Acetaldehyde

Agent Name
Acetaldehyde
CAS Number
75-07-0
Formula
C2-H4-O
Major Category
Other Classes
Acetaldehyde formula graphical representation
Synonyms
Acetaldehyd [German]; Acetaldehyde; Acetaldehyde (natural); Acetic aldehyde; Acetic ethanol; Acetylaldehyde; Aldehyde acetique [French]; Aldeide acetica [Italian]; Ethanal; Ethyl aldehyde; Octowy aldehyd [Polish]; [ChemIDplus] UN 1089
Category
Aldehydes
Description
Colorless liquid or gas (above 69 degrees F) with a pungent, fruity odor; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used in synthesis of organic chemicals, resins, dyes, pesticides, disinfectants, cosmetics, gelatin, glue, lacquers, varnishes, casein products, explosives, and pharmaceuticals; also used as a hardener in photography, a flavoring agent, and a leather preservative; [NIOSH OSH Guideline] Also used in leather tanning, in glue products, and in the paper industry; A metabolite of ethanol after drinking alcohol; [ACGIH]
Comments
Repeated or prolonged skin contact can cause dermatitis or burns. [NIOSH Guidelines for Chemical Hazards] May cause pulmonary edema after acute, heavy inhalation exposure; [ICSC] Allergic contact dermatitis reported in a textile worker; [Kanerva, p. 1737] If left on clothes, can cause reddening of skin; [CHRIS] Acetaldehyde is a skin irritant. [Quick CPC] Causes eye irritation in volunteers at 25 ppm (lowest) to 50 ppm (majority). In animal studies, causes nasal and laryngeal carcinomas at >750 ppm in rats and at 1650 ppm in hamsters; Alcoholics have an order of magnitude higher average levels of DNA adducts of acetaldehyde in their white blood cells. [ACGIH] Acetaldehyde (UN1089) has warning of explosive polymerization. [ERG 2016]
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
Ceiling (ACGIH)
25 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
200 ppm
MAK
50 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
2000 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statements by Patty [1963] and ACGIH [1971] that all rats survived a 4-hour exposure to 8,000 ppm, but all rats died from a 16,000 ppm exposure [Smyth 1956]. Human data: None relevant for use in determining the revised IDLH.
Vapor Pressure
902 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
0.0028 ppm
Odor Threshold High
1000 ppm
RD50
4946 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 13,300 ppm/4H
Explosive Polymerization
Yes
Explanatory Notes
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.067 ppm); Odor threshold = 0.21 ppm; [ACGIH]; VP from HSDB;
Half Life
No reports found; [TDR, p. 11]
Reference Link #2
NFPA
burn readily
ERPG-1
10 ppm
ERPG-2
200 ppm
ERPG-3
1,000 ppm

Adverse Effects

Skin Sensitizer
Yes
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin burns
IARC Carcinogen
Possible (2b)
NTP Carcinogen
Anticipated human carcinogen
ACGIH Carcinogen
Suspected Human

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure: