2-chloroethanol

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

other: poisoning

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Fatality and illness caused by ethylene chlorohydrin in an agricultural occupation

Author:

Bush AF, Abrams HK, Brown H

Year:

1949

Bibliographic source:

J Ind Hyg Toxicol 31: 352-358

Materials and methods

Study type:

poisoning incident

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Poisoning incidence after acute or repeated inhalation and/or dermal exposure

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2-chloroethanol

EC Number:

203-459-7

EC Name:

2-chloroethanol

Cas Number:

107-07-3

Molecular formula:

C2H5ClO

IUPAC Name:

2-chloroethan-1-ol

Details on test material:

no details

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Subjects:

worker in an agricultural firm
Man, 34 years of age, good health

Ethical approval:

not specified

Route of exposure:

inhalation

Reason of exposure:

unintentional, occupational

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

Man, 34 years of age, good health
After working all morning the man began to complain at 11:30 a.m. of nausea and dizziness followed by vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness and diminished vision. At1:00 p.m. the patient appeared recovered and returned to work.
At 3:00 p.m. collapse and coma, arrival at hospital 4:45 p.m.
examination: cyanotic; blood pressure was not obtainable; heart tone imperceptible;
Emergency treatment
Patient died at 7:30 p.m.
Laboratory findings: casts and erythrocytes in urine; increased albumine in urine; white blood cell counts 25,300; hemoglobin 119%; blood non-protein nitrogen 66 mg/100 ml
Pathology: fatty changes in heart and liver, edema of the brain and lung (blood in alveoli); cloudy swelling and hyperemia of the kidney, renal glomeruli swollen and hyperemic, fat deposits in renal tubules and swelling of tubular epithelium, tubular lumen occluded; swelling of adrenal cortex; hyperemia of spleen;

Any other information on results incl. tables

5 other workers were also exposed and suffered from similar effects like nausea, vomiting and dizziness; burning sensation of the nose, irritation of the eyes, diminished vision, numbness of hand and fingers; reduced blood pressure;

recovery within hours or weeks.

Exposure: in experiments using a closed chamber comparable to the conditions in the shed (but reduced to 5 m³) in the firm above potatoes were exposed and concentration measured: peak after ca. 4 h at 3300 ppm, rapid drop to ca. 400 ppm (constant for 140 h).

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Death of one and the illness of five workers exposed via inhalation and/or dermal route; effects on nervous, hepatic, renal and vascular system.

Executive summary:

In agricultural firms the test substance was used to accelerate sprouting of potatoes. Workers were repeatedly exposed via the dermal and inhaltion route. Clinical signs and the data on a fatality (presumably after acute exposure to high dose levels) indicated effects on nervous, hepatic, renal and vascular system. Experimental data suggested inhalation exposure levels up to 3300 ppm but in most cases workers might be exposed to 400 ppm.

Conclusion: Death of one and the illness of five workers exposed via inhalation and/or dermal route; effects on nervous, hepatic, renal and vascular system.