2-Nitropropane Profile
INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS – POSSIBLE CARCINOGEN (IARC 2B)
Contents
2-Nitropropane Profile
General Information
2-Nitropropane is a colourless, oily liquid with a mild and sweet odour.[1,2] It is flammable and soluble in water.[1] It may also be referred to as dimethylnitromethane or isonitropropane.[2] There are numerous other synonyms and product names; see HSDB for more information.[3]
2-Nitropropane was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on animal studies linking exposure to liver cancer in rats.[4] The carcinogenicity of 2-nitropropane in humans was not evaluated due to the lack of adequate epidemiological data.[4]
Chronic inhalation of 2-nitropropane in occupational settings is associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headaches, and pulmonary irritation.[5] Acute exposure to high concentrations of 2-nitropropane can cause liver damage and death.[5,6]
Regulations and Guidelines
Occupational exposure limits (OEL) [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21]
| Canadian Jurisdictions | OEL (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Canada Labour Code | 10 |
| AB, MB, ON, QC, NL, PE, NB, NS | 10 |
| BC | 5 |
| SK, NT, NU | 10 20 [stel] |
| YT | 25 |
| Other Jurisdictions | OEL (ppm) |
| ACGIH 2020 TLV | 10 |
ppm = parts per million
stel = short term exposure limit (15 min. maximum)
c = ceiling (not to be exceeded at any time)
TLV = threshold limit value (8 hour maximum)
ACGIH = American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
Canadian environmental guidelines
| Jurisdiction | Designation | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Environment Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory | Reportable to NPRI if manufactured, processed, or otherwise used at quantities greater than 10 tonnes | 2016[22] |
CE = permitted as carriers or extraction solvents
ppm = parts per million
2-Nitropropane was removed from the List of Permitted Food Additives in 2016.[23]
Canadian agencies/organizations
| Agency | Designation/Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Health Canada | DSL – high priority substance with intermediate potential for exposure | 2006[24] |
| Challenge to Industry | Batch 8 | 2010[25] |
DSL = domestic substance list
2-Nitropropane was not included in other Canadian government guidelines, standards, or chemical listings reviewed.
Main Uses
2-Nitropropane is primarily used as a solvent in inks, paints, varnishes, coatings, adhesives, and various organic compound resins.[1,4] 2-Nitropropane is also used as a chemical intermediate in producing propane derivatives such as 2-nitro-2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.[1,2] It is used to a lesser extent as: a component in paint and varnish removers;[6] a chemical intermediate in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, dyes, insecticides, and textile chemicals;[5,6] and an additive in explosives, propellants, and fuels for internal combustion.[1]
Environmental Exposures Overview
Environmental exposure to 2-nitropropane is estimated to be very low in Canada.[2,6] Sources of potential environmental exposure include contaminated ambient air and water near industrial sites of 2-nitropropane manufacture and use, as well as cigarette
smoke.[4]
2-Nitropropane may be present in trace amounts in certain pharmaceuticals that use 2-nitropropane as a chemical intermediate during production.[6] Approximately 1.1-1.2 µg of 2-nitropropane is present in the mainstream smoke of a single unfiltered
cigarette.[6]
Exposure may also occur by consuming foods processed with solvents containing 2-nitropropane or packaged with materials containing 2-nitropropane, such as beverage can coatings and packaging inks.[2,6] Recent food packaging submissions to Health Canada’s Food Directorate suggest that the latter use is unlikely in Canada.[6] Using 2-nitropropane as a carrier and extraction solvent in vegetable oil is permitted in Canada, though this is no longer practiced.[6,22] The World Health Organization does not recommend using 2-nitropropane in food processing, however Canadians may be exposed by consuming imported foods processed with 2-nitropropane.[2,6]
Use of 2-nitropropane in consumer products has largely been eliminated. Adhesives, paints, and coatings containing 2-nitropropane are mostly used in industrial and commercial applications.[6] Release of 2-nitropropane into the environment is reportable to the NPRI in Canada. No releases have been reported since 1996, when 0.125 tonnes were released by 1 company involved in plastics and foam manufacture.[6,28]
2-Nitropropane is not included in the Consumer Product Information Database.[29]
Occupational Exposures Overview
Inhalation is the most important route of occupational exposure to 2-nitropropane, although ingestion and dermal exposures are also possible.[1,2] The main occupations exposed include: workers involved in 2-nitropropane manufacturing and handling; paint, ink, pigment coating, and varnish production; printing and painting; industrial construction and maintenance; shipbuilding and maintenance; furniture manufacturing; tire manufacturing; food packaging; and scientific research.[1,2]
Since producing 2-nitropropane is often an enclosed process, exposure is limited.[2] The highest exposures occur during handling, transport, and use of 2-nitropropane and 2-nitropropane-containing products.[2]
CAREX Canada has not prioritized 2-nitropropane for exposure estimate development. This is because there is a lack of exposure monitoring data in the Canadian Workplace Exposure Database on which to base an estimate.
Sources
Photo: Flickr, Kenneth Moyle
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