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Chemical Sampling Information (CSI)
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General Description

Synonyms: Glutaric dialdehyde; 1,5-Pentanedial

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1361

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 111-30-8

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: MA2450000

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Glutaraldehyde: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.05 ppm Ceiling; Sensitizer; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.2 ppm, 0.8 mg/m3 Ceiling; Appendix C - Supplementary Exposure Limits (Aldehydes)

Health Factors

Potential Symptoms: Irritation of eyes, skin, respiratory system; dermatitis, skin sensitization; sneezing, cough, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, asthma, chronic bronchitis; headache; nausea, vomiting; lacrimation. SKIN ABS. INGES ACUTE: Irritation of the mouth and stomach, abdominal pain; diarrhea.

Health Effects: Irritation-Eye, Nose, Skin---Marked (HE14); Asthma (HE9); Lung damage (HE11); Mutagen (HE2).

Affected Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system

Notes:
  1. OSHA does not have a PEL for glutaraldehyde. The Maximum Exposure Limit in the United Kingdom was set at 0.05 ppm for both the 8-hour TWA and 15-minute STEL in March 1999.
  2. A survey of 318 nurses with exposure to glutaraldehyde indicated a 44% incidence of contact dermatitis.
  3. In another study, patch testing indicated an 8-fold incidence of allergy to glutaraldehyde among health-care workers compared with that among non-health-care working peers. The highest incidence was observed in dental hygienists.
  4. Although the toxicity of glutaraldehyde may involve the cross-linking of proteins intramolecularly or with other proteins or DNA, two-year carcinogenicity studies in rodents found no increase in neoplasms attributable to glutaraldehyde exposure.
Date Last Revised: 03/28/2005

Literature Basis:
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Glutaraldehyde.
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Glutaraldehyde.
  • Di Stefano, F., Siriruttanspruk, S., McCoach, J.S. and Burge, P.S.: Occupational asthma due to glutaraldehyde. Monaldi Arch. Chest Dis. 53(1): 50-55, 1998.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Glutaraldehyde. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1207-1209.
  • Shaffer, M.P. and Delsito, D.V.: Allergic contact dermatitis from glutaraldehyde in health-care workers. Contact Dermatitis 43(3): 150-156, 2000.
  • van Birgelen, A.P.J.M., et al.: Effects of glutaraldehyde in a 2-year inhalation study in rats and mice. Toxicol. Sci. 55(1): 195-205, 2000.
  • Vyas, A., et al.: Survey of symptoms, respiratory function, and immunology and their relation to glutaraldehyde and other occupational exposure among endoscopy nursing staff. Occup. Environ. Med. 57(11): 752-759, 2000.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: Two Coated Glass Fiber Filters (Open Face) in one cassette separated by a spacer. The filters are coated with 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) and Phosphoric Acid.
    analytical solvent: Acetonitrile
    minimum time: 15 Minutes
    maximum flow rate: 1.0 L/min (Ceiling)
    current analytical method: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HPLC/UV
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 64)
    method classification: Fully Validated
    note: Samples must be kept at reduced temperature and shipped to lab cold.
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Page last updated: 06/22/2006