Derivation of an occupational exposure limit (OEL) for n-propyl bromide using an improved methodology

n-Propyl bromide is an industrial solvent with increasing production volume due to its use as a replacement for fluorohydrocarbons. Therefore, the number of occupationally exposed workers is growing accordingly. This manuscript presents a thorough evaluation of available animal and human data to derive an occupational exposure limit (OEL) for n-propyl bromide. In addition, structure activity relationship within the homologous series of methyl, ethyl, and n-propyl bromide and an identical spectrum of effects caused by similar doses of 2-propyl bromide are used to increase the confidence of the analysis. The structure activity relationship was entirely consistent for acute and subchronic (neurologic, reproductive, and hematopoietic) toxicities and for mutagenic potency in that CH3Br was more toxic than CH3CH2Br, which in turn was more toxic than CH3CH2CH2Br in every case in all species studied, including humans. Animals appeared to be similarly susceptible as, or slightly more susceptible than, humans to n-propyl bromide's toxicity. An OEL (60-90 ppm) was derived from a limited human study and supported by an across-the-toxic-spectrum comparison of animal and human data for both n-propyl and 2-propyl bromide. A carcinogenic classification was not deemed necessary at the recommended OEL based on very low mutagenic potency and the consistent structure activity relationship across the homologous series of these alkyl bromides.