Glutaraldehyde

Glutaraldehyde is a colorless, oily, liquid-chemical with a pungent odor.

Uses

It is used for a number of applications such as the following:

• A cold sterilant in the health care industry
• A cross-linking and tanning agent
• A biocide in metalworking fluids and in oil and gas pipelines
• An antimicrobial in water-treatment systems
• A slimicide in paper manufacturing
• A preservative in cosmetics
• A disinfectant in animal housing

In the health care industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect equipment that cannot be heat sterilized such as dialysis instruments, surgical instruments, suction bottles, bronchoscopes, endoscopes, and ear, nose, and throat instruments.

It is also used for the following purposes:

• As a tissue fixative in histology and pathologylabs
• As a hardening agent in the development of X-rays
• In embalming solutions
• In the preparation of grafts and bioprostheses
• In various clinical applications

The chemical is most often used in a diluted form with solutions ranging from 1% to 50% glutaraldehyde in water. Trade names for glutaraldehyde-containing formulations include Cidex®, Sonacide®, Sporicidin®, Hospex®, Omnicide®, Metricide®, Rapicide® and Wavicide®.

Workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde through inhalation or skin contact. Health effects that may occur as a result of exposure to glutaraldehyde include but are not limited to the following:

• Throat and lung irritation
• Asthma and difficulty breathing
• Nose irritation
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Burning eyes and conjunctivitis
• Contact and/or allergic dermatitis

Additional Information

For additional information and recommended work practices to reduce health care worker exposure to glutaraldehyde, consult the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) document below:

NIOSH Glutaraldehyde: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-115 This brochure provides information about the adverse health effects of glutaraldehyde, describes how hospital workers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde, and identifies control methods and work practices to prevent or reduce exposure. En Español: http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/niosh/docs/01-115sp.html

NIOSH Publications and Resources

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149 Exposure limits, Respirator Recommendations, First Aid, more... The Pocket Guide is a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes found in the work environment. Key data provided for each chemical/substance includes name (including synonyms/trade names), structure/formula, CAS/RTECS Numbers, DOT ID, conversion factors, exposure limits, IDLH, chemical and physical properties, measurement methods, personal protection, respirator recommendations, symptoms, and first aid.

• Glutaraldehyde (CAS No. 111-30-8)

International Chemical Safety Cards (ISCS)
An ICSC summarizes essential health and safety information about chemicals for their use at the "shop floor" level by workers and employers in factories, agriculture, construction, and other work places.

• Glutaraldehyde (1,5-Pentanedial, Glutaric dialdehyde, Glutaral
• Glutaraldehyde (50% solution), (1,5-Pentanedial 50% solution)

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM)
NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed.

• Glutaraldehyde (No. 2532) PDF only 25 kb (4 pages)
• Aldehydes, screening (No. 2539) PDF only 255 kb (10 pages)

NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs)
The Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch (HETAB) of NIOSH conducts field investigations of health hazards in the workplace. HETAB has conducted many field investigations of potential occupational exposure to glutaraldehyde, such as the reports below. For more information about the health hazard evaluation (HHE) program and to search for additional HHEs involving glutaraldehyde exposure, visit the HHE homepage.

• HHE Report No. HETA-86-226-1769, Montgomery Hospital, Norristown, Pennsylvania PDF only 160KB (15 pages)
• HHE Report No. HETA-90-296-2149, Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia PDF only 168KB (17 pages)
• HHE Report No. HETA-87-176-1826, St. James Community Hospital, Butte, Montana PDF only 152KB (10 pages)

NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin 55: Carcinogenicity of Acetaldehyde and Malonaldehyde, and Mutagenicity of Related Low-Molecular-Weight Aldehydes
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-112 This document presents information about the potential carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of acetaldehyde and malonaldehyde. The document also discusses the chemical reactivity and mutagenicity of nine related aldehydes, including glutaraldehyde, and includes guidelines for minimizing occupational exposures.

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS): Glutaraldehyde
RTECS is a database of chemical information compiled from the open scientific literature. The information has been formatted by the RTECS staff and arranged in alphabetical order by prime chemical name. This RTECS document includes detailed information about toxic health effects and official exposure recommendations and standards for glutaraldehyde.

Other Workplace Resources

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care
Recommends best practices for the safe use of glutaraldehyde with the purpose of providing information to be used by health care employers and employees to understand and control exposures to glutaraldehyde. External Link: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/glutaraldehyde.pdf

OSHA Hospital eTool: Glutaraldehyde
Identifies possible employee exposure to glutaraldehyde in the workplace and provides possible solutions to those risks. External l ink: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/glutaraldehyde/glut.html

New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets: Glutaraldehyde
External Link: http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0960.pdf

• PDF only 71KB (6 pages)

New Jersey: Guidelines for Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care Facilities
External Link: http://www.nj.gov/health/eoh/survweb/glutar.pdf

• PDF only 77KB (9 pages)

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Glutaraldehyde
External Link: http://ccinfoweb2.ccohs.ca/cheminfo/Action.lasso?-database=cheminfo&-layout=Display&-response=detail.html&-noresultserror=noresults.html&-op=eq&CHEMINFO+RECORD+NUMBER=4E&-search

EPA: Reducing Ethylene Oxide and Glutaraldehyde Use
External Link: http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/p2/projects/hospital/glutareth.pdf

• PDF only (4 pages)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Device Evaluation Information: FDA-Cleared Sterilants and High Level Disinfectants with General Claims for Processing Reusable Medical and Dental Devices
This chart provides information about several manufactured sterilants and high-level disinfectants including chemical trade names, active ingredients, sterilant contact conditions, and high level disinfectant contact conditions as recommended by the FDA. External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/germlab.html

California: Glutaraldehyde Fact Sheet
External Link: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/glutaral.pdf

• PDF only 55KB (5 pages)

American Federation of Government Employees: Glutaraldehyde Information
Provides general information about glutaraldehyde including health effects, exposure limits, and protective measures. External Link: http://www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=Glutaraldehyde

Dow Biocides: Glutaraldehyde Safety & Handling – Hospital Disinfection and Hazards
Provides links to an extensive list of glutaraldehyde-related documents available in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese. External Link: http://www.dow.com/biocides/glut/literature.htm

United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive Research Report (RR445): An Evaluation of Chemical Disinfecting Agents Used in Endoscopy Suites in the National Health Service
Reports the benefits and limitations of alternatives to glutaraldehyde in the disinfection of endoscopes. External Link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr445.htm

New Zealand: The Safe Occupational Use of Glutaraldehyde in the Health Industries
External Link: http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/pdf/glutaral.pdf

• PDF only 88KB (22 pages)

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Screening Information Data Sets (SIDS): Glutaraldehyde
This international document includes a chemical profile summary and a chemical assessment report for glutaraldehyde. Also provides information about environmental, human and animal exposure and recommendations for safe use of the chemical. External Link: http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/111308.pdf

• PDF only (83 pages)