Glutaraldehyde

Jason Mason

Health Risks

• Potential Acute Health Effects:• Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye

contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation (lung irritant, lung sensitizer).

• Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer, permeator). Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly

• on mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may

• produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Severe over-exposure

• can result in death.

• Potential Chronic Health Effects:• CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Classified A4 (Not classifiable for

human or animal.) by ACGIH [Glutaraldehyde]. MUTAGENIC• EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells.

[Glutaraldehyde]. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. [Glutaraldehyde].

• TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Classified Reproductive system/toxin/female,

• Reproductive system/toxin/male [SUSPECTED] [Glutaraldehyde]. The substance may be toxic to blood, the reproductive

• system, liver, mucous membranes, spleen, central nervous system (CNS), Urinary System. Repeated or prolonged exposure

• to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated or prolonged contact with spray mist may produce chronic

• eye irritation and severe skin irritation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to spray mist may produce respiratory tract irritation

• leading to frequent attacks of bronchial infection. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general

• deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs.

History

A successful method of industrial production was patented in the late 1950's by a Diels-Alder type reaction of acrolein and vinylethyl ether forming 2-ethoxy-3, 4-dihydro-2H-pyran which readily hydrolyzes to glutaraldehyde with a by product of ethano. Interest in glutaraldehyde peaked in the early 1960's when several investigations found it to have outstanding disinfection and sterilization capabilities, even surpassing formaldehyde, the standard of the disinfection industry at the time. By 1963, high-level disinfectants, cold-chemical sterilants and potent sporicides were marketed with glutaraldehyde as the active ingredient. Interest has been intense throughout the years for glutaraldehyde, right up to the present, as it still is essentially the gold-standard for chemical forms of sterilization. All disinfectants and new alternative disinfectant chemicals efficacy are based upon comparison to glutaraldehyde efficacy.

Production and StructureGlutaraldehyde is produced industrially by the oxidation of cyclopentene

and by the Diels-Alder reaction of acrolein and methyl vinyl ether followed by hydrolysis.

Like other dialdehydes (e.g., glyoxal), it does not exist as the dialdehyde but as the hydrate. These hydrates adopt several structures.

Monomeric glutaraldehyde can polymerize by aldol condensation reaction yielding alpha, beta-unsaturated poly-glutaraldehyde. This

reaction usually occurs at alkaline pH values.

Also used for...A cold sterilant in the health care

industryA cross-linking and tanning agentA biocide in metalworking fluids

and in oil and gas pipelinesAn antimicrobial in water-

treatment systemsA slimicide in paper

manufacturingA preservative in cosmetics

A disinfectant in animal housingA tissue fixative in histology and

pathology labsA hardening agent in the

development of X-raysIn embalming solutions

In the preparation of grafts and bioprostheses

In various clinical applications

Glutaraldehyde & FormaldehydeFormaldehyde and glutaraldehyde each have much to offer to the modern embalming industry. Formaldehyde excels in certain embalming scenarios, such as edema and presents rapid and classical results familiar to embalmers. Glutaraldehyde excels at sanitizing ability,mildness of reaction, tissue clearing, cosmetic effect and prolonged, delayed action. Glutaraldehyde is excellent in cavity fluids where contact times are long and resistant fixation is essential. In arterial injections of typically normal bodies, pre-injection of glutaraldehyde followed by formaldehyde injection torapidly induce hardness of tissue, or injection of glutaraldehyde/low formaldehyde mixes, to moderate reaction, yield excellent results. It is shocking how little formaldehyde is needed to yield classical signs of embalming (firmness, rigidity, skin tightness) in normal body injections (typically 4-6 ounces in the last part of the injection of a moderate concentration [index 20] fluid). Injections that stress and take advantage of the inherent advantages of both aldehydes yield the consistently best embalming results. The overall goal of chemical selection mix in the modern embalming room should be a juxtaposition of lowered total overall exposure risk balanced against sufficient and effective embalming results.

Works Cited• Pg 2 MSDS for Glutaraldehyde/Water 50%/50%

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924161

• Pg 3 Chemical Labels http://www.chemicallabels.com/img/lg/L/Glutaraldehyde-NFPA-Chemical-Label-LB-1592-063.gif

• Pg 4 Expanding Encyclopedia of Mortuary Practices No. 649, 2003 by Bendito, James. https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.champion-newera.com%2FCHAMP.PDFS%2Fencyclo649.pdf

• Pg 5 Wikipedia

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutaraldehyde

• Pg 6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/glutaraldehyde/

• Pg 7 Expanding Encyclopedia of Mortuary Practices No. 649, 2003 by Bendito, James.

• https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.champion-newera.com%2FCHAMP.PDFS%2Fencyclo649.pdf

• Pg 8 Macherey-Nagel

• http://www.mn-net.com/tabid/11208/default.aspx