Current Intelligence Bulletin 51 – Carcinogenic Effects of Exposure to Propylene Oxide

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Studies in animals have demonstrated that propylene oxide is a direct-acting carcinogen. B6C3F1 mice exposed by inhalation to propylene oxide developed hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas of the nasal mucosa. F344/N rats exposed to propylene oxide in air developed papillary adenomas of the nasal epithelium. Degeneration of the olfactory epithelium and hyperplasia of the respiratory epithelium were induced in the nasal cavities of Wistar rats exposed to propylene oxide by inhalation. Squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach developed in rats administered propylene oxide by gavage. Although epidemiologic data are not available from workers exposed to propylene oxide, the findings of cancer and other tumors in both rats and mice treated with propylene oxide meet the criteria established in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Cancer Policy [Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1990.112] for regarding propylene oxide as a potential occupational carcinogen. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health therefore recommends that occupational exposures to propylene oxide be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration. The purpose of the bulletin is to disseminate recent information on the potential carcinogenicity of propylene oxide. Recent studies of the chronic effects of the chemical in animals have produced evidence that cancer is associated with exposure to propylene oxide. The bulletin describes the results of those animal studies, presents the known human health effects of propylene oxide, and suggests guidelines for minimizing occupational exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hazardous Substances Laboratories Neoplasms Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Protective Clothing Safety
• Keywords:
  Exposure-levels Hazardous-materials Humans Laboratory-animals Malignant-neoplasms Protective-clothing
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• Subseries:
  Current Intelligence Bulletin
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB89111
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Handout/Flyer
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSDTT - Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-14
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20000290
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB90-142571
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 89-111, (CIB 51), 1989 Jul; :1-14
• CAS Registry Number:
  (±)-Propylene oxide (CAS RN 75-56-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1989
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ba0e352427eb2e8b688611b68d9eeeee009298825d2d6bcd6547fd413ea3e3bc815e2fad1205995f78f922aff52a93ef7a99debc570b4019a24ced672c1196a8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/209777/cdc_209777_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.35 MB ]