Agent Name |
Furfuryl alcohol |
CAS Number |
98-00-0 |
Formula |
C5-H6-O2 |
Major Category |
Solvents |
Synonyms |
2-Furancarbinol; 2-Furanmethanol; 2-Furanylmethanol; 2-Furfuryl alcohol; 2-Furfurylalkohol [Czech]; 2-Furylcarbinol; 2-Furylmethanol; 2-Hydroxymethylfuran; 5-Hydroxymethylfuran; Furfural alcohol; Furfuralcohol; Furfuranol; Furfuryl alcohol; Furfurylcarb; Furyl alcohol; Furylcarbinol (VAN); Methanol, (2-furyl)-; alpha-Furylcarbinol; [ChemIDplus] UN2874 |
Category |
Alcohols and Polyols |
Description |
Colorless to amber liquid with a faint, burning odor. [Note: Darkens on exposure to light.]; [NIOSH] |
Sources/Uses |
Used as a solvent and as an intermediate in the manufacturing of resins and wetting agents; [Merck Index # 4305] Used as a solvent for tanning agents, dyes, and resins; also used in sealants, cements, and furan and urea-formaldehyde polymers; [HSDB] |
Comments |
Asthma reported in foundry mold making and in wool dye houses; [Malo] Furfuryl alcohol causes central nervous system depression in animals exposed to high concentrations. [ACGIH] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC] Causes lacrimation and defatting of skin; [ICSC] Animals exposed to 32 ppm for 2 years have signs of kidney injury. [CHEMINFO] |
Reference Link |
Asthma caused by occupational exposure to a furan-based binder system |
Exposure Assessment |
Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Yes |
TLV (ACGIH) |
10 ppm |
STEL (ACGIH) |
15 ppm |
PEL (OSHA) |
50 ppm |
IDLH (NIOSH) |
75 ppm |
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other animal data: Exposure of rats to 100 ppm for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 16 weeks resulted in decreased weight gain and biochemical changes in the brain (i.e., increased cerebral glial acid�proteinase and phosphohydrase activity) [Savolainen and Pfaffli 1983].
Human data: No discomfort was reported from concentrations up to 10.8 ppm for 15 minutes, but severe lacrimation occurred at 15.8 ppm [Apol 1973]. It has also been reported that there is no hazard from exposures up to 16 ppm [Burton and Rivera 1972]. |
Vapor Pressure |
0.6 mm Hg |
Odor Threshold Low |
8 ppm |
Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 233 ppm/4 hr |
Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 8.0 ppm); Flash point = 75 deg C; |
Flammability (NFPA) |
2: high ambient temperature required |
Adverse Effects |
Asthma |
Yes |
Lacrimator |
Yes |
Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
Links to Other NLM Databases |
Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: FURFURYL ALCOHOL
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