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Product Name: Glutaraldehyde
Synonyms: Glutardialdehyde, 1,5-Pentanedial
Chemical Formula: C5H8O2
CAS Number: 111-30-8
Manufacturer: Leading suppliers typically list contact phone numbers, emergency response lines, and address details on packaging and labels found in lab settings.
Intended Use: Disinfectant, sterilizing agent for medical and dental equipment, fixative in histology.
Classification: Acute Toxicity, Skin Corrosive, Sensitizer, Eye Irritant
GHS Labels: Danger
Hazard Statements: Highly toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin, or if swallowed. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. May cause allergic respiratory and skin reactions.
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, corrosion
Route of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, ingestion
Health Effects: Asthma, lung irritation, dermatitis, eye burns, sore throat
Environmental Risk: Harmful to aquatic life, causes long-term adverse effects in aquatic environments
Chemical Name: Glutaraldehyde
Concentration: Typically 25% to 50% in water
Other Components: Water as solvent
Impurities: May include minor stabilizers to boost shelf life
Ingredient Disclosure: No other hazardous ingredients above the regulatory threshold
Inhalation: If breathing becomes difficult, move exposed person to fresh air straight away. Medical attention should follow right after exposure, especially for asthma symptoms.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing without delay. Wash skin with soap and lots of running water, watch for ongoing symptoms such as redness, blistering, or pain.
Eye Contact: Flush both eyes with gentle, running water for twenty minutes, keeping eyelids apart. Quick medical attention is necessary if pain, redness, or vision problems appear.
Ingestion: Do not try to induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water only. Call for medical help promptly, mentioning the chemical involved.
Advice to Doctor: Treat based on symptoms. Glutaraldehyde can sensitize airways, so repeated exposure treatments might include inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators.
Flammability: Not considered flammable, but will burn at high temperatures and can release toxic gases
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, carbon dioxide, foam, dry chemical
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical protective clothing
Hazards from Combustion: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, irritating aldehydes can form
Special Instructions: Cool exposed containers with water spray in case of fire nearby
Personal Precautions: Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and appropriate respirator
Area Precautions: Evacuate unprotected personnel, ventilate the area well. Restrict access until clean-up finishes
Spill Handling: Contain and absorb small spills with inert material, such as sand or vermiculite; collect waste into chemical-resistant containers for future disposal
Environmental Precautions: Prevent release into sewers, waterways, or soil
Decontamination: Wash affected area with large amounts of water and detergent after absorption
Handling: Wear gloves, goggles, lab coat, and a fitted respirator where vapor formation is probable. Open containers only in a fume hood or well-ventilated space. Avoid breathing in mist or vapor.
Storage: Store locked, upright, away from acids and reducing agents, in a cool spot with proper exhaust. No food, drink, or incompatible organics nearby.
Special Precautions: Keep out of reach of children, label secondary containers clearly, train staff in safe handling, limit splash risk.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, alkalis, ammonia, and oxidizers.
Occupational Exposure Limit: OSHA PEL: 0.2 ppm ceiling; ACGIH TLV: 0.05 ppm ceiling
Engineering Controls: Fume hoods, local exhaust, negative air pressure in storage rooms, tightly closed containers
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Chemical goggles, face shield, nitrile gloves, long-sleeved lab coats, respiratory masks (such as NIOSH-approved half-mask respirators) if ventilation fails
Hygienic Practices: Remove contaminated clothing after use. Wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking, or leaving the lab. Safety showers and eye-wash stations in easy reach
Appearance: Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Pungent, sharp, similar to rotten apples
Odor Threshold: Easily detectable at low concentrations (0.04 ppm)
pH: 3.1–4.5 (in aqueous solution)
Melting Point: −14 °C
Boiling Point: 101–104 °C
Vapor Pressure: 0.6 mmHg at 20 °C
Density: 1.06 g/cm³ (at 20 °C)
Solubility: Freely soluble in water and alcohols
Partition coefficient (n-octanol/water): -0.333
Flash Point: None under normal conditions
Evaporation Rate: Not fast, but still an inhalation risk
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage with routine handling at room temperature, protected from direct sunlight
Reactivity: Reacts strongly with strong oxidizers, bases, and amines, producing heat or hazardous gases
Conditions to Avoid: Direct sunlight, excessive heat, contact with incompatible chemicals
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and irritating fumes
Polymerization: May occur under uncontrolled conditions
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): 134 mg/kg. Inhalation LC50 (rat): 480 mg/m³ over four hours. Serious skin and eye irritant, can sensitize airways and trigger asthma in repeat exposures.
Chronic Effects: Reports from workers in healthcare and lab settings document skin sensitization, chronic respiratory irritation, and long-term asthma risk from sustained exposure.
Symptoms: Burning sensation, coughing, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, skin blistering, eye damage.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic by OSHA, NTP, or IARC.
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity: No evidence currently links exposure to reproductive risk; more long-term studies needed.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates and fish; even small spills can cause significant harm.
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable in soil and water, but high concentration spills present risk before breakdown.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Not expected to bioaccumulate due to low partition coefficient.
Mobility in Soil: Moves readily through soil with water, risk for groundwater contamination if mishandled.
Other Effects: Threatens wastewater treatment bacteria if drained directly into sewers.
Waste Disposal: Handle as hazardous waste under local, state, and federal regulations. Containerize in chemical-resistant vessel with clear labeling.
Method: Use licensed waste contractors for incineration or chemical neutralization.
Environmental Precautions: Never pour down sink or drain. Avoid landfill unless permitted and lined for hazardous substances.
Packaging: Decontaminate containers with specific neutralizers before recycling; otherwise treat as hazardous waste.
UN Number: 2810
Proper Shipping Name: Toxic liquid, organic, n.o.s. (contains glutaraldehyde)
Hazard Class: 6.1 (Toxic substances)
Packing Group: II
Labels Required: Toxic substance label, additional environmental hazard labels when required
Special Precautions: Secure containers during transport. Emergency procedures for accidental release should be included in shipping manifest.
OSHA: Hazardous substance with strict exposure limits set for workplace safety
SARA Title III: Listed as an immediate health hazard
TSCA: Covered under Section 8b, manufacturers and importers must report use
REACH Registration: Covered substances require safety data exchange; European controls are stricter
Other Local Guidelines: State health departments mandate training for use in medical facilities; strict spill response and reporting protocols apply
