Glutaraldehyde: An Understanding of its Ecotoxicity Profile and Environmental Chemistry

The use of glutaraldehyde for decontamination and preservation of water systems involves important considerations relevant to its ecotoxicity profile, biodegradation properties and safe handling and storage guidelines.  This paper will review the comprehensive data set from ecotoxicity studies for aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fish, in addition to the measured properties for ready biodegradability, marine biodegradability and soil mobility.  These data serve the proper design for handling and managing water systems with compliance to environmental discharge requirements.  The critical ecological properties depend on the site-specific situation; overboard discharge from an offshore oil production platform, effluent discharge to an inland waterway, or processing through a WWTP facility.  The paper will also present the glutaraldehyde risk assessments to calculate the Hazard Quotient for the HOCNF gold/silver band rating.  In addition, we will discuss the recommendations to protect professional workers responsible for glutaraldehyde transport, storage and use at established industrial facilities and remote process locations.