| Agent Name |
Epichlorohydrin |
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| Alternative Name |
1-Chloro-2,3-epoxypropane |
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| CAS Number |
106-89-8 |
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| Formula |
C3-H5-Cl-O |
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| Major Category |
Plastics & Rubber |
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| Synonyms |
2-Chloropropylene oxide; gamma-Chloropropylene oxide; 1-Chloro-2,3-epoxypropane; [NIOSH] UN2023 |
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| Category |
Epoxy Resins |
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| Description |
Colorless liquid with a slightly irritating, chloroform-like odor; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used primarily in the manufacture of epoxy and phenoxy resins; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Can cause severe skin burns and a skin sensitizer; [ICSC] In high-dose animal studies, epichlorohydrin causes testicular damage and sterility. [Frazier, p. 340] Animals exposed in subchronic inhalation studies at 50 ppm show kidney damage and liver effects. [ACGIH] |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.5 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
5 ppm |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
75 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Human data: Workers engaged in the production of epichlorohydrin from dichlorohydrin glycerin, with isolated exposures to epichlorohydrin ranging from 4.9 to 54.9 ppm, showed no apparent adverse effects [Pet'ko et al. 1966]. Concentrations of 20 ppm produced transient burning of the eyes and nasal mucosa, 40 ppm produced eye and throat irritation that persisted for 48 hours, and concentrations in excess of 100 ppm were considered intolerable with a potential for lung edema and kidney lesions [NIOSH 1976b]. |
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| Vapor Pressure |
16.4 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.08 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
12 ppm |
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| RD50 |
687 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 250 ppm/8 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Odor threshold from AIHA; Flash point = 88 deg F; [CHEMINFO] |
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| Half Life |
No reports found; [TDR, p. 619] |
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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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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Probable Carcinogen |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: EPICHLOROHYDRIN
|
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