home edit2 whole TSD November 2002 PDF format - OEHHA

ACETALDEHYDE
CAS No: 75-07-0
I. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES (From HSDB, 1998)
Molecular weight 44.05
Boiling point
20.5° C
Vapor pressure
740 mm
Conversion factor 1 ppm = 1.8 mg/m 3
II.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT VALUES
Unit Risk Factor 2.7 E-6 (µg/m 3 ) -1
Slope Factor 1.0 E-2 (mg/kg-day) -1
[Calculated from rat nasal tumor incidence data (Wouterson et al., 1986) by OEHHA (1993)
using a linearized, time-dependent multistage procedure.]
III.
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS
Human Studies
Bittersohl (1974) conducted a morbidity survey to study the incidence of total cancer in an aldol and
aliphatic aldehyde factory in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The work force in this factory
was potentially exposed to a product primarily consisting of acetaldol (70)% combined with smaller, but
variable, amounts of acetaldehyde; butylaldehyde; crotonaldehyde; “large” condensed aldehydes such
as hexatrial, hexatetral, and ethylhexal; traces of acrolein; and 20 to 22% water. The observation
period extended from 1967 to 1972. The study cohort consisted of 220 people, approximately 150
were employed for more than 20 years. Acetaldehyde concentrations were found to range from 0.56
to 1 ppm.
Nine cases of cancer (five squamous cell carcinomas of the bronchi, two squamous cell carcinomas of
the mouth cavity, one adenocarcinoma of the stomach, and one adenocarcinoma of the cecum) were
identified in male workers during the 6-year study period. An incidence rate of 6,000 per 100,000
population (9 cases/150 individuals employed for more than 20 years) for total cancer was calculated
for this study cohort, compared to 1,200 per 100,000 in the general population. All cases had a history
of smoking.
This study had the following major methodological limitations: the incidence rate was not age adjusted;
concurrent exposure to other chemicals and cigarette smoke occurred; duration of exposure was short;
a small number of subjects was studied; and information on subject selection, age, and sex distribution
was lacking. Because of the limitations, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC,
1985) considered this study to be inadequate to evaluate the carcinogenicity of acetaldehyde.
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