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Substance Name: 1-Chloro-2,3-Epoxypropane
Common Names: Epichlorohydrin
Chemical Formula: C3H5ClO
CAS Number: 106-89-8
Physical State: Liquid, colorless with sharp, chloroform-like odor
Main Usage: It finds its way into the production of epoxy resins and other specialty chemicals, showing up across adhesives, coatings, and elastomers.
Classification: Acute toxicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, respiratory hazard, and carcinogen by classification under GHS and OSHA standards
Hazard Statement: Irritates eyes, skin, and the respiratory system. Inhalation or skin contact could lead to delayed effects. Prolonged exposure might bring about genetic mutations or cancerous growth.
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, exclamation mark, health hazard
Main Risks: Hazardous via multiple exposure routes, meaning everything from vapors to accidental skin splashes poses health concerns. Workers in production plants or handling resins should stay on guard against breathing in vapor or getting it on hands.
Chemical Identity: 1-Chloro-2,3-Epoxypropane (Epichlorohydrin)
Purity: Usually above 99% for industrial production
Impurities: Trace amounts of dichloropropane, allyl chloride, or water may show up but do not fundamentally alter risk profile for workplace health.
Inhalation: Move to open air and seek medical attention if symptoms—coughing, dizziness, or throat pain—appear and don’t clear up quickly.
Skin Contact: Rinse affected skin area with plenty of running water and discard any contaminated clothing to get rid of soaked residue.
Eye Contact: Rinse the eyes thoroughly under running water for at least a quarter hour and check with a doctor for long-lasting discomfort.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth and make sure not to induce vomiting. Medical help becomes necessary if large amounts get swallowed or symptoms emerge.
Delayed Effects: Keep an eye out for symptoms after exposure, as issues might not emerge right away. Respiratory or neurological symptoms sometimes take time to surface.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemicals, or water spray. Straight water streams tend to spread liquid fire.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Choking smoke may include hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, and phosgene, making fire scenes a double hazard.
Specific Fire Hazards: The vapors catch fire easily at room temperatures near ignition sources. Contaminated water from firefighting could spread hazards.
Special Protective Equipment: Full-face self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-resistant protective gear count as the smart approach in case of a big fire.
Personal Precautions: Don chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, and a tight-fitting respirator before getting close to a spill.
Ventilation: Good airflow in the workspace might help keep vapor from building to dangerous levels.
Spill Handling: Dike the area to keep liquid from spreading. Absorb released chemical onto inert material—for instance, dry sand—avoiding anything flammable, then collect with shovels into closed containers for disposal.
Decontamination: Wash contaminated surfaces with plenty of water after chemical removal, and ensure that water is not draining to natural sewers.
Safe Handling: Closed systems with good local exhaust help reduce chances of vapor inhalation. Tools and containers must be non-sparking, with all static discharges avoided.
Safe Storage: Store in tightly closed drums in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or incompatible substances like alkalis and acids. Make sure no contact with copper, aluminum, or other reactive materials occurs.
Avoidance: Eating, drinking, or smoking anywhere near materials keeps accidental consumption off the table.
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA’s permissible exposure limit runs at about 5 ppm for an 8-hour shift, while NIOSH recommends use below 2 ppm.
Engineering Controls: Exhaust ventilation at points of emission helps capture vapors before workers ever get exposed.
Personal Protection: Chemical splash goggles, impervious gloves—often nitrile or butyl rubber—and long-sleeve, chemical-resistant outfits add another layer of safety. For accidental high exposure scenarios, a positive-pressure respirator might be necessary.
Hygiene: Hand-washing before meals or restroom breaks, along with keeping work clothes separate from street clothes.
Appearance: Clear liquid
Odor: Pungent, similar to chloroform
Boiling Point: Around 117°C
Melting Point: Circa -57°C
Flash Point: 28°C (82°F, closed cup)
Density: About 1.2 g/cm³ at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: 17 mmHg at 20°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in water; mixes well with organic solvents
Stability with Light: Reasonable under normal conditions, but breaks down with long UV exposure.
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed containers at recommended storage conditions but starts breaking down over long storage or high temperatures.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, amines, alkalis, oxidizers, strong bases, and some metals.
Hazardous Decomposition: Under fire or hot conditions, forms hazardous gases like hydrogen chloride and carbon monoxide.
Polymerization: Can occur and may result in violent reactions, especially when exposed to amines or catalytic impurities.
Acute Toxicity: Inhaling the vapor triggers irritation of mucous membranes, headache, dizziness, and in some cases, loss of consciousness. Animal studies point to serious toxicity, especially through inhalation.
Skin/Eye Effects: Causes redness, burns, and long-term tissue damage after repeated or high-level contact.
Long-Term Exposure: Animal experiments provide a basis for classifying 1-Chloro-2,3-Epoxypropane as a probable human carcinogen (IARC Group 2A). Links to DNA damage and nervous system effects show up in multiple case reports.
Sensitization: Some workers report developing allergies with repeated exposure, which may lead to rashes or asthmatic attacks on contact.
Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to aquatic organisms in concentrated spills, killing fish and invertebrates at low concentrations. Runoff from spills might damage local water habitats.
Environmental Fate: Breaks down in soil and water, but moderate persistence allows for measurable local contamination following large releases.
Bioaccumulation: Not well known for building up in the bodies of aquatic organisms, but can pose risk by repeated small releases into sludge, groundwater, or sediments.
Waste Considerations: Wastewater treatment plants sometimes struggle to remove trace amounts entirely.
Disposal Method: Send to a licensed chemical waste incinerator or hazardous waste landfill, following all local, state, and country rules.
Container Disposal: Empty containers stay hazardous by residue. Clean, triple-rinse, puncture, and send for proper disposal.
Regulatory Requirements: U.S. regulations classify it as both a hazardous waste and a hazardous air pollutant under RCRA and Clean Air Act, meaning disposal needs paperwork trails and checks.
Shipping Name: Epichlorohydrin
UN Number: UN2023
Hazard Class: Flammable liquid and toxic substance
Packing Group: II
Transportation Risk: Vapors can leak from poorly sealed drums, posing inhalation, explosion, and environmental risks en route. Road, sea, and air transfers each add a specific set of exposure risks to handlers and bystanders in case of accidents.
TSCA Compliance: 1-Chloro-2,3-Epoxypropane falls under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act, so every producer, importer, and processor needs to file safety and exposure reports.
OSHA Status: Handlers must follow regulations covering process safety management thanks to its toxicity and vapor pressure.
International Laws: European REACH and Asian chemical safety regulations demand risk assessment, labeling, and exposure limits for employers.
Safety Training: Every employee gets training for safe handling and emergency response before starting any new work.
