| Agent Name |
Acrolein |
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| CAS Number |
107-02-8 |
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| Formula |
C3-H4-O |
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| Major Category |
Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Synonyms |
Acraldehyde; Acrylaldehyde; Acrylic aldehyde; Allyl aldehyde; Propenal; 2-Propenal; [NIOSH] |
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| Category |
Other Toxic Gases & Vapors |
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| Description |
Colorless or yellow liquid with a piercing, disagreeable odor; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in the manufacture of various organic chemical products; also used as a fungicide and pesticide; one of the causes of smoke inhalation injury; acrolein is a combustion product of wood, cellulose, and polyethylene; [Sullivan, p. 1017] Also used as a biocide to kill microorganisms, a fumigant to kill rodents, a leather tanning agent, and histology fixative; [ATSDR Medical Management] |
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| Comments |
Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] "Tear drawing." May cause pulmonary edema, skin burns, and severe burns to the eyes; [ICSC] Causes first degree burns after short exposure; [CHRIS] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Acrolein |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TIH |
Yes |
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| Ceiling (ACGIH) |
0.1 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
0.1 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
2 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Human data: It has been reported that 5.5 ppm results in intense irritation and marked lacrimation, after 60 seconds [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. Exposures to 1.8 ppm result in slight eye irritation after 1 minute and profuse lacrimation after 4 minutes [NRC 1981]. In volunteers exposed for 5 minutes, concentrations of 2 to 2.3 ppm produced severe irritation [Darley et al. 1960]. A 10-minute exposure at 8 ppm and a 5-minute exposure at 1.2 ppm elicited extreme irritation described as "only just tolerable" [Sim and Pattle 1957]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
210 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.02 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
1.8 ppm |
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| RD50 |
1 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 18 mg/m3/4 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 1.8 ppm); Odor threshold = between 0.02 and 0.4; [NIOSH OSH Guidelines] The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "acrolein, inhibited." |
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| Half Life |
No reports found; [TDR, p. 35] |
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| Reference Link |
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
3: may ignite at ambient temperature |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Toxic Pneumonitis |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Lacrimator |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Not Classifiable |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: ACROLEIN
|
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