Glutaraldehyde: Health effects
Description
Short-term exposure to high levels of glutaraldehyde may result in sudden headaches and strong irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Ingestion may result in abdominal pains, cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, and or a burning sensation in the chest. At very high doses vascular collapse and coma have occurred. People can become sensitised to glutaraldehyde; this is where after repeated exposures an allergic response occurs. Once sensitised, very low doses may cause a reaction.
Entering the body
The most common routes of human exposure are inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact.
Exposure
Workers in the industries that use glutaraldehyde (sanitising, disinfecting, sterilising, or other antimicrobial, antibacterial, fungicidal and virucidal activities) are at risk of exposure, by skin contact and inhalation. Consumers can be exposed to glutaraldehyde by exposure to products that had glutaraldehyde used on them, but had not been properly cleaned of glutaraldehyde.
Health guidelines
Worksafe Australia:
For glutaraldehyde, it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations of 0.1 parts per million over an eight hour workshift.
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