September 1996 |
ToxFAQs™ |
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Otto Fuel II and Its Components |
(Combustible Otto II y sus Componentes) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about Otto Fuel II and its components.
For more information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center
at 1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries
about hazardous substances and their health effects. This
information is important because this substance may harm you.
The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend
on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits
and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
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SUMMARY: Exposure to Otto Fuel
II occurs in areas where Otto Fuel II is used as a torpedo
fuel or where it is made. Headaches are the most common
effects from overexposure. Other effects include loss
of balance, poor eye-hand coordination, eye irritation,
nasal congestion, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.
This substance has been found in at least 2 of the 1,430
National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). |
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What
is Otto Fuel II? |
Otto Fuel II is a distinct-smelling,
reddish-orange, oily liquid that the U.S. Navy uses as a fuel
for torpedoes and other weapon systems. It is a mixture of
three synthetic substances: propylene glycol dinitrate (the
major component), 2-nitrodiphenylamine, and dibutyl sebacate.
Propylene glycol dinitrate, a colorless
liquid with an unpleasant odor, is explosive. 2-Nitrodiphenylamine
is an orange solid used to control the explosion of propylene
glycol dinitrate. Dibutyl sebacate is a clear liquid used
for making plastics, many of which are used for food packaging.
It is also used to enhance flavor in some foods such as ice
cream, candy, baked goods, and nonalcoholic drinks, and is
found in some shaving creams.
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What
happens to Otto Fuel II when it enters the environment? |
- Otto Fuel II enters the environment mainly in waste water
from Naval facilities that produce it or are involved in
torpedo operations.
- All three components can be broken down by microorganisms
in soil and water.
- Propylene glycol dinitrate evaporates rapidly; dibutyl
sebacate and 2-nitrodiphenylamine do not evaporate easily.
- 2-Nitrodiphenylamine does not dissolve easily in water
and will be found associated with soil and sediments.
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How
might I be exposed to Otto Fuel II? |
- Breathing contaminated air or touching fuel in areas where
Otto Fuel II is used or where it is made.
- Eating food that contains dibutyl sebacate.
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How
can Otto Fuel II affect my health? |
Most of the effects of Otto Fuel II on
people's health are believed to be caused by propylene glycol
dinitrate. People who work around Otto Fuel II report headaches,
poor eye-hand coordination, eye irritation, congested noses,
nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing
The most common effect of overexposure
is headache. The greater the overexposure, the larger the
number of reported symptoms. People who have worked around
Otto Fuel II, but are no longer exposed to it, might feel
chest pain or rapid beating of the heart.
We do not know if Otto Fuel II affects
the ability of people to have children or if it causes birth
defects. Animal studies show effects of propylene glycol dinitrate
that are similar to the effects seen in people. Exposure of
animals to moderate-to-large amounts for several weeks causes
problems in the blood, such as a decreased ability of blood
to carry oxygen. The livers and kidneys of some animals exposed
to moderate levels of propylene glycol dinitrate 24 hours
a day for several months showed damage. We do not know if
these effects might also occur in persons exposed to sufficiently
high concentrations.
Rats that had Otto Fuel II applied to
their skin during pregnancy gave birth to babies with low
birth weights.
It is not known if propylene glycol dinitrate
causes birth defects in animals. The health of animals that
ate large amounts of dibutyl sebacate for long periods was
not affected. The babies of animals that ate large amounts
of dibutyl sebacate grew more slowly than babies of animals
that did not eat it.
We do not know anything about the health
effects of 2-nitrodiphenylamine in animals.
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How
likely is Otto Fuel II to cause cancer? |
The International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC), the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), and the EPA have not reviewed Otto Fuel II to determine
whether it is likely to cause cancer.
No human studies examine the carcinogenicity
of Otto Fuels II or any of its components. Animal studies
of propylene glycol dinitrate and dibutyl sebacate haven't
determined whether these compounds are carcinogenic. The carcinogenicity
of 2-nitrodiphenylamine has not been studied in animals.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to Otto
Fuel II? |
No routine medical test shows if you
have been exposed to Otto Fuel II. Breakdown products of propylene
glycol dinitrate have been measured in blood and exhaled air,
but these products leave your body within a day, so the tests
must be given within a few hours of exposure. No tests are
known for measuring the other two components of Otto Fuel
II in your body.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that workers not be exposed
to air containing more than 0.05 parts propylene glycol dinitrate
per million parts of air (0.05 ppm) during a 10-hour workday,
40-hour workweek.
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Glossary |
Carcinogenicity: Ability to cause cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Evaporate: To change into a vapor or
a gas.
ppm: Parts per million.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Toxicological Profile for Otto Fuel II and its components. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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