Epichlorohydrin: Environmental Health Criteria 33

This document synthesizes an expert evaluation of epichlorohydrin’s properties, uses, exposures, toxicology, and risk controls. It describes a volatile, highly reactive industrial intermediate used chiefly for glycerol and epoxy resins; exposure occurs mainly at work via inhalation and skin contact, with limited potential migration into food or water. In the environment, it hydrolyzes and volatilizes readily, undergoes photodegradation, and shows low bioaccumulation; aquatic acute toxicity is moderate to low. Analytically, sensitive gas-chromatographic methods quantify trace levels in air and water. Toxicokinetic data show rapid absorption and widespread distribution, with metabolism primarily by hydrolysis to less toxic 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol.