraldehyde is a colorless, oily, liquid-chemical with a pungent
odor. It is used for a number of applications such as the following:
- A cold sterilant in the health care industry
- A cross-linking and tanning agent
- A biocide in metalworking fluids and in oil and gas pipelines
- An antimicrobial in water-treatment systems
- A slimicide in paper manufacturing
- A preservative in cosmetics
- A disinfectant in animal housing
In the health care industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect equipment that cannot be heat sterilized such as dialysis instruments, surgical instruments, suction bottles, bronchoscopes, endoscopes, and ear, nose, and throat instruments.
It is also used for the following purposes:
- As a tissue fixative in histology and pathology labs
- As a hardening agent in the development of X-rays
- In embalming solutions
- In the preparation of grafts and bioprostheses
- In various clinical applications
The chemical is most often used in a diluted form with solutions ranging
from 1% to 50% glutaraldehyde in water. Trade names for glutaraldehyde-containing formulations include Cidex®, Sonacide®, Sporicidin®, Hospex®, Omnicide®,
Metricide®, Rapicide® and Wavicide®.
Workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde through inhalation or skin
contact. Health effects that may occur as a result of exposure to glutaraldehyde include but are not limited to the following:
- Throat and lung irritation
- Asthma and difficulty breathing
- Nose irritation
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Burning eyes and conjunctivitis
- Contact and/or allergic dermatitis
For additional information and recommended work practices to reduce
health care worker exposure to glutaraldehyde, consult the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) document below:
NIOSH Glutaraldehyde: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-115
This brochure provides information about the adverse health effects of
glutaraldehyde, describes how hospital workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde,
and identifies control methods and work practices to prevent or reduce
exposure.
En Español: http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/01-115sp.html
NIOSH Publications and Resources
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149
Exposure limits, Respirator Recommendations, First Aid, more...
The Pocket Guide is a source of general industrial hygiene information
on several hundred chemicals/classes found in the work environment. Key
data provided for each chemical/substance includes name (including synonyms/trade
names), structure/formula, CAS/RTECS Numbers, DOT ID, conversion factors,
exposure limits, IDLH, chemical and physical properties, measurement
methods, personal protection, respirator recommendations, symptoms, and
first aid.
International Chemical Safety Cards (ISCS)
An ICSC summarizes essential health and safety information about chemicals
for their use at the "shop floor" level by workers and employers
in factories, agriculture, construction, and other work places.
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM)
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants
in workplace air and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally
exposed.
- Glutaraldehyde (No. 2532) PDF only 25
kb (4 pages)
- Aldehydes, screening (No. 2539) PDF only 255
kb (10 pages)
NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)
The Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch (HETAB) of NIOSH
conducts field investigations of health hazards in the workplace. HETAB
has conducted many field investigations of potential occupational exposure
to glutaraldehyde, such as the reports below. For more information
about the health hazard evaluation (HHE) program and to search for
additional HHEs involving glutaraldehyde exposure, visit the HHE homepage.
- HHE Report No. HETA-86-226-1769, Montgomery Hospital, Norristown,
Pennsylvania PDF
only 160KB (15 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-90-296-2149, Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown,
West Virginia PDF
only 168KB (17 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-87-176-1826, St. James Community Hospital, Butte,
Montana PDF
only 152KB (10 pages)
NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin
55: Carcinogenicity of Acetaldehyde and Malonaldehyde, and Mutagenicity
of Related Low-Molecular-Weight Aldehydes
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-112
This document presents information about the potential carcinogenicity
and mutagenicity of acetaldehyde and malonaldehyde. The document also
discusses the chemical reactivity and mutagenicity of nine related aldehydes,
including glutaraldehyde, and includes guidelines for minimizing occupational
exposures.
NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS): Glutaraldehyde
RTECS is a database of chemical information compiled from the open scientific
literature. The information has been formatted by the RTECS staff and
arranged in alphabetical order by prime chemical name. This RTECS document
includes detailed information about toxic health effects and official
exposure recommendations and standards for glutaraldehyde.
Other Workplace Resources
Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Best Practices for the Safe
Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care
Recommends best practices for the safe use of glutaraldehyde with the
purpose of providing information to be used by health care employers
and employees to understand and control exposures to glutaraldehyde.
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/glutaraldehyde.pdf
OSHA Hospital eTool: Glutaraldehyde
Identifies possible employee exposure to glutaraldehyde in the workplace
and provides possible solutions to those risks.
External l ink: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/glutaraldehyde/glut.html
New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets: Glutaraldehyde
External Link: http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0960.pdf
PDF
only 71KB (6 pages)
New Jersey: Guidelines for Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care Facilities
External Link: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/survweb/glutar.pdf
PDF
only 77KB (9 pages)
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Glutaraldehyde
External Link: http://ccinfoweb2.ccohs.ca/cheminfo/Action.lasso?-database=cheminfo&-layout=Display&-response=detail.html&-noresultserror=noresults.html&-op=eq&CHEMINFO+RECORD+NUMBER=4E&-search
EPA: Reducing Ethylene Oxide and Glutaraldehyde Use
External Link: http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/p2/projects/hospital/glutareth.pdf
PDF
only (4 pages)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Device Evaluation Information:
FDA-Cleared Sterilants and High Level Disinfectants with General Claims
for Processing Reusable Medical and Dental Devices
This chart provides information about several manufactured sterilants
and high-level disinfectants including chemical trade names, active ingredients,
sterilant contact conditions, and high level disinfectant contact conditions
as recommended by the FDA.
External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/germlab.html
California: Glutaraldehyde Fact Sheet
External Link: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/glutaral.pdf
PDF
only 55KB (5 pages)
American Federation of Government Employees: Glutaraldehyde Information
Provides general information about glutaraldehyde including health effects,
exposure limits, and protective measures.
External Link: http://www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=Glutaraldehyde
Dow
Biocides: Glutaraldehyde Safety & Handling – Hospital
Disinfection and Hazards
Provides links to an extensive list of glutaraldehyde-related documents
available in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese.
External Link: http://www.dow.com/biocides/glut/literature.htm
United
Kingdom Health and Safety Executive Research Report
(RR445): An Evaluation of Chemical Disinfecting Agents Used in Endoscopy
Suites in the National Health Service
Reports the benefits and limitations of alternatives to glutaraldehyde
in the disinfection of endoscopes.
External Link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr445.htm
New Zealand: The Safe Occupational Use of Glutaraldehyde in the Health Industries
External Link: http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/glutaral.pdf
PDF
only 88KB (22 pages)
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Screening
Information Data Sets (SIDS): Glutaraldehyde
This international document includes a chemical profile summary and a
chemical assessment report for glutaraldehyde. Also provides information
about environmental, human and animal exposure and recommendations for
safe use of the chemical.
External Link: http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/111308.pdf
PDF
only (83 pages)
Related NIOSH Safety and Health Topics
Chemical Safety Topic Page
Provides links to NIOSH chemical safety resources as well as other sources
of information.
Control Banding Topic Page
Provides information about the control banding approach of chemical management
including control banding resources and research projects.
Eye Safety Topic Page
Provides an overview of eye safety information as well as eye safety
resources and publications.
Formaldehyde Topic Page
Provides links to NIOSH formaldehyde resources as well as other sources
of information.
Health Care Workers Topic Page
Provides information about the workplace risks and hazards of health
care workers. Provides links to resources for various types of hazards
in the health care industry including chemical hazards.
Protective Clothing Topic Page
Provides links to protective clothing recommendations and NIOSH publications
and resources.
Skin Exposure and Effects Topic Page
Provides general skin information as well as links to current and upcoming
skin research events.
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