Citronellal

Synonyms

2,3-Dihydrocitral; 3,7-Dimethyl-6-octen-1-al; 3,7-Dimethyl-6-octenal; 6-Octenal, 3,7-dimethyl-; Citronella; Citronella (natural); Citronellel; Rhodinal; Rhodinal (VAN); [ChemIDplus]

Category

Plant Oils and Extracts

Description

Colorless to slightly yellow liquid with a strong flowery lemon odor; [HSDB]

Sources/Uses

Main component of citronella oil; Present in many other volatile oils; [Merck Index] Used as flavoring agent, insect repellent, fragrance (soaps, detergents, creams, lotions, and perfumes), and chemical intermediate for citronellol and hydroxycitronellal; [HSDB]

Comments

A mild irritant; Emergency treatment: "Lemon grass oil"; Citral, the main component, causes liver injury in high-dose animal experiments; Citral in concentrations >8% can cause irritation or allergic dermatitis; [HSDB] Causes somnolence in intraperitoneal lethal-dose studies of mice; [RTECS] Safe when used as a flavoring agent in food; [JECFA] An irritant; May be harmful after ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption; [Aldrich MSDS] See "Citral."

Biomedical References

0.28 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

VP from ChemIDplus;

high ambient temp required

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic