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CAS No. 106-89-8

Photo: Wikimedia Commons^[1]

IARC Monograph Vol. 71, 1999 (Group 2A)

General Information

Epichlorohydrin is a colorless liquid with an irritating, pungent odour,^[2,3] and does not occur naturally in the environment.^[4] It is a chemical intermediate used to make a wide variety of products.^[5] Epichlorohydrin may also be referred to as chloropropylene oxide or 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane.^[6] There are numerous other synonyms and product names; see the HSDB for more information.^[6]

Epichlorohydrin has been classified by IARC as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans, with sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals.^[7] Studies of mice and rats have shown increased digestive, respiratory, nasal cavity and dermal cancers following exposure to epichlorohydrin.^[7] One epidemiological study of factory workers exposed to epichlorohydrin showed an excess of respiratory cancers; however there was concomitant exposure to another potentially carcinogenic substance.^[2] Some epidemiological studies have shown possible excesses in lung and central nervous system cancers; however results were inconsistent and were based on small study numbers.^[7]

Additional health effects following short-term exposure to epichlorohydrin may include skin irritation and damage to the liver, kidneys and/or central nervous system.^[3] Long-term exposure may result in eye, skin, and stomach irritation, chromosome aberrations, adverse changes in blood, and cancer.^[3]

Epichlorohydrin has been ranked by CAREX Canada as Group A (immediate high priority) for occupational settings and as Group B (possible high priority) for environmental settings. Prioritization was based on the carcinogenicity and other toxic properties of the substance, the prevalence of exposure in Canada, and the feasibility of assessing exposure.

Regulations and Guidelines

Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL)

Canadian Jurisdictions	OEL (ppm)
Canada Labour Code	0.5 [sk]
AB, MB, NB, NL, PE, NS	0.5 [sk]
BC	0.1 [sk]
SK	0.5 1.5 [stel]
QC	2 [em]
NT, NU	2 5 [stel]
YT	5 10 [stel]
Other Jurisdiction	OEL (ppm)
ACGIH 2011 TLV	0.5 [sk]

em = exposure must be reduced to the minimum

ppm = parts per million

sk = easily absorbed through the skin

stel = short term exposure limit (15 min. maximum)

Canadian Environmental Guidelines

Jurisdiction	Limit	Year
Permitted Food Additives	Code: Sm	2006^[9]

Epichlorohydrin was not included in other Canadian government environmental guidelines reviewed.^[8,10]

Canadian Agencies/Organizations

Agency	Designation/Position	Year
Health Canada	DSL – high priority substance with greatest potential for exposure	2006^[11]
Challenge to Industry	Batch 2 (Health) for ‘oxirane, (chloromethyl)’	2008^[13]

Epichlorohydrin was not included in other Canadian government chemical listings reviewed^[12]. The 2008 screening assessment concluded that epichlorohydrin meets the CEPA criteria for danger to human life or health (based on the critical effect of carcinogenicity), and also for persistence in air. Epichlorohydrin did not meet the criteria for bioaccumulation potential as stated in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations, nor did it meet the criteria for persistence in water, soil or sediment.^[5]

Main Uses

Epichlorohydrin is primarily used in the production of epoxy resins for protective linings of food and beverage cans.^[5] Epoxy resins are also used in paints and other coatings, structural composites, printed circuit board laminates, semiconductor encapsulants, tooling, molding, casting, and adhesives.^[4,5]

Other products manufactured using epichlorohydrin include phenoxy resins, used to make thermoplastic polymers; anion exchange resins and flocculants used in the treatment of drinking and waste water; and resins and polymers used in the production of textiles, paper and cellulose products.^[5] Epichlorohydrin is also commonly used as a stabilizer,^[2] and to produce synthetic glycerol, a component in the manufacture of personal care products, drugs, food and beverages.^[5]

Canadian Production and Trade

In 2006, epichlorohydrin was not manufactured in or imported into Canada at amounts exceeding 100 kg per company.^[5] It is likely imported into Canada in small quantities as a residual monomer in products containing resins made using epichlorohydrin.^[4]

Production and Trade

Activity	Quantity	Year
Global Annual Production	903,000 t	2008^[5]
Canadian Production	Not manufactured in Canada above the 100 kg threshold	2006^[5]
Export: None recorded	N/A	2007^[15]
Import: Mainly from US, Korea	7 t of '1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane'	2007^[15]

t = tonne

Occupational Exposures

Occupational exposure to epichlorohydrin may occur through the inhalation, ingestion or dermal routes, during its production and/or the synthesis of its end products.^[2]

Following its 1972-1974 surveys, NIOSH estimated that US workers within 58 job categories could be exposed to epichlorohydrin.^[2]

Environmental Exposures

The Canadian public’s exposure to epichlorohydrin may occur through inhalation, dermal absorption, or ingestion.^[5] Environmental and consumer product exposures in Canada are expected to be very low, since epichlorohydrin is present only as a residual substance.^[4] Measured concentrations of epichlorohydrin in the environment, food or water in Canada were not available,^[4] while industrial emissions of epichlorohydrin in Canada are likely to be negligible.^[4]

There is potential for exposure from food in contact with polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin papers and cans lined with epoxy resin coatings, although estimates for these types of exposures are low.^[5] Low levels of epichlorohydrin have been detected in water.^[7] When used in water treatment to remove suspended solids, very low levels of epichlorohydrin may remain in the water as a contaminant.^[3,5] It is expected to be at very low levels, however.^[5]

Exposure to epichlorohydrin in indoor or ambient air due to inhalation of emissions from commercial products, such as epoxy resins, adhesives, coatings and putties, is predicted by Health Canada to be negligible.^[4]

Residual epichlorohydrin in cosmetic products may lead to exposure via the inhalation and dermal routes. Although residual concentrations in these products are unknown and thus exposure cannot be quantified, it is expected to be low.^[4]

The average Canadian’s daily intake of epichlorohydrin is estimated to be 2 – 10 ng/kg-body weight/day.^[4]

Epichlorohydrin is reportable to Environment Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) but no releases have been reported since 2003, when a resin/synthetic rubber company released 0.002 tonnes.^[17]

A search for ‘epichlorohydrin’ in the United States Household Products Database produced the following results:

US Household Products Database

US Household Products 2010^[16]
Search Term	Quantity	Product Type
'Bisphenol A, epichlorhydrin polymer, tall oil fatty acids ester’	1	Spray enamel (aerosol)
’Bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin polymer’	8	Resins, epoxies, and hardeners
’Bisphenol A, formaldehyde, epichlorohydrin polymer’	2	Epoxies

Sources

Other Resources

Published March 2012

Epichlorohydrin