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GPS Safety Summary
2‐Ethylhexanol
This Product Safety Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the chemical
substance. It contains basic information and is not intended to provide emergency response
information, medical information or treatment information. The summary cannot be relied on
to provide in‐depth safety and health information. This information must be obtained from the
Material Safety Data Sheet ((M)SDS) for this chemical substance. Before handling or using 2‐
Ethylhexanol the relevant (M)SDS has to be consulted.
Chemical Identity
Name: 2‐Ethylhexanol IUPAC name:
2‐ethylhexan‐1‐ol
CAS number: 104‐76‐7
BASF brand names:
Molecular formula: C8H18O Ethylhexanol
2‐Ethyl‐1‐hexanol
Structure 2‐Ethylhexyl alcohol
For synonyms see end of
document
OH
Product Description and Uses
2‐Ethylhexanol is a clear, colorless and combustible liquid with no explosive properties.
2‐Ethylhexanol is mainly used as intermediate. Apart from this, it is used in various products and
processes as functional fluid, process chemical, or cleaning agent.
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Date of Issue: March 2012
Health Information
Human Health Safety Assessment
Effect Assessment Result
Acute Toxicity Of low toxicity after single ingestion.
Virtually nontoxic after a single skin contact.
Of moderate toxicity after short‐term inhalation.
Irritation Skin and eye contact causes irritation.
Causes temporary irritation of the respiratory tract.
Sensitization The substance did not cause skin sensitization in humans.
Mutagenicity No mutagenic effect was found in various tests with
microorganisms and mammalian cell culture, or in studies
with mammals.
Carcinogenicity In long‐term studies in rats and mice in which the
substance was given by gavage, a carcinogenic effect was
not observed.
Toxicity after repeated exposure Repeated exposure to high doses of the substance causes
reversible liver changes in rodents. According to present
knowledge, these effects do not occur in man.
Toxicity for reproduction Based on all available data no fertility impairing effect is
expected.
Animal studies gave no indication of a developmental
toxic effect at doses that were not toxic to the parental
animals.
Note: For more information on the health hazards of this substance and recommended
protective equipment, please refer to the relevant (M)SDS
Environmental Information
Environment Safety Assessment
Effect Assessment Result
Aquatic Toxicity Harmful to aquatic life.
Persistence and degradability Readily biodegradable.
Bioaccumulation potential Not bioaccumulative.
Note: For more information on the environmental hazards of this substance and recommended
measures, please refer to the (M)SDS
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Date of Issue: March 2012
Physical/Chemical Properties
Phys/Chem Safety Assessment
» 2‐Ethylhexanol is a clear, colorless and combustible liquid with no explosive properties.
Property Value
Physical state Liquid
Melting / freezing point ‐89 °C at 1013 hPa
Boiling point 184 °C at 1013 hPa
Flash point 77 °C at 1013 hPa
Flammability combustible
Explosive properties Non explosive
Self‐ignition temperature 280 °C at 1017 hPa
Note: For further information, see the relevant (M)SDS
Exposure Potential
2‐Ethylhexanol is a chemical intermediate and solvent. Although BASF does not sell this
substance for direct consumer use or directly to consumers, the public at large or consumers
may be exposed to it from processing or use as a raw material for a variety of goods used by
consumers or professionals. Based on the uses of this substance the public could be exposed
through:
Workplace exposure: Exposure can occur either in a 2‐ethylhexanol manufacturing
facility or in the various industrial or manufacturing facilities that use 2‐ethylhexanol.
Those working with 2‐ethylhexanol in manufacturing operations could be exposed
during maintenance, sampling, testing, or other procedures. Each manufacturing facility
should have a thorough training program for employees and appropriate work processes,
as well as safety equipment in place to limit unnecessary exposure. Good industrial
hygiene practices minimize the risk of exposure. Workers should follow the
recommended safety measures in the M(SDS).
Consumer exposure: Consumer exposure can result from handling products that contain
2‐Ethylhexanol, e.g. household products sold as washing and cleaning products. The use
of these products is safe as long as the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
respective product are followed carefully.
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Date of Issue: March 2012
Environmental exposure: 2‐ethylhexanol is readily biodegradable and will therefore be
degraded within the wastewater treatment process. Though the substance is considered
to be acutely harmful to aquatic organisms, a risk for the environment is not identified
since exposure of surface waters is expected to be negligible due to the rapid
degradation. 2‐ethylhexanol does not accumulate in the food chain. Conclusively, all
identified uses are safe for the environment based on the scientific facts summarized
above and when carried out in compliance with recommended risk management
measures and applicable regulations.
Recommended Handling Measures
Before handling or using this substance, please consult the relevant (M)SDS.
It contains the required handling measures, emergency response information, medical
information or treatment information.
Regulatory Information / Classification and Labeling
Regulations exist that govern manufacture, sales, transportation, use and disposal of 2‐
Ethylhexanol. These regulations may vary by city, state, country or geographic region.
Information on these issues may be found in the relevant (M)SDS.
2‐Ethylhexanol was registered under REACH Regulation in the EU.
Under GHS substances are classified according to their physical, health, and environmental
hazards. The hazards are communicated via specific labels and the (M)SDS. GHS attempts to
standardize hazard communication so that the intended audience (workers, consumers,
transport workers, and emergency responders) can better understand the hazards of the
chemicals in use.
Labeling according to UN GHS
UN GHS is the basis for country specific GHS labeling
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Date of Issue: March 2012
Signal word:
Warning
Hazard statements:
H227: Combustible liquid
H303: May be harmful if swallowed
H315: Causes skin irritation.
H319: Causes serious eye irritation.
H332: Harmful if inhaled.
H335: May cause respiratory irritation.
H402: Harmful to aquatic life
Additional information
1. IFA GESTIS‐database on hazardous substances
http://www.dguv.de/ifa/en/gestis/stoffdb/index.jsp
2. Information on registered substance (ECHA)
http://apps.echa.europa.eu/registered/registered‐sub.aspx
Most commonly used synonyms
» 2‐Ethylhexyl alcohol
Disclaimer
IMPORTANT: While the data and information contained herein are presented in good faith and
believed to be accurate at the date of printing, it is provided for your guidance only and may be
revised in the future. No warranties of any kind, either express or implied, of merchantability,
fitness for a particular purpose or of any other nature are made regarding the data or
information provided. Further, it is expressly understood that the data and information
furnished by BASF hereunder are given gratis and BASF assumes no obligation or liability
whatsoever resulting from use of or reliance on the data and information given.
Contact
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Date of Issue: March 2012
For further information on this substance or GPS safety summaries in general, please contact:
info.gps@basf.com
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Date of Issue: March 2012