1,2Propyleneimine [factsheet]

1,2-PROPYLENEIMINE

(2-METHYL AZIRIDINE)

Please Note: The main source of information for this fact sheet is the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), a database of summaries of peer-reviewed literature. Other secondary sources include the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs on chemicals carcinogenic to humans and the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS), a database of toxic effects that are not peer reviewed.

Environmental/Occupational Exposure

* Occupational exposure to 1,2-propyleneimine may occur for a small number of workers in the paint and chemical industries. (1)

Assessing Personal Exposure

* No information is available on the assessment of personal exposure to 1,2-propyleneimine.

Health Hazard Information

Acute Effects:

* 1,2-Propyleneimine is severely irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract from acute (short-term) inhalation exposure in humans. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bronchitis, shortness of breath, and edema of the lung have also been reported. (1)

* Dermal exposure to 1,2-propyleneimine in humans results in skin irritation. (1)

* Tests involving acute exposure of animals, such as the LD₅₀ test in rats, have shown 1,2-propyleneimine to have extreme acute toxicity from oral and dermal exposure. (2)

Chronic Effects (Noncancer):

* No information is available on the chronic (long-term) effects of 1,2-propyleneimine in humans.

* Animal studies have reported effects on the kidneys, blood, and gastrointestinal system from inhalation and oral exposure to 1,2-propyleneimine. (1)

* EPA has determined that there are inadequate data to establish an RfC for 1,2-propyleneimine. (3)

* EPA has not established an RfD for 1,2-propyleneimine. (3)

Reproductive/Developmental Effects:

* No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of 1,2-propyleneimine in humans or animals.

Cancer Risk:

* No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of 1,2-propyleneimine in humans.

* Animal studies have reported tumors of the mammary glands and intestine, leukemias and other tumor types from oral exposure to 1,2-propyleneimine. (1,4,5)

* EPA considers 1,2-propyleneimine to be a probable human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) and has ranked it in EPA's Group B2. (6)

* EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, for a hazard ranking under Section 112(g) of the Clean Air Act Amendments, has ranked 1,2-propyleneimine in the nonthreshold category. The 1/ED₁₀ value is 150 per (mg/kg)/d and this would place it in the high category under Superfund's ranking for carcinogenic hazard. (6).

Physical Properties

* 1,2-propyleneimine is a fuming, colorless liquid with a strong, ammonia-like odor. (7)

* The chemical formula for 1,2-propyleneimine is C₃H₇N, and the molecular weight is 57.11 g/mol. (1)

* The vapor pressure for 1,2-propyleneimine is 112 mm Hg at 20 EC. (1)

Uses

* 1,2-Propyleneimine is used to manufacture paints, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals. (7)

Health Data from Inhalation Exposure

Concentration (mg/m³)	Health numbers^a	Regulatory, advisory numbers^b	Reference
1,000.0
_ _ _ _ 100.0
_ _ _ _ 10.0
_ _ _ _ 1.0		* OSHA PEL and ACGIH TLV (5 mg/m³)	7

ACGIH TLVCAmerican Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists' threshold limit value expressed as a time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effects.

OSHA PELCOccupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a time-weighted average; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effect averaged over a normal 8-h workday or a 40-h workweek.

^a Health numbers are toxicological numbers from animal testing or risk assessment values developed by EPA.

^b Regulatory numbers are values that have been incorporated in Government regulations, while advisory numbers are nonregulatory values provided by the Government or other groups as advice.

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS, online database). National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. 1993.

3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on 1,2-Propyleneimine. Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH. 1993.

4. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Supplement 7. World Health Organization, Lyon. 1986.

5. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. Volume 9. World Health Organization, Lyon. 1975.

6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Technical Background Document to Support Rulemaking Pursuant to the Clean Air ActCSection 112(g). Ranking of Pollutants with Respect to Hazard to Human Health. EPAB450/3-92-010. Emissions Standards Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC. 1994.

7. New Jersey Department of Health. Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet on 1,2-Propyleneimine. New Jersey Department of Health, Trenton, NJ. 1986.