Glutaraldehyde, also known as 1,5-pentanedial, is a dialdehyde with the formula CH₂(CH₂CHO)₂. It is a colourless, oily liquid with a strong pungent odour and is slightly acidic in nature. Glutaraldehyde is soluble in water and organic solvents, and its aqueous solutions remain stable for long periods.
What is glutaraldehyde used for?
Glutaraldehyde is widely used as an antimicrobial, bactericide, fungicide, and virucide, with its largest application in:
Healthcare: sterilising hospital and veterinary equipment; disinfecting surfaces in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
Industrial water treatment: controlling bacterial growth in air washers, cooling systems, logging ponds, and pulp and paper facilities.
Other uses: embalming fluid, tissue fixative, film processing, and leather tanning.
Glutaraldehyde’s primary use is in healthcare, where it serves as a high-level disinfectant—sterilising hospital and veterinary equipment, and disinfecting surfaces in clinical environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
Sources of Emission & Routes of Exposure
Sources of Emission
Industrial: crude oil and gas extraction, beverage production, hospitals, and x-ray processing facilities.
Diffuse: medical and veterinary clinics, cooling systems, food processing, agriculture, tanneries, and household disinfectants.
Natural: no known natural sources.
Transport: no significant mobile sources.
Consumer products: present in some agricultural chemicals, household disinfectants, sterilising agents, and furniture polish.
Routes of Exposure
Inhalation
Skin absorption
Ingestion
Skin and/or eye contact
Workers in healthcare, laboratories, and water treatment industries are at the highest risk of exposure.
Health Effects
Acute Effects
Eyes: severe irritation, burning, and damage at higher concentrations.
Skin: irritation and burns; liquid contact can be harmful.
Respiratory system: coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath.
Neurological effects: headaches, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Digestive system: ingestion can cause abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest burning, and, at very high doses, vascular collapse or coma.
Chronic Effects
Glutaraldehyde is a sensitizer:
Repeated exposures can cause asthma-like symptoms, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.
Skin contact may result in allergic dermatitis or eczema.
After sensitisation, even very small exposures may trigger strong reactions such as severe itching or rashes.
Carcinogenic Effects
Classified by the ACGIH as A4: Not classifiable as a human or animal carcinogen.
Mutagenic Effects
Shown to be mutagenic in mammalian cells, bacteria, and yeast.
Reproductive Toxicity
Classified as a suspected reproductive toxin in females.
Safety
First Aid Measures
Eye contact: Remove contact lenses if present and rinse eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes (cold water may be used). Seek medical attention immediately.
Skin contact: Flush skin thoroughly with water and remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Apply an emollient if irritation develops. Wash clothing before reuse and clean shoes before reuse. Seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Severe skin contact: Wash with disinfectant soap, apply antibacterial cream, and seek immediate medical attention.
Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air. If not breathing, provide artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, supply oxygen. Seek immediate medical attention.
Severe inhalation: Evacuate the person to a safe area, loosen tight clothing, administer oxygen if breathing is difficult, or perform artificial respiration if necessary. Caution: mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may be hazardous when the substance is toxic or corrosive. Seek urgent medical attention.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Loosen tight clothing and seek medical attention immediately.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protection
Engineering Controls
Use local exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls to maintain airborne concentrations below exposure limits.
Ensure eyewash stations and safety showers are available near work areas.
Personal Protective Equipment
For normal handling: splash goggles, gloves, a lab coat, and an approved vapour respirator.
For large spills or high-risk exposure: splash goggles, a full protective suit, gloves, boots, a vapour respirator, and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Consult a safety specialist before handling large quantities to ensure PPE is adequate.
Regulation
United States
ACGIH: The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has adopted a ceiling threshold limit value (TLV-C) of 0.05ppm for glutaraldehyde. A TLV-C represents an airborne concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of the work shift.
NIOSH: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has established a recommended exposure (REL) limit of 0.2 ppm, as a ceiling limit, for glutaraldehyde.
OSHA: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration had also established a permissible exposure limit (as a ceiling level) of 0.2 ppm in 1989, but this was vacated in 1993 for legal reasons.
Australia
Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Australia has established a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration for glutaraldehyde of 0.1ppm over an eight-hour work shift.
As scientists who evolve with technology we treat innovation as a way of life, a life we dedicate to improvement and advancement of Safety, Health and Environment.
