Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Diss Factsheets
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 203-856-5 | CAS number: 111-30-8
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Additional information
Aquatic toxicity of glutaraldehyde was investigated with several short- and long-term toxicity test systems using a wide range of organisms representing different levels of biological organisation. Glutaraldehyde was always tested as 50% or 25 % aquatic solution; therefore, most of the effect concentrations were given as a.i. (active ingredient).
Both freshwater species, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)
showed similar sensitivity against glutaraldehyde exposure since for rainbow trout the LC50 was 10 mg a.i./l and for bluegill sunfish it was13 mg a.i./L after 96 h of exposure under static conditions. Less toxic effects were obtained for sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) representing a marine fish species, with an LC50 (96 h) of 39 mg a.i./L. An Early Life-Stage toxicity test was conducted with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The chronic exposure with glutaraldehyde resulted in a NOEC of 1.6 mg a.i./L.There are several studies on the acute toxicity of glutaraldehyde to aquatic invertebrates. The EC50 values obtained for the waterflea Daphnia magna under static conditions for 48 hours was about 14 mg a.i./L.
The acute toxicity of glutaraldehyde 50% to marine shrimp Mysidopsis bahia which was tested under flow-through conditions for 96 hours resulted in an LC50 of 5.5 mg a.i/L. The LC50 of glutaraldehyde 50 % to the marine copepoda Acartia tonsa in a static test was investigated to be 3 mg ai/L.
The acute toxicity to the mussel Crassostera virginica was tested under flow-through conditions and the considered test parameter was shell growth; glutaraldehyde showed a clear effect on the growth rate of the shells, resulting in a EC50 value of 0.75 mg a.i./L and a NOEC of < 0.089 mg a.i./L. Thus, the most sensitive marine invertebrate was the mussel Crassostera virginica showing a EC50 value of 0.75 mg a.i./L.
Regarding the aquatic toxicity of glutaraldehyde algae were evaluated to be the most sensitive organism. Glutaraldehyde is highly to moderately toxic to algae, whereas the sensitivity of marine and freshwater algae to glutaraldehyde can be considered as similar. Two growth inhibition tests on freshwater algae Scenedesmus subspicatus were performed showing similar ErC50 values of 0.6 mg a.i./L and 0.61 mg a.i./L after 72 hours exposure. The ErC50 and EbC50 of glutaraldehyde to marine algae Skeletonema costatum was determined as 0.92 mg a.i./L and 0.61 mg a.i./L, respectively.
The toxicity to microorganisms by glutaraldehyde 50% was determined by measurement of oxygen consumption of activated sludge and bacterial growth inhibition to Pseudomonas putida. Glutaraldehyde showed in both tests an inhibitory effect to activated sludge (EC50 = 80 mg a.i./L) and Pseudomonas putida (EC10 = 4.4 mg a.i./L).
In conclusion, glutaraldehyde shows a very high toxicity to aquatic organisms. Furthermore, depending on local conditions and existing concentrations, disturbances in the biodegradation process of activated sludge are possible.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.