The acute toxicity and primary irritancy of glutaraldehyde solutions

Glutaraldehyde (GA, CAS Number 110-30-8), an aliphatic dialdehyde, has a wide range of industrial, scientific, and medical applications. It is available in aqueous solutions, whose concentrations vary up to 50% (w/w) and from which there is a potential during use for skin and eye contact and exposure to the vapor. The acute toxicity and primary irritancy of a wide range of GA concentrations were investigated to determine the differential hazards for such solutions. The acute peroral toxicity in the rat, expressed as ml of solution dosed, was moderate for solutions of 5% and above (LD50 range 0.88-3.25 ml/kg) and generally varied little for solutions up to 50%. Solutions less than 5% GA were of slight toxicity (LD50 range 3.34-12.30 ml/kg for 1 and 2% solutions). When lethality was expressed as absolute amount of GA dosed (mg GA/kg), there was a reciprocal relationship between the concentration of GA solution dosed and LD50. This was confirmed in the mouse, which is more susceptible than the rat to acute peroral toxicity. The acute percutaneous toxicity of GA solutions to rabbits (24 h occlusion) was moderate (LD50 range 1.59-2.71 ml/kg) for 46 and 50% solutions, and slight for 25% GA solutions (8.80-16.00 ml/kg). At 15% and less, 16.0 ml/kg was not lethal. Exposures (4-8 h) of rats to saturated vapor atmospheres of GA generated dynamically or statistically at ambient temperature (17-25 C) produced only transient peripheral sensory irritant effects to the eyes and respiratory tract. In contrast, vapor atmosphere generated dynamically at elevated temperature (60 or 65 C) produce severe effects, including mortality (4-h LC50 range 23.5-44.3 ppm). Histopathology in rats that died included exposure concentration-related acute inflammation and necrosis in the nasal mucosa, larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Standard primary skin irritation tests in the rabbit indicated severe skin irritation and necrosis at 45 and 50% GA; necrosis occurred with 1 and 4 h contact at 50% and at 4 h with 45%. Inflammation was moderate at 25%, slight to moderate with 5 and 10% GA, minor at 2%, and threshold at 1%. Standard primary eye irritation tests showed 45% GA to produce severe conjunctival and corneal injury, which was persistent. At 2% GA corneal injury was mild, and at 5% marked. The lowest concentration producing corneal injury was 1.0%, and the no-effects concentration was 0.5%. The threshold for conjunctival effects was 0.2%, and the no-effects concentration 0.1%. At 1% GA, conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis were moderate to marked, and became more severe with higher GA concentrations. The results suggest potential acute handling hazards with various concentrations of GA solutions and indicate industrial hygiene considerations.