Paul Cochrane | Glutaraldehyde & Potential Exposure Concerns @IAQMarketer | Uploaded March 2019 | Updated October 2024, 6 minutes ago.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes glutaraldehyde as a colorless, oily, liquid-chemical with a pungent odor. It is typically used in a dilution and is sold under numerous brand names.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports it is used for industrial, laboratory, agricultural, medical and some household purposes, primarily for disinfecting and sterilization of surfaces and equipment. Examples of its use by the agency include oil and gas recovery operations and pipelines, wastewater treatment, x-ray processing, embalming fluid, leather tanning, paper industry, in fogging and cleaning of poultry houses, and as a chemical intermediate in the production of various materials. According to NIOSH, in the healthcare industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect equipment that cannot be heat sterilized such as dialysis instruments, surgical instruments, suction bottles, bronchoscopes, endoscopes, and ear, nose and throat instruments.
NIOSH also reports that workers in industries that use glutaraldehyde can be exposed through inhalation or skin contact. Health effects that may occur as a result of exposure include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Throat and lung irritation
• Asthma and difficulty breathing
• Contact and/or allergic dermatitis
• Nasal irritation
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Burning eyes and conjunctivitis
To protect workers there are ways to test for glutaraldehyde exposure from occupational environments. Other common methods to mitigate potential exposure include engineering controls, proper storage, substituting other chemicals, personal protective equipment (PPE) and employee training.
These are just a few things to know about glutaraldehyde and possible occupational exposures. To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes glutaraldehyde as a colorless, oily, liquid-chemical with a pungent odor. It is typically used in a dilution and is sold under numerous brand names.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports it is used for industrial, laboratory, agricultural, medical and some household purposes, primarily for disinfecting and sterilization of surfaces and equipment. Examples of its use by the agency include oil and gas recovery operations and pipelines, wastewater treatment, x-ray processing, embalming fluid, leather tanning, paper industry, in fogging and cleaning of poultry houses, and as a chemical intermediate in the production of various materials. According to NIOSH, in the healthcare industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect equipment that cannot be heat sterilized such as dialysis instruments, surgical instruments, suction bottles, bronchoscopes, endoscopes, and ear, nose and throat instruments.
NIOSH also reports that workers in industries that use glutaraldehyde can be exposed through inhalation or skin contact. Health effects that may occur as a result of exposure include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Throat and lung irritation
• Asthma and difficulty breathing
• Contact and/or allergic dermatitis
• Nasal irritation
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Burning eyes and conjunctivitis
To protect workers there are ways to test for glutaraldehyde exposure from occupational environments. Other common methods to mitigate potential exposure include engineering controls, proper storage, substituting other chemicals, personal protective equipment (PPE) and employee training.
These are just a few things to know about glutaraldehyde and possible occupational exposures. To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
