Sorry to say it, but gluteraldehyde doesn't look any better.
According to Monona Rossol, gluteraldehyde does *not* appear to be any safer
than formaldehyde according to hospital data gathered since 1991 (it's
apparently used frequently in hospitals). OSHA has a recommended Ceiling
level of 0.2 ppm, which is lower than a TLV (Time Level Value) formaldehyde
has at 0.3. Again, read my posting about glyoxal in the February archive,
it has information about this. Briefly, the limited studies that have been
conducted indicate that these chemicals (including gluteraldehyde) have
chemical reactivity and mutagenicity similar to acetaldehyde, malonaldehyde,
and formaldehyde. Careful consideration should be given to reducing
exposure to these aldehydes. From the NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin
55, Centers for Disease Control September 1991, "Carcinogenicity of
Acetaldehyde and Malonaldehyde, and Mutagenicity of Related
Low-Molecular-Weight Aldehydes".
Regards, Richard Farber
>