Acrolein
Agent Name
Acrolein
CAS Number
107-02-8
Formula
C3-H4-O
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Synonyms
Acraldehyde; Acrylaldehyde; Acrylic aldehyde; Allyl aldehyde; Propenal; 2-Propenal; [NIOSH]
Category
Other Toxic Gases & Vapors
Description
Colorless or yellow liquid with a piercing, disagreeable odor; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used in the manufacture of various organic chemical products; also used as a fungicide and pesticide; one of the causes of smoke inhalation injury; acrolein is a combustion product of wood, cellulose, and polyethylene; [Sullivan, p. 1017] Also used as a biocide to kill microorganisms, a fumigant to kill rodents, a leather tanning agent, and histology fixative; [ATSDR Medical Management]
Comments
Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] "Tear drawing." May cause pulmonary edema, skin burns, and severe burns to the eyes; [ICSC] Causes first degree burns after short exposure; [CHRIS] Acrolein, stabilized (UN1092) has warning of explosive polymerization; [ERG 2016] See 2021 (Volume 128) monograph at IARC.
Reference Link #1
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Yes
TIH
Yes
Ceiling (ACGIH)
0.1 ppm
PEL (OSHA)
0.1 ppm
IDLH (NIOSH)
2 ppm
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
Human data: It has been reported that 5.5 ppm results in intense irritation and marked lacrimation, after 60 seconds [Henderson and Haggard 1943]. Exposures to 1.8 ppm result in slight eye irritation after 1 minute and profuse lacrimation after 4 minutes [NRC 1981]. In volunteers exposed for 5 minutes, concentrations of 2 to 2.3 ppm produced severe irritation [Darley et al. 1960]. A 10-minute exposure at 8 ppm and a 5-minute exposure at 1.2 ppm elicited extreme irritation described as "only just tolerable" [Sim and Pattle 1957].
Vapor Pressure
274 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
0.02 ppm
Odor Threshold High
1.8 ppm
RD50
1 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 18 mg/m3/4 hr
Explosive Polymerization
Yes
Explanatory Notes
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 1.8 ppm); Odor threshold = between 0.02 and 0.4; [NIOSH OSH Guidelines] VP from HSDB; 2024 Notice of Intended Changes (NIC); [ACGIH TLVs and BEIs]
Half Life
No reports found; [TDR, p. 35]
Reference Link #2
NFPA
may ignite at ambient temp
ERPG-1
0.05 ppm
ERPG-2
0.15 ppm
ERPG-3
1.5 ppm
Adverse Effects
Lachrymator
Yes
Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin burns
IARC Carcinogen
Probable (2a)
ACGIH Carcinogen
Not Classifiable
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Diseases
Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:
Activities
Activities with risk of exposure: