1-Amino-2-propanol

Excerpt from ERG Guide 153 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:

Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again. Refer for medical attention .

Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible). Refer immediately for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Give nothing to drink. 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.

Personal protection: complete protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: The dominant degradation process for 1-amino-2-propanol in soil is expected to be biodegradation. Several biodegradation studies have demonstrated that 1-amino-2-propanol is biodegradable(1,2,3). Based upon an estimated Koc of 7.1, 1-amino-2-propanol is expected to leach readily in soil(4,SRC). The importance of leaching may be lessened by concurrent biodegradation. Based upon a vapor pressure of 0.47 mm Hg at 25 °C(5), 1-amino-2-propanol should evaporate slowly from dry surfaces(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: The dominant removal process for 1-amino-2-propanol in water is expected to be biodegradation. Several biodegradation studies have demonstrated that 1-amino-2-propanol is readily biodegradable(1,2,3). Aquatic volatilization, bioconcentration, and adsorption to sediment are not expected to be important(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: Based upon a vapor pressure of 0.47 mm Hg at 25 °C(1), 1-amino-2-propanol is expected to exist almost entirely in the vapor-phase in the ambient atmosphere(2,SRC). It is expected to degrade relatively rapidly in an average ambient atmosphere (estimated half-life of about 9.9 hr) by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals (3,SRC). Since 1-amino-2-propanol is miscible in water(4), physical removal via wet deposition is likely to occur(SRC).

The Panel concludes that Diisopropanolamine, Triisopropanolamine, Isopropanolamine, and Mixed Isopropanolamines are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use and concentration. The isopropanolamines should not be used in products containing N-nitrosating agents.

Safe for use in cosmetics, with qualifications

Sore throat. Cough. Burning sensation. Shortness of breath. Laboured breathing.

Pain. Redness. Blisters. Skin burns.

Pain. Redness. Severe burns. Loss of vision.

Burning sensation. Burns in mouth and throat. Abdominal cramps. Shock or collapse.

Since 1-amino-2-propanol is primarily used as a chemical intermediate in the production of derivatives for many industries(1), it may be released to the environment in waste streams generated at sites of its commercial production and use(SRC).

A 5-day theoretical BOD of 4% was observed for 1-amino-2-propanol using a non-acclimated sewage inocula and a standard BOD dilution method(1); adaptation of the sewage inocula resulted in a 5-day theoretical BOD of 43%(1). Using a sewage inocula and a BOD dilution method, 5-day, 10-day, 15-day and 20-day theoretical BODs of 5.1, 34.0, 43.4 and 46.0% were measured respectively for 1-amino-2-propanol(2). In anaerobic serum bottle degradation studies, 1-amino-2-propanol exhibited a lag period of 9 days followed by a removal rate of 22 mg/l/day(3); during the observation period, 65% of initial 1-amino-2-propanol was removed compared to 100% removal for 1-propanol(3). 1-Amino-2-propanol is considered to be amenable to anaerobic biotechnology for industrial wastewater treatment(4).

Based upon an experimental log Kow of - 0.96(1), the BCF for 1-amino-2-propanol can be estimated to be 0.11 from a regression-derived equation(2,SRC). This BCF value suggests that 1-amino-2-propanol will not bioconcentrate significantly in aquatic organisms(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for 1-amino-2-propanol can be estimated to be 2.34X10-10 atm-cu m/mole using a structure estimation method(1,SRC); this value of Henry's Law constant indicates that a compound is essentially non-volatile from water(2). Based upon a vapor pressure of 0.47 mm Hg at 25 °C(3), 1-amino-2-propanol should evaporate from dry surfaces(SRC).

ISOPROPANOL AMINE RATED 7-9 ON RABBIT EYES. ... TESTED EXTERNALLY ON EYES OF RABBITS & ... RATED NUMERICALLY ON SCALE OF 1-10 ACCORDING TO DEGREE OF INJURY ... AFTER 24 HR /OBSERVATION/, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO CONDITION OF CORNEA. MOST SEVERE INJURIES HAVE BEEN RATED 10.