Chloral Hydrate

Fires involving this material can be controlled with a dry chemical, carbon dioxide or Halon extinguisher. (NTP, 1992)

In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer immediately for medical attention.

Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately for medical attention.

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, you should dampen the solid spill material with water, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with water to pick up any remaining material. Seal your contaminated clothing and the absorbent paper in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Wash all contaminated surfaces with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

Chloral hydrate is a waste chemical stream constituent which may be subjected to ultimate disposal by controlled incineration. Preferably after mixing with another combustible fuel, care must be exercised to assure complete combustion to prevent the formation of phosgene; an acid scrubber is necessary to remove the halo acids produced.

The following wastewater treatment technology has been investigated for chloral hydrate: Concentration process: Solvent extraction.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

Chloral hydrate has been detected in /human/ ... milk ... .

Chloral hydrate and its metabolite, trichloroethanol reached 50-100% /in breast milk/ of maternal blood levels in most of 50 women given 1.3 g rectally.

Prolonged concurrent use /with other addictive medications especially CNS depressants with habituating potential/ may increase the risk of habituation; caution is recommended.

Concurrent use /with alcohol or other CNS depression-producing medications/ may increase the CNS depressant effect of either these medications or chloral hydrate; caution is recommended and dosage of one or both agents should be reduced.

Hypoprothrombinemic effects may be increased when these medications /coumarin- or indandione-derivative anticoagulants/ are used concurrently with chloral hydrate, particularly during the first 2 weeks of concurrent therapy, because of displacement of the anticoagulant from its plasma protein binding sites; with continued concurrent use, anticoagulant activity may return to baseline level or be decreased; frequent prothrombin-time determinations may be required, especially during initiation of chloral hydrate therapy, to determine if dosage adjustment of the anticoagulant is necessary.

Administration of chloral hydrate followed by intravenous furosemide within 24 hours may result in diaphoresis, hot flashes, and variable blood pressure, including hypertension, due to a hypermetabolic state caused by displacement of thyroxine from its bound state.

For more Interactions (Complete) data for CHLORAL HYDRATE (13 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Chloral hydrate has been in clinical use for many decades and has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations during therapy or instances of clinically apparent liver injury. While prospective studies of the effects of chloral hydrate on liver tests have not been done, the absence of reported instances of liver injury attributable to chloral hydrate suggests that it has little or no hepatic toxicity. Chloral hydrate has been linked to hypersensitivity reactions such as rash, fever and eosinophilia. Chloral hydrate also has major drug-drug interactions with oral anticoagulants, antidepressants and alcohol. In patients with cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation, chloral hydrate can trigger or worsen hepatic encephalopathy.

EC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea); Conditions: freshwater; pH 8; Concentration: 630 mg/L for 24 hr; Effect: behavior, equilibrium /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea); Conditions: freshwater; Concentration: 500 mg/L for 48 hr; Effect: intoxication, immobilization /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water flea, age < or =24 hr); Conditions: freshwater; static, 20-22 °C, pH 7.6-7.7; Concentration: 510 mg/L for 24 hr

LC50; Species: Leuciscus idus melanotus (Carp); Conditions: freshwater; Concentration: 1720 mg/L for 48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 82(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 0.99(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that chloral hydrate is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of chloral hydrate from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 5.7X10-9 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) derived from its vapor pressure, 15 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 7.93X10+5 mg/L(5). Chloral hydrate is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(4). Biodegradation data for chloral hydrate were not available(5).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 82(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 0.99(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that chloral hydrate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.1X10-9 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 15 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 7.93X10+5 mg/L(5). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 12 days and 88 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Biodegradation data for chloral hydrate were not available(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), chloral hydrate, which has a vapor pressure of 15 mm Hg at 25 deg(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase chloral hydrate is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 8 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.9X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). The related aldehyde chloral is readily photolyzed in sunlight based on an atmospheric half-life of 4.5-6 hours for this compound under conditions representing the solar flux during summer months(4).

Chloral hydrate has been detected in /human/ ... milk ... .

Chloral hydrate and its metabolite, trichloroethanol reached 50-100% /in breast milk/ of maternal blood levels in most of 50 women given 1.3 g rectally. Drug and metabolites were detectable for up to 24 hr; the maximum dose that an infant could have received approximates a sedative dose. In another study, drowsiness was noted in 1 infant the morning after a bedtime hypnotic dose of a chloral hydrate derivative in the mother.

Following therapeutic doses of chloral hydrate, only small, clinically insignificant amt of the active metabolite are distributed into milk.

IDENTIFICATION: Chloral hydrate is used in human and veterinary medicine as a sedative and hypnotic drug. HUMAN EXPOSURE: The major route of exposure of the general public is from drinking water, as chloral hydrate is formed when drinking water is disinfected with chlorine. Since chloral hydrate is a metabolite of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, people will be exposed to chloral hydrate if they are exposed to these chemicals. The public will be exposed to the metabolites of chloral hydrate, trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid, as these chemicals are also formed when drinking water is disinfected with chlorine. In its use as a sedative for people, the metabolite trichloroethanol is responsible for the pharmacologic effect. No quantitative information is available from occupational exposure. Chloral hydrate is irritating to the skin and mucous membranes and often causes gastric distress, nausea and vomiting at the recommended clinical dose. An overdose of this drug produces (in order of progression) ataxia, lethargy, deep coma, respiratory depression, hypotension and cardiac arrhythmia. There is some evidence of hepatic injury in people surviving near lethal acute overdoses. Despite its long use in human medicine there is no published information on toxicity in controlled studies in humans following extended exposure. Chloral hydrate is completely absorbed and rapidly metabolized following oral admin. In humans the half-life of trichloroethanol and its glucuronide is about 8 hr; the half-life of trichloroacetic acid is about 4 days. Some data suggest that half-life of trichloroethanol is incr several fold in pre-term and full term infants compared with toddlers and adults. The major routes of excretion of the metabolites of chloral hydrate is elimination in the urine.Chloral hydrate and its metabolites have been found in milk from women treated with this drug. There no carcinogenicity data from humans. ANIMAL STUDIES: Acute administration of chloral hydrate to mice causes loss of coordination (ataxia). A 90 day study in mice shows no evidence of behavioral changes or other neurotoxicity. Chronic studies in rats and mice show no evidence of behavioral changes and no evidence of histopathological changes in the nervous tissue. A slight detriment in humoral immunity was observed following exposure of mice for 90 days. This drug has been tested for developmental effects in rats and mice. No structural abnormalities were observed. In a neurodevelopmental study in mice, there was a slight effect in passive avoidance learning. Two bioassays in rats show no incr in tumors at any site. Three separate bioassays in male mice showed an incr incidence of liver tumors. The most definitive of these studies shows an incr incidence and multiplicity of liver tumors at each of three exposures. These data show suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity in male mice but are not considered appropriate for conducting a human health risk assessment with a linear response at low exposure. A variety of results show that chloral hydrate is a weak gene mutagen and clastogen. Chloral hydrate induces aneuploidy in a wide variety of cell types.

Cough. Confusion. Drowsiness. Nausea. Unconsciousness.

Redness.

Redness.

Abdominal pain. Vomiting. Further see Inhalation.

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Agent Search Results page, which tabulates all of the "Standard Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies", "Developmental Studies", and "Genetic Toxicity Studies" performed with this chemical. Clicking on the "Testing Status" link will take the user to the status (i.e., in review, in progress, in preparation, on test, completed, etc.) and results of all the studies that the NTP has done on this chemical. [http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=302-17-0]

Drug products containing certain active ingredients offered over-the-counter (OTC) for certain uses. A number of active ingredients have been present in OTC drug products for various uses, as described below. However, based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients for the specified uses: chloral hydrate is included in external analgesic drug products - analgesic and anesthetic drug products.

Drug products containing certain active ingredients offered over-the-counter (OTC) for certain uses. A number of active ingredients have been present in OTC drug products for various uses, as described below. However, based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients for the specified uses: chloral hydrate is included in external analgesic drug products - counter irritant drug products.

Drug products containing certain active ingredients offered over-the-counter (OTC) for certain uses. A number of active ingredients have been present in OTC drug products for various uses, as described below. However, based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients for the specified uses: chloral hydrate is included in external analgesic drug products - fever blister and cold sore treatment drug products.

Drug products containing certain active ingredients offered over-the-counter (OTC) for certain uses. A number of active ingredients have been present in OTC drug products for various uses, as described below. However, based on evidence currently available, there are inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients for the specified uses: chloral hydrate is included in external analgesic drug products - poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac drug products.

For more FDA Requirements (Complete) data for CHLORAL HYDRATE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Used as a drug (sedative and hypnotic), a rubefacient and liniment, a glue peptizing agent, and a chemical intermediate; [HSDB] Formed as by-product of drinking water chlorination; [IPCS]

Working with Glues and Adhesives [Category: Other]

As glue peptizing agent

Manufacture of DDT

Medicine (sedative), manufacture of DDT, linaments.

Hypnotic ... possesses anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant activities.

(1972) 2.83X10+7 G

(1975) 4.8X10+7 G

(1984) 5.41X10+6 g

(1986) 1.03X10+5 lb

(1972) 1.14X10+10 G (ANHYDROUS CHLORAL)

Production volumes for non-confidential chemicals reported under the Inventory Update Rule. [Table#846]

Made by adding required amt of water to trichloroacetaldehyde.

Insoluble chloral hydrate forms from the reaction of chloral with water.

Chloral hydrate is formed by adding one molecule of water to the carbonyl group of chloral (2,2,2-trichloroacetaldehyde).

Dosage Forms-Capsules: 250 and 500 mg, and 1 g; Elixir: 500 mg/5 mL; Suppositories: 325, 500, and 650 mg. Syrup: 250 and 500 mg/5 mL.

Noctec capsules contain 500 mg chloral hydrate per capsule, Noctec syrup contains 500 mg chloral hydrate per 5 mL

Grade: Technical, USP

Chloropent injection; Intravenous anesthetic; Each mL contains: chloral hydrate 42.5 mg; magnesium sulfate 21.2 mg; pentobarbital 8.86 mg; ethyl alcohol 14.25%; propylene glycol 33.8%; purified water, qs (for cattle & horses)

For more Formulations/Preparations (Complete) data for CHLORAL HYDRATE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

1,1-Ethanediol, 2,2,2-trichloro-: ACTIVE

Street names for chloral hydrate principally reflect its mixture with alcohol, which enhances its action, so we have such well known terms as "knock-out drops" and "Mickey Finn."

This is a controlled substance (depressant): 21 CFR, 1308.14

Disinfection by-product

In industrial exposures ... The small quantities which can be tolerated by inhalation are usually metabolized so rapidly that no anesthetic symptons occur.