Re: Glutaraldehyde: a cautionary tale (LONG!)

From:

<http://www.emt-online.com/GlutHealthHaz.htm>

"Workers have developed various health effects from the inhalation of
airborne glutaraldehyde and from dermal contact with glutaraldehyde
solutions or products containing glutaraldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is known
to cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes at
concentrations above 0.3 parts of glutaraldehyde per million parts of
air (ppm).

It is a central nervous system depressant, with headache and drowsiness
preceding other effects. There are possible mutagenic and reproductive
effects for exposures over long periods of time. Ingestion of
glutaraldehyde may cause nausea, vomiting and general systemic illness."

Many of the aldehydes are VOCs meaning they exhibit a vapor pressure at
standard atmospheric conditions such that they easily evaporate from
standing undiluted liquid and solutions/mixtures, leading to higher
concentrations in ambient air than one might expect. That evaporation
is directly related to the surface area in contact with the atmosphere,
so sizing sheets of paper will result in a MUCH higher ambient air
concentration than would an open container or typical surface area.

Basically, the above-noted effects, and mutagenic effects are common
among the aldehydes.

Considering your earlier contact with formaldehyde, it is very possible
that your current reaction to the glutaraldehyde was a sensitization
reaction to the aldehyde part of the organic. I'd watch myself
carefully for similar reactions around any aldehydes, including wood
fireplaces and campfires in future. (Aldehyde radicals and compounds
are what often makes ones eyes burn around campfires)

 
Keith Krebs

"Just some guy," caretaker of the Multiverse's largest EPSON printer
User Community (highly recommended by Vogon Poets and MegaDodo
Publications), at:
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and the Multiverse's largest Canon printer User Community at:
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"For the rest of you out there, the secret is to bang the rocks together
guys"

 
Received on Wed Mar 31 06:58:40 2004