Cyclohexanol

Excerpt from ERG Guide 131 [Flammable Liquids - Toxic]:

Use powder, carbon dioxide, foam.

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

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention .

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

Rinse mouth. Give one or two glasses of water to drink. Refer 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.

(General first aid procedures)

Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol foam extinguishers. Vapors are heavier than air and will collect in low areas. Vapors may travel long distances to ignition sources and flashback. Vapors in confined areas may explode when exposed to fire. Containers may explode in fire. Storage containers and parts of containers may rocket great distances, in many directions. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Notify local health and fire officials and pollution control agencies. From a secure, explosion-proof location, use water spray to cool exposed containers. If cooling streams are ineffective (venting sound increases in volume and pitch, tank discolors or shows any signs of deforming), withdraw immediately to a secure position ... The only respirators recommended for fire fighting are self-contained breathing apparatuses that have full facepieces and are operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Use "alcohol" foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical.

Cyclohexanol must be stored to avoid contact with strong oxidizers (such as chlorine, bromine, and fluorine), since violent reactions occur. Metal containers involving the transfer of this chemical should be grounded and bonded. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Drums must be equipped with self-closing valves, pressure vacuum bungs, and flame arresters. Use only non-sparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of this chemical. Sources of ignition, such as smoking and open flames, are prohibited where this chemical is used, handled, or stored in a manner that could created a potential fire or explosion hazard. Wherever this chemical is used, handled, manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

Spill handling: evacuate and restrict persons not wearing protective equipment from area of spill or leak until cleanup is complete. Remove all ignition sources. Ventilate area of spill or leak. Absorb liquids in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material and deposit in sealed containers. Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe manner and deposit in sealed containers. It may be necessary to contain and dispose of this chemical as a hazardous waste. If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify downstream users of potentially contaminated waters. Contact your Department of Environmental Protection or your regional office of the federal EPA for specific recommendations.

Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Sweep spilled substance into sealable containers; if appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

Environmental considerations - land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. Absorb bulk liquid with fly ash, cement powder, or commercial sorbents.

For more Cleanup Methods (Complete) data for Cyclohexanol (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. 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 soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Sweep spilled substance into covered sealable containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Wash away remainder with plenty of water.

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 protectionequipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

SRP: Contaminated protective clothing should be segregated in a manner that results in no direct personal contact by personnel who handle, dispose of, or clean the clothing. Quality assurance procedures to confirm the efficacy of the cleaning procedures should be implemented prior to the decontaminated protective clothing being returned for reuse by the workers. Contaminated clothing (including shoes/socks) should not be taken home at end of shift, but should remain at employee's place of work for cleaning.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary.

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for Cyclohexanol (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Cyclohexanol was detected in the expired air of 5 of 8 volunteer employees from the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas; the concentration averaged 0.78 ug/hr (for positive samples) and ranged between 0.28 and 1.6 ug/hr(1). It was detected in 65.6% of 387 samples of expired air taken from 54 study subjects who were carefully selected from urban areas and were normal, healthy, and non-smoking individuals; the geometric mean was 2.6 ng/L of expired air(2). In a study of 59 workers with occupational exposure to cyclohexanone, it was found that urinary cyclohexanol correlated with the time-weighted-average cyclohexanone exposure(3). When the time-weighted exposure was 25 ppm, the corresponding calculated cyclohexanol level was 54.5 mg/L.

... This study explored the acute effect of ethanol (EtOH) on the urinary excretion of cyclohexanol (CH-ol), 1,2- and 1,4-cyclohexanediol (CH-diol), biomarkers of exposure to important solvents, and chemical intermediates cyclohexanone (CH-one), cyclohexane (CH) and cyclohexanol. ... Volunteers (5-8 in each group) were exposed for 8 hours either to CH-one, CH or CH-ol vapor at concentrations of about 200, 1000, and (SRP: 2000) mg/cu m, respectively, with concomitant ingestion of EtOH (4 14-g doses taken during the exposure). Urine was collected for 72 hours and analyzed for CH-ol and CH-diols ... . RESULTS: The metabolic yields of CH-ol, 1,2-, and 1,4-CH-diol, respectively, in the exposures with EtOH were as follows: 11.3%, 36%, 23% after the exposure to CH-one, 3.1%, 15%, 8% after the exposure to CH, and 6.6%, 24%, 18% after the exposure to CH-ol. [The corresponding values obtained previously in matching experiments without EtOH were as follows: 1.0%, 39%, 18% (CH-one); 0.5%, 23%, 11% (CH); and 1.1%, 19%, 8% (CH-ol).] The excretion curves of the metabolites in the exposures with EtOH were not delayed when compared with the corresponding curves of a comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary excretion of CH-diols is much less sensitive to EtOH than that of CH-ol. It is recommended to employ CH-diols as useful and more reliable biomarkers of exposure to CH-one, CH and CH-ol in field examinations.

LC50; Species: Lepomis macrochirus; Conditions: freshwater, static, 23 °C, mild aeration applied after 24 hr; Concentration: 1100 ppm for 96 hr

LC50; Species: Menidia beryllina; Conditions: synthetic seawater, static, 23 °C, mild aeration applied after 24 hr; Concentration: 720 ppm for 96 hr

LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow); Conditions: Lake Superior water, static, 18-22 °C; Concentration: 1033 mg/L for 96 hr

LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow); Conditions: flow through, 25.4 °C, pH 7.75, dissolved oxygen 6.3 mg/L, hardness 46.0 mg/L CaCO3, alkalinity 41.0 mg/L CaCO3; Concentration: 732 mg/L for 96 hr (confidence limit: 696-770 mg/L)

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for Cyclohexanol (24 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 11(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.23(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that cyclohexanol is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of cyclohexanol from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given a Henry's Law constant of 4.40X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(4). Cyclohexanol is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 0.657 mm Hg at 25 °C(5). In the Japanese MITI test, a 96% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge was reached in 4 weeks(6). Various other aerobic screening studies reported 5-day degradations ranging from 57% to 96% based on theoretical BOD in acclimated sewage inoculums or mixed microbial cultures(7-9). These data suggest that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 11(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.23(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that cyclohexanol is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(4) based upon a Henry's Law constant of 4.40X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(5). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(4), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 8.4 days and 64 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 3.0(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). In the Japanese MITI test, a 96% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge was reached in 4 weeks(7). Various other aerobic screening studies reported 5-day degradations ranging from 57% to 96% based on theoretical BOD in acclimated sewage inoculums or mixed microbial cultures(8-10). These data suggest 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), cyclohexanol, which has a vapor pressure of 0.657 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), will exist solely in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase cyclohexanol 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 22 hrs(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.7X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3). Cyclohexanol does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

Cyclohexanol was detected in boiled and roasted Chinese chestnuts commercially grown in western Pennsylvania in 1994(1). Cyclohexanol was detected in raw earth almond from Valencia, Spain, but was not detected after subsequent roasting(2). Cyclohexanol was qualitatively detected in mixtures of volatile flavor components from fried chicken(3) and baked potatoes (Idaho Russet Burbank potatoes)(4).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.

inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Dizziness. Drowsiness. Headache. Nausea. Sore throat.

Dry skin. Redness.

Redness. Pain.

Abdominal pain. Diarrhoea. Further see Inhalation.

irritation eyes, skin, nose, throat; narcosis

Cyclohexanol was qualitatively detected in 5 of 16 samples derived from large volume (>400 gallons) samples of advanced treatment concentrate from 4 of 6 cities (Lake Tahoe, CA, Oct 1974; Orange County, CA, Feb 1976; Dallas, TX, Nov 1974; Blue Plains, Washington, DC, May 1975)(1). Cyclohexanol was found at concentrations ranging from 0.24 to 1.2 mg/L in trench leachate from low level radioactive waste sites at Maxey Flats, KY and West Valley, NY(2,3). It has been found at concentrations >0.5 ppm in wastewaters from unspecified industries in the organic chemicals and plastics/synthetic fibers industrial categories(4). A concentration of 1 ppb was found in samples of leachate or samples of groundwater plume taken at an unspecified municipal landfill at an unspecified time(5). The cyclohexanol concentration found in wastewater from a Russian caprolactam manufacturing facility was reported to be 3.5 mg/L(6). Cyclohexanol was detected in the distillate of landfill leachate of Japanese municipal waste at a concentration of 112 ug/L(7).

Section 8(a) of TSCA requires manufacturers of this chemical substance to report preliminary assessment information concerned with production, exposure, and use to EPA as cited in the preamble in 51 FR 41329. Effective date 8/4/95; Reporting date: 10/3/95.

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Cyclohexanol is included on this list. Effective date 8/4/95; Sunset date: 6/30/98.

This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Cyclohexanol is produced, as an intermediate or final product, by process units covered under this subpart.