Propylene Carbonate

Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.

Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.

Water or foam may cause frothing.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation.; Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains.; Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.

Product Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.

Precautions for safe handling: Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid inhalation of vapor or mist.

Appropriate engineering controls: Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.

Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses by industrial workers is inconsistent. The benefits 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.

Unless specifically excluded, residues resulting from the use of the following substance as either an inert or an active ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation, including antimicrobial pesticide chemicals, is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance under FFDCA section 408, if such use is in accordance with good agricultural or manufacturing practices. 1,3-Dioxolan-2-one, 4-methyl- is included on this list.

34 [mg/m3]

370 [mg/m3]

2,200 [mg/m3]

Eye/face protection: Safety glasses with side-shields conforming to EN166. Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).

Skin protection: Handle with gloves.

Body Protection: Impervious clothing. The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.

Respiratory protection: Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a full-face respirator with multipurpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls. If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator. Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that propylene carbonate is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of propylene carbonate from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 3.5X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), based upon its vapor pressure, 0.045 mm Hg(3), and water solubility, 1.75X10+5 mg/L(4). Propylene carbonate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(3). A 79% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge in the Japanese MITI test(5) suggests that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that propylene carbonate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 3.5X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 0.045 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 1.75X10+5 mg/L(5). Propylene carbonate may undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(3). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from its log Kow of -0.41(7) and a regression-derived equation(2), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). A 79% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge in the Japanese MITI test(8) suggests that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in water(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), propylene carbonate, which has a vapor pressure of 0.045 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase propylene carbonate 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 4 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 3.8X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Propylene carbonate contains chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and, therefore, may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

Safe in the present practices of use and concentration. Ingredient, concentration, and use information are available in documents discoverable at https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: PROPYLENE CARBONATE is a colorless liquid. Propylene carbonate is used in paints as a high-boiling solvent and film-forming auxiliary, especially in poly(vinyl fluoride) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) systems. It is also employed as an auxiliary in the pigment and dye industry. It is also used In lithium batteries, to decrease sulfur dioxide vapor pressure and increase electrolyte solubility and ionic conductivity. HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: In clinical studies, undiluted propylene carbonate caused moderate skin irritation, whereas 5 and 10% propylene carbonate in aqueous solution produced no skin irritation or sensitization. Cosmetic products or gels containing 0.54-20% propylene carbonate were essentially nonsensitizing and, at most, moderately irritating to human skin. Products formulated with 1.51-20% propylene carbonate were generally nonphototoxic and nonphotosensitizing. However, one product containing 20% propylene carbonate may have produced a low level photoallergic reaction in 1 of 25 subjects tested. ANIMAL STUDIES: The undiluted material was a slight irritant to the skin and a moderate irritant to the rabbit eye. In an acute dermal toxicity study, slight erythema was noted on the abraded skin of rabbits treated with 2 mg/kg of undiluted propylene carbonate; however, no lesions were observed at necropsy. Daily application of 10.5 or 17.5% propylene carbonate in physiological saline to the skin of rats for 1 month produced hyperkeratosis and an increase in the number of basal epithelial cells at the treatment site. Gavage studies in rats for 90 days at concentrations of up to 5,000 mg/kg/d did not induce any significant toxic effects. No systemic toxicity was reported in rats exposed to 100, 500, or 1,000 mg/cu m of aerosol propylene carbonate over a 90-day period. It was found in rat experiments that oral exposure at concentrations up to 5,000 mg/kg/d did not induce developmental toxicity; however, some maternal toxicity was observed in the high-dose group (decreased body weight gain and food consumption). Propylene carbonate was negative for mutagenicity in the Ames Salmonella/Microsome Liquid Pre-incubation Assay, and negative for genotoxicity in the Rat Hepatocyte Primary Culture/DNA Repair Test.

EPA has released the first beta version (version 0.5) of the Interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability (iCSS) Dashboard. The beta version of the iCSS Dashboard provides an interactive tool to explore rapid, automated (or in vitro high-throughput) chemical screening data generated by the Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast) project and the federal Toxicity Testing in the 21st century (Tox21) collaboration. /The title compound was tested by ToxCast and/or Tox21 assays; Click on the "Chemical Explorer" button on the tool bar to see the data./[USEPA; ICSS Dashboard Application; Available from, as of April 22, 2015: http://actor.epa.gov/dashboard/]

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of propylene carbonate can be estimated to be 5(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that propylene carbonate is expected to have very high mobility in soil.

/HUMAN EXPOSURE STUDIES/ In clinical studies, undiluted propylene carbonate caused moderate skin irritation, whereas 5 and 10% propylene carbonate in aqueous solution produced no skin irritation or sensitization.

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Cosmetic products or gels containing 0.54-20% propylene carbonate were essentially nonsensitizing and, at most, moderately irritating to human skin. Products formulated with 1.51-20% propylene carbonate were generally nonphototoxic and nonphotosensitizing. However, one product containing 20% propylene carbonate may have produced a low level photoallergic reaction in 1 of 25 subjects tested.

AEROBIC: Propylene carbonate, present at 100 mg/L, reached 79% of its theoretical BOD in 4 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L in the Japanese MITI test(1). Propylene carbonate was biodegraded 80% in a manostatic respirometer screening study using seed from a wastewater treatment plant during a 10 day incubation period(2).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for propylene carbonate(SRC), using a log Kow of -0.41(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for propylene carbonate is estimated as 3.5X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) derived from its vapor pressure, 0.045 mm Hg(1), and water solubility, 1.75X10+5 mg/L(2). This Henry's Law constant indicates that propylene carbonate is expected to be essentially nonvolatile from water and moist soil surfaces(3). Propylene carbonate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(1).

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ In an acute dermal toxicity study, slight erythema was noted on the abraded skin of rabbits treated with 2 mg/kg of undiluted propylene carbonate; however, no lesions were observed at necropsy.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Inhalation of concentrated /propylene carbonate/ vapor for 8 hr was not lethal to rats. The undiluted material was a slight irritant to the skin and a moderate irritant to the rabbit eye.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ Daily application of 10.5 or 17.5% propylene carbonate in physiological saline to the skin of rats for 1 month produced hyperkeratosis and an increase in the number of basal epithelial cells at the treatment site.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Subchronic or Prechronic Exposure/ Sprague-Dawley rats were given 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 mg/kg/d of propylene carbonate (PC) by gavage for 90 days. A control group was given deionized water. In addition, a high-dose recovery group was included to determine the persistence and reversibility of any toxic effects. The recovery group was followed from day 90 of the study through day 118. Thirty rats per group (15 of each sex) and 20 rats in the recovery group were studied. An interim sacrifice of 10 rats per group, excluding the recovery group, was conducted on day 30. At sacrifice, all animals were necropsied and grossly examined. Blood sample were collected for clinical chemistry and hematology measurements, and an ophthalmological examination was performed. A full screen of potential target organ tissues was fixed for histopathological examination. No consistent dose-related findings were reported following necropsy or histopathological examination. Results of the test showed that PC at concentrations of up to 5,000 mg/kg/d did not induce any significant toxic effects.

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for PROPYLENE CARBONATE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of propylene carbonate with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 3.8X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 4 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Propylene carbonate may undergo hydrolysis in the environment because it contains functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(2). Propylene carbonate contains chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(2) and, therefore, may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

Unless specifically excluded, residues resulting from the use of the following substance as either an inert or an active ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation, including antimicrobial pesticide chemicals, is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance under FFDCA section 408, if such use is in accordance with good agricultural or manufacturing practices. 1,3-Dioxolan-2-one, 4-methyl- is included on this list.