Document ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2003-0016-0025
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2004-05-10T04:00Z

OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
SIDS
INITIAL
ASSESSMENT
PROFILE
CAS
NO
123­
38­
6
CHEMICAL
NAME
Propanal
STRUCTURAL
FORMULA
O
CH3­
CH2­
CH
RECOMMENDATION
OF
THE
SPONSOR
COUNTRY
[
X]
currently
of
low
priority
for
further
work
[
]
currently
of
low
priority
for
further
work,
but
avoid
exposure
to
man
and
the
environment
[
]
requiring
further
information
to
assess
identified
concerns
[
]
candidate
for
in­
depth
risk
assessment
with
a
view
to
possible
risk
reduction
activities
SHORT
SUMMARY
OF
THE
REASONS
WHICH
SUPPORT
THE
RECOMMENDATION
Although
propionaldehyde
is
a
high
production
volume
chemical,
it
finds
use
almost
solely
as
a
chemical
intermediate.
The
aldehyde
itself
does
not
have
uses
in
consumer
products.
Production
and
conversion
to
other
chemicals
necessarily
take
place
in
closed
systems
because
of
the
extremely
volatile
nature
of
this
chemical.
The
material
is
transported
between
site
locations
by
bulk
carrier.
These
practices
minimize
exposure
within
the
workplace.
This
assumption
is
supported
by
industrial
hygiene
monitoring
data
which
indicate
a
large
portion
of
samples
are
below
the
detection
limit
of
0.01
ppm
and
exposures
very
rarely
exceed
1
ppm.

U.
S.
TRI
reporting
requirements
indicate
that
sizable
fugitive
emissions
exist.
However,
propionaldehyde
has
a
relatively
short
existence
in
air
(
T1/
2
 
6
hours).
In
addition,
the
chemical
will
tend
to
partition
from
air
into
water
(
Henry's
Constant
3.32
atms./
mole
fraction).
Aldehydes
are
reactive
and
readily
oxidize,
propionaldehyde
yielding
propionic
acid,
a
natural
constituent
in
nature.
Further,
if
the
aldehyde
were
to
enter
the
systemic
milieu
of
an
organism,
it
would
be
rapidly
oxidized
to
propionic
acid
and
serve
as
a
nutrient.

Basic
toxicology
studies
provide
data
to
sufficiently
identify
the
most
sensitive
toxic
effect
of
propionaldehyde,
irritation
upon
direct
contact
with
tissues.
It
does
not
have
specific
adverse
effects
on
the
reproductive
capabilities
of
either
male
or
female
rats
and
does
not
produce
specific
adverse
effects
on
the
developing
offspring
of
laboratory
animals.
This
aldehyde
has
exhibited
weak
genotoxic
activity
in
some
in
vitro
assay
systems,
this
is
consistent
with
what
has
been
observed
with
other
short­
chain
alkyl
aldehydes.

These
considerations,
taken
in
total,
demonstrate
a
low
order
of
priority
for
further
work.
1
OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
Table
of
Contents
1.
Exposure
Assessment
2
1.1
Production
Volumes
2
1.2
Major
Uses
2
1.3
Manufacturing
Process
2
1.4
Distribution
2
1.5
Fugitive
2
1.6
Workplace
Monitoring
2
2.0
Summary
of
Environmental
Effects
3
2.1
Environmental
Fate
3
2.2
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Organisms
3
2.3
Toxicity
to
Plants
3
3.0
Summary
of
Health
Effects
3
3.1
Acute
Toxicity
and
Primary
Irritancy
3
3.2
Effects
Resulting
from
Repeated
Exposure
4
3.3
Effects
on
Reproductive
Capabilities
4
3.4
Effects
on
Developmental
Toxicity
4
3.5
Genotoxic
Effects
4
4.0
Conclusions
4
2
OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
1.0
Exposure
Assessment
1.1
Production
Volumes:

The
estimated
annual
production
of
propionaldehyde
in
the
United
States
is
in
the
order
of
275
million
pounds.
Worldwide,
it
is
estimated
that
405
million
pounds
of
this
aldehyde
are
produced
annually.
Of
this
total
production
volume,
it
is
believed
that
greater
than
99%
is
used
as
an
internal
plant
chemical
intermediate.

1.2
Major
Uses:

The
major
uses
of
propionaldehyde
is
as
a
reactive
intermediate
in
the
manufacture
of
npropanol
propionic
acid,
2­
methyl
pentanol,
trimethyolethane
polyols,
polyethylene
additives,
fragrance
chemicals
and
fungicides.
Propionaldehyde,
being
a
reactive
chemical
intermediate,
is
not
directly
used
in
products
reaching
the
consumer.
Because
of
its
reactive
nature
and
volatility,
residual
concentration
of
propionaldehyde
in
consumer
products
is
very
low.

1.3
Manufacturing
Process:

Typically,
propionaldehyde
is
manufactured
by
the
catalytic
hydroformylation
of
ethylene
with
carbon
monoxide
and
hydrogen
(
Oxo
Process).
The
reaction
is
carried
out
under
high
pressure
in
closed
systems.
Crude
propionaldehyde
is
stripped
of
dissolved
gasses
and
heavy
residuals
by
gas
stripping
in
pressured
columns
and
stored
for
downstream
derivatives
production.
Propionaldehyde
is
stored
in
pressured
tanks
or
tanks
equipped
with
internal
floating
roofs
in
order
to
minimize
losses
by
evaporation.
Processes
which
use
propionaldehyde
as
a
reactive
intermediate
are
conducted
in
closed
manufacturing
systems.

1.4
Distribution:

For
internal
plant
uses,
propionaldehyde
typically
is
transported
by
pipeline.
Tank
cars
(
rail
cars)
and
tank
trucks
are
used
for
shipment
to
domestic
customers.
I
1.5
Fugitive
Emissions:

In
the
United
States,
for
the
year
1990,
there
were
18
facilities
which
reported
environmental
release
information
under
provisions
of
the
Super
Fund
Amendment
Reauthorization
Act
(
SARA).
These
were
facilities
either
which
manufactured
or
processed
25,000
pounds
or
more,
or
used
more
than
10,000
pounds
of
propionaldehyde.
The
Toxic
Release
Inventory
(
TRI)
indicates
that
these
facilities
collectively
released
988,986
pounds
of
propionaldehyde
into
the
air
and
34,885
pounds
to
other
segments
of
the
environment.
By
1992,
total
TRI
reported
emissions
had
decreased
by
 
25%
from
those
reported
in
1990.
3
OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
1.6
Workplace
Monitoring:

In
the
17
year
period
between
1975
and
1992,
a
total
of
73
personnel
samples
had
been
taken
within
the
"
Oxo"
production
unit
of
Union
Carbide.
Of
these,
62
(
»
85%)
were
below
the
detection
limit
of
0.01
ppm.
The
maximum
TWA
measured
over
this
interval
was
26
ppm
and
the
geometric
mean
for
all
73
TWA
determinations
was
»
0.2
ppm.
In
the
same
time
frame
16
TWA
determinations
were
made
within
the
In­
Plant
Distribution
Department.
Of
these
8
(
50%)
were
below
the
detection
limit
of
0.01
ppm.
In
one
or
two
instances
excursions
in
the
range
of
100
ppm
were
determined,
but
the
geometric
mean
for
all
16
samples
was
still
in
the
range
of
1
ppm.
We
believe
that
these
low
personnel
exposures
are
typical
of
the
industry
as
a
whole.
Considering
the
low
concentrations
of
propionaldehyde
measured
within
the
production
unit,
air
concentrations
at
the
fence­
line
and
within
the
surrounding
community
must
be
extremely
low.

2.0
Summary
of
Environmental
Effects
2.1
Environmental
Fate:

Based
upon
the
physical
and
chemical
properties,
propionaldehyde
will
not
be
a
persistent
environmental
contaminant.
This
chemical
is
highly
soluble
in
water
and
has
an
octanol/
water
partition
coefficient
of
less
than
1.
As
with
most
aldehydes,
it
is
a
reactive
molecule
and
readily
oxidizes
to
propionic
acid.
Propionic
acid
can
be
metabolized
in
biological
organisms
by
the
enzymatic
pathways
of
intermediary
metabolism:
Thus,
propionic
acid
serves
as
a
nutrient.
The
aerobic
Biological
Oxidation
Demand
(
BOD)
has
been
shown
to
be
70%
of
the
theoretical
Chemical
Oxidation
Demand
(
COD)
in
5
days
and
95%
in
20
days
using
unacclimated
domestic
sewage
microorganisms.
Given
these
considerations,
propionaldehyde
does
not
pose
the
threat
of
persistent
environmental
contamination.

2.2
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Organisms:

Propionaldehyde
is
of
a
moderate
degree
of
toxicity
to
fish,
is
of
a
low
order
of
toxicity
to
Daphnia
and
is
moderately
toxic
to
algae.
These
data
suggest
that
it
would
pose
a
moderate
environmental
threat
in
the
event
of
accidental
spills
into
ponds
or
streams.
Finally,
the
aldehyde
has
been
shown
to
be
at
most
only
a
slight
threat
to
water
treatment
plants
based
on
toxicity
to
bacteria.

2.3
Toxicity
to
Plants:

A
single
study
demonstrated
that
propionaldehyde
can
inhibit
the
germination
of
seeds,
but
only
at
relatively
high
concentrations.
4
OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
3.0
Summary
of
Health
Effects:

3.1
Acute
Toxicity
and
Primary
Irritancy:

Propionaldehyde
is
of
a
moderate
degree
of
lethal
toxicity
by
single
dose
oral
ingestion,
only
of
slight
acute
lethal
toxicity
by
a
single
exposure
to
vapor,
is
of
slight
lethal
toxicity
by
skin
contact
but
is
moderately
to
severely
irritating
to
the
skin
and
could
produce
corneal
damage
if
accidentally
splashed
into
the
eyes.

3.2
Effects
Resulting
from
Repeated
Exposure:

The
major
effect
noted
on
repeated
exposure
to
high
concentrations
of
propionaldehyde
in
a
study
conducted
under
the
OECD/
SIDS
Combined
Protocol
appeared
to
be
associated
with
tissues
which
come
in
direct
contact
with
the
vapor,
particularly
the
tissues
of
the
nasal
septum.
In
addition
to
the
nasal
lesions,
evidence
of
hematological
changes
in
male
rats,
predominantly
associated
with
erythrocytes,
and
a
slight
effect
on
male
relative
kidney
weight
was
noted
at
the
1500
ppm
exposure
concentration
without
histopathological
confirmation
of
tissue
damage.
Decreased
food
consumption
was
noted
in
females
exposed
to
vapor
concentrations
of
750
and
1500
ppm.
No
"
No
Observable
Adverse
Effects
Level"
(
NOAEL)
was
established
in
this
study,
the
NOAEL
for
systemic
toxicity,
however,
was
150
ppm.

3.3
Effects
on
Reproductive
Capabilities:

The
effect
of
propionaldehyde
on
reproductive
performance
of
rats
was
investigated
in
the
OECD/
SIDS
Combined
Protocol.
In
that
study,
no
effects
were
noted
on
any
reproductive
parameter
in
animals
exposed
to
vapor
at
concentrations
up
to
1500
ppm.
Litter
size
and
viability
were
similar
among
exposure
groups
(
150,
750
and
1500
ppm)
and
the
control.
Thus
the
NOAEL
for
reproductive
toxicity
was
greater
than
1500
ppm.

3.4
Effects
on
Developmental
Toxicity:

Information
on
the
effects
of
propionaldehyde
on
the
developing
embryo
and
fetus
was
obtained
in
a
study
conducted
by
the
OECD/
SIDS
Combined
Protocol.
In
that
study
there
was
no
evidence
of
external
malformations
in
pups
from
dams
exposed
to
vapor
at
concentrations
up
to
1500
ppm
over
the
entire
gestation.
The
data
from
the
combined
SIDS
Protocol
study
suggest
a
NOAEL
for
developmental
toxicity
of
greater
than
1500
ppm.

3.5
Genotoxic
Effects:

The
genotoxic
activity
of
propionaldehyde
has
been
investigated
in
a
number
of
different
model
systems.
In
a
bacterial
gene
mutation
assay
using
Salmonella
typhinurium
(
Ames
Test),
5
OECD/
SIDS
IAR
­
Propanal
­
11/
11/
94
propionaldehyde
consistently
did
not
produce
effects
consistent
with
mutagenic
activity.
It
did
produce
evidence
of
a
weak
mutagenic
effect
in
an
in
vitro
mammalian
cell
assay,
the
CHO
V79
model
No
clastogenic
activity
was
detected
when
propionaldehyde
was
tested
in
an
in
vivo
mouse
bone
marrow
micronucleus
assay.
These
data
are
not
inconsistent
with
those
obtained
with
other
short
chain
alkyl
aldehydes
such
as
formaldehyde
and
acetaldehyde.

4.0
Conclusions
Propionaldehyde
is
a
high
production
volume
chemical
which
finds
almost
sole
use
as
a
chemical
intermediate.
It
use
is
primarily
in
the
manufacture
of
n­
propanol,
propionic
acid,
2­
methyl
pentanol,
trimethyolethane
polyols,
polyethylene
additives,
fragrance
chemicals
and
fungicides.
It
is
produced
and
used
exclusively
in
closed
systems
and
transported
by
bulk
carrier.
These
conditions
predicate
low
exposure
of
personnel
in
the
work
place.
This
has
been
confirmed
by
industrial
hygiene
monitoring
data.
Considering
the
very
low
concentrations
of
propionaldehyde
measured
within
production
facilities,
fence
line
concentrations
need
be
negligible.

Based
upon
physical
and
chemical
properties,
propionaldehyde
is
an
unlikely
candidate
as
a
persistent
environmental
contaminant.
It
is
calculated
to
have
a
short
half­
life
in
air
and
would
be
scavenged
from
air
into
water.
It
is
easily
oxidized
to
propionic
acid,
a
natural
constituent
of
nature.
The
aldehyde
itself
has
been
shown
to
be
moderately
toxic
to
fish
and
algae
and
of
a
low
order
of
toxicity
to
daphnia.
Episodic
accidental
spills
into
ponds
and
streams
would
pose
a
moderate
environmental
threat.
Considering
its
rapid
oxidation
to
propionic
acid,
this
threat
would
be
temporary
in
nature.

Data
is
available
to
sufficiently
identify
the
most
sensitive
toxic
effect
of
propionaldehyde,
irritation
upon
direct
contact
with
tissue,
particularly
irritation
of
mucosa
of
the
upper
respiratory
tract
upon
exposure
to
vapor.
This
observation
is
consistent
with
the
known
irritant
effects
of
other
short
chain
alkyl
aldehydes
including
formaldehyde,
acetaldehyde
and
butyraldehyde.
Data
generated
in
the
OECD/
SIDS
Combined
Protocol
clearly
demonstrate
that
propionaldehyde
does
not
have
specific
adverse
effects
on
the
reproductive
capabilities
of
either
male
or
female
rats.
Data
generated
by
this
protocol
and
data
from
other
studies
which
have
been
published
in
the
open
literature
also
clearly
demonstrate
that
propionaldehyde
does
not
produce
specific
adverse
effects
on
the
developing
offspring
of
laboratory
animals.

Considering
all
of
the
above,
propionaldehyde
would
be
of
a
low
priority
for
further
investigations.