Direct contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes. It is used to make plastics, resins, and glycerin. Acute exposure to epichlorohydrin vapor irritates the eyes, nose, bronchial tubes, and lungs. High levels can chemically burn the lungs or cause dangerous fluid build-up, which may lead to death. Eye contact may cause permanent damage, and skin contact can cause painful blistering which may be delayed in onset for minutes or hours.
Chronic exposure can damage the kidneys, liver, and lungs.
Epichlorohydrin is a probable human carcinogen, and may decrease fertility in males. It is used to make antifreeze, polyesters, and detergents, and is used for industrial sterilization. Acute exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and may cause shortness of breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, weakness, and loss of muscle control. Chronic exposure to ethylene oxide may cause cancer and birth defects, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. It is used as a solvent, a stabilizer for rubber latex, and in antifreeze solutions.