RT Report
T1 Epichlorohydrin: Environmental Health Criteria 33
A1 United Nations Environment Programme, 
A1 World Health Organization, 
A1 International Labour Organisation, 
K1 chemical
K1 environmental health
K1 chemical analysis
K1 waste disposal
K1 epidemiology
K1 carcinogen
SN 92 4 154093 1
YR 1984
FD 1984
LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29339
UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/29339
NO 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.
DS UN Environment Document Repository
RD Sep 17, 2026