Product Safety Assessment

Epichlorohydrin
Select a Topic:
Names
Product Overview
Manufacture of Product
Product Description
Product Uses
Exposure Potential
Health Information
Environmental Information
Physical Hazard Information
Regulatory Information
Additional Information
References

Names
CAS No. 106-89-8
Epichlorohydrin (ECH, EPI used as
abbreviations)
(Chloromethyl)ethylene oxide
(D,L)-alpha-epichlorohydrin
alpha-epichlorohydrin
1,2-Epoxy-3-chloropropane
Chloro-2, 3-epoxypropane
2,3-Epoxypropyl chloride
2-(Chloromethyl)oxirane
chloro-1,2-epoxypropane
Chloropropene-1,2-oxide
Chloromethyloxirane
Chloropropylene oxide
Gamma-chloropropylene oxide
Glycerol epichlorohydrin
Epichlorohydrin glycerol
Glycidyl chloride
Oxirane, (Chloromethyl)-
(9Cl)
Propane, 1-chloro-2,3-
epoxy- (6Cl,8Cl)

Product Overview
Epichlorohydrin (EPI) is an extremely versatile chemical intermediate used in a wide variety of
1
applications. Approximately 76% of the worlds consumption of (EPI) is used to make epoxy resins.
See Product Uses.
EPI is flammable. Direct, prolonged contact with pure EPI as liquid can severely damage the skin and
eyes. Vapors may also produce eye irritation and damage to cornea of the eye. EPI is a probable
carcinogen, a poison that can cause death at higher exposures, a mutagen and a skin sensitizer. 2 See
Health Information and Physical Hazard Information.
Occupational exposures are possible; however, consumer exposures are not likely because end-use
products are expected to contain only trace levels of EPI. Industrial operations use EPI in closed
systems and are designed with engineering controls to minimize personnel and environmental
exposures. 3 See Exposure Potential.
EPI is considered a hazardous chemical. If released into the environment, however, it biodegrades
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rapidly. See Environmental Information.

Manufacture of Product
Capacity Dow is the largest producer of EPI in the world, with a capacity of 1 billion pounds/year
(~453,000 metric tons/year) from plants in Freeport, Texas, and Stde, Germany.5 Annual global
production is about 2 billion pounds/year (903,000 metric tons/year).6

Process The primary process for producing EPI consists of three steps:
1. Chlorination of propylene to form allyl chloride
2. Reaction of the allyl chloride with hypochlorous acid to produce glycerol dichlorohydrin
3. Reaction of the glycerol dichlorohydrin isomers with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to
produce EPI. 7

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Product Safety Assessment: Epichlorohydrin

Product Description
EPI is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent
odor like chloroform.

Product Uses8
EPI is an extremely versatile chemical intermediate
used to produce a wide variety of other products,
including:
Epoxy resins to offer corrosion resistance, solvent
and chemical resistance, hardness and adhesion.
Textiles to improve wools resistance to moths,
prepare fibers for dyeing, impart wrinkle resistance
and prepare anti-static agents and textile sizings.
Papers, inks and dyes to produce wet-strength paper sizing, special printing inks, textile print pastes,
and ultimately paper and paperboard products that have improved printability, pigment retention, folding
endurance and gloss.
Ion exchange resins to produce anion exchangers used to clean polluted air and water.
Other applications that use EPI as a raw material include surface active agents used in cosmetics and
shampoos; rubbers exhibiting resistance to extreme temperatures, fuel, oil and ozone for automotive
and aircraft parts, seals and gaskets, and a myriad of other uses; and agricultural products such as
insecticides, bactericides and fungicides.

Exposure Potential
Based on the manufacturing processes of and uses for EPI, the public could be exposed through:
Workplace exposure Exposure can occur either in an EPI manufacturing facility or within the various
industrial facilities that use EPI. Facilities using EPI are generally designed with leak-tight product
handling systems (closed systems) and with good ventilation. All aspects of the handling operation,
from delivery through reaction, should be carefully scrutinized for exposure potentials. Sampling
activities should be thoroughly explored to prevent exposures.9 Personal protective equipment should
be used routinely. The relatively high vapor pressure of EPI makes inhalation and exposures to the skin
and eyes possible. Oral exposures and ingestion are possible, but much less likely due to the contained
storage systems. Because of the flammability of EPI, all containers and handling equipment should be
grounded.
Consumer exposure to products containing EPI Consumer exposures are not likely because EPI
is sold for industrial use to produce other products. End-use consumer products are expected to contain
only trace levels of EPI. Consumer exposure would likely only come from environmental or large
releases.
Environmental releases Following proper transport and handling procedures minimizes the potential
for spills to aquatic or soil environments that could result in exposure to wildlife or other organisms.
Equipment should be properly designed, leak-tight and controlled to minimize exposures and releases.
Improvements in production processes and incineration of vent gases have further decreased
emissions.10
Large release Industrial spills or releases are infrequent and are generally well contained. If a large
release of EPI does occur, non-emergency personnel should be cleared from the area. The area should
be isolated and ignition sources removed because EPI is flammable. The public should be warned of
the downwind explosion hazard. Procedures call for large spills to be captured, collected and re-
processed, or disposed of according to applicable governmental requirements. Emergency personnel
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should wear proper protective equipment and follow emergency procedures carefully. Fires involving
EPI release toxic vapors. For more information, see the Safety Data Sheet.

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Product Safety Assessment: Epichlorohydrin

Health Information12
Contact with liquid and vaporous EPI should be avoided. EPI may be fatal if inhaled at high enough
concentrations. Lung injury, which may be delayed, can result from inhalation of EPI vapor. Liver and kidney
injury can result from respiratory exposure or prolonged skin contact. Although it is unlikely that acutely toxic
amounts of EPI would be ingested in the course of ordinary operations, serious injury or death could result.

EPI is irritating and damaging to the skin and eyes. Prolonged contact will cause serious chemical burns to
the skin. EPI has also caused allergic skin reactions and so is considered a skin sensitizer. Eye contact with
EPI liquid will produce moderate irritation with corneal injury, and exposure to EPI vapors will irritate the
eyes and can produce corneal injury.

EPI has a sweet, pungent smell with an odor threshold ranging from 1-25 part per million (ppm). Although
this odor threshold is lower than the 100 ppm level that causes marked nose and eye irritation, workers must
not rely on odor, or on eye and nose irritability, as a warning or indicator of exposure potentials.13

EPI causes cancer in laboratory animals and is considered a probable human carcinogen by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). EPI is considered genotoxic because it has been
shown to cause cell mutations and to damage chromosomes.

For more information about the health hazards of EPI and recommended protective equipment, view the
Safety Data Sheet.

Environmental Information
EPI is a mobile, volatile liquid that biodegrades primarily through hydrolysis. Contamination of soil and water
should be minimized by spill containment and removal whenever possible. When spilled, EPI may exert a
toxic action before hydrolysis, but its bioconcentration potential is low because of its relatively high
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biodegradability.

Physical Hazard Information15

EPI is a liquid at room temperature with a melting point of -57C (-70F) and boiling point of 116.4C
(241.5F). The vapor pressure of EPI is 17 mm Hg (25C), while the water solubility is 6.6 percent at 20C
(68F).

EPI is flammable and toxic fumes are released in fire situations. If there is an industrial event, vapors may
travel a long distance. Ignition and/or flash back may occur. Ground and bond all containers and handling
equipment. Keep vapors out of sewers to avoid fire or explosion.16

Additional physical property information for EPI is available on the Epoxy Products and Intermediates web
site, or see the Safety Data Sheet.

Regulatory Information
Regulations may exist that govern the manufacture, sale, transportation, use and/or disposal of
Epichlorohydrin. These regulations may vary by city, state, country or geographic region. Information may be
found by consulting the relevant Safety Data Sheet or Contact Us.

Additional Information
Safety Data Sheet
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage (544KB PDF)
Chemical Economics Handbook Report Epichlorohydrin

For additional business information about EPI, visit Dows Epoxy Products and Intermediates web site.

References
1
Chemical Economics Handbook Report Epichlorohydrin, SRI Consulting, September 2004, abstract.
2
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 16-17.

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Product Safety Assessment: Epichlorohydrin

3
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
page 20.
4
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
page 27.
5
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
page 2.
6
Chemical Economics Handbook Report Epichlorohydrin, SRI Consulting, September 2004, abstract.
7
Synthetic Strategies to Drug Molecules, (www.uea.ac.uk/~c058/StrategiesforDrugSynthesis1.pdf), page 5.
8
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 14-15.
9
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
page 20.
10
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 20 and 27.
11
Safety Data Sheet, page 5.
12
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 16-17.
13
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 16.
14
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
page 27.
15
DOW Epichlorohydrin Product Stewardship Manual: Safe Handling & Storage, Dow Form No. 296-01301-1299X WC+M,
pages 10-11.
16
Safety Data Sheet, pages 3-5.
Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) or an affiliated company of Dow

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