Triethanolamine toxicity

NOTE Triethanolamine (TEA) also sequesters iron, is less toxic than ammonia, and reduces the risk of copper cracking. 

Mellon Institute Submission of Data by FDA. Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, University of Pittsburgh, Special Report on the Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Mono-, Di-, and Triethanolamine, Carbide and Carbon Chem Div, UCC Industrial Fellowship No 274-13 (Report 13-67), 1950... 

The acute toxicity of triethanolamine is low, as reflected in the high values for the oral LDso in rats of 4.2-11.3 g/kg. In rats fed... 

CTFA Submission of Data by CTFA. (2-9-59). Acute Oral Toxicity of Triethanolamine, 1973... 

Konishi Y, Denda A, Uchida K, et al Chronic toxicity carcinogenicity studies of triethanolamine in B6C3F1 mice. Fundam Appl Toxicol 18 25-29, 1992... 

The toxicity of diethanolamine (as well as of mono- and triethanolamine) has been reviewed (Knaak et al., 1997). 

Absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of triethanolamine administered orally to Wistar rats is rapid 63% of the dose disappeared from intestines within 65 min (Kohri et al., 1982). In dermal toxicity studies, the peak blood levels of [i C]triethanolamine were observed 2 h after its application in C3H/HeJ mice (2000 mg/kg bw), whereas in Fischer 344 rats (1000 mg/kg bw), the blood levels (expressed as radioactivity) indicated that triethanolamine was absorbed less rapidly than by mice. Data from various studies in mice and rats (1000-2000 mg/kg bw) suggest that absorption of dermally administered triethanolamine is almost complete in 24 h (Waechter Rick, 1988, cited in Knaak et a/., 1997). 

The toxicology of triethanolamine has been reviewed (Knaak et al., 1997). In general, rather high doses of triethanolamine are well tolerated by rats and mice. Major sites of toxicity in rats and mice are liver and kidney, while skin toxicity occurs after dermal application, especially when undiluted triethanolamine is applied. 

In a chronic study in B6C3Fi mice given 1 or 2% triethanolamine (containing 2% diethanolamine) in the drinking-water (see Section 3.1.1), little toxicity was observed in either sex (Konishi et al., 1992). [The mice consumed up to 3000 mg/kg bw per day at the high dose.]... 

The reproductive and developmental toxicity of triethanolamine tested without the complication of many other accompanying substances has been reviewed (Knaak etal., 1997). This review is used as the reference source to the following studies because they have not been reported in the open literature (Battelle reports). 

DePass, L.R., Fowler, E.H. Letmg, H.-W. (1995) Subchronic dermal toxicity study of triethanolamine in C3H/HeJ mice. Food chem. Toxicol., 33, 675-680 Dean, B.J., Brooks, T.M., Hodson-Walker, G Hutsorr, D.H. (1985) Genetic toxicology testing of 41 industrial chemicals. Mutat. Res., 153, 55-77... 

Jones, S.T. Kennedy, C.T.C. (1988) Contact dermatitis from triethanolamine inE45 cream (Short communication). Contact Derm., 19, 230 Kenyon, E.M., Hammond, S.K., Shatkin, J., Woskie, S.R., Hallock, M.F. Smith, T.J. (1993) Ethanolamine exposures of workers using machining fluids in the automotive parts manufacturing industry. Appl. occup. environ. Hyg., 8, 655-661 Kindsvatter, VH. (1940) Acute and chronic toxicity of triethanolamine. J. ind. Hyg. Toxicol, 22, 206-212... 

Melnick, R.L. Tomaszewski, K.E. (1990) Triethanolamine. In Buhler, D.R. Reed, D.J., eds, Ethel Browning s Toxicity and Metabolism ofIndustrial Solvents, Vol. II, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Solvents, Amsterdam, Elsevier, pp. 441-450 Morin, R.J. Lim, C.T (1970) Inhibition in vitro of incorporation of [ P]-phosphate into rabbit and human endometrial phospholipids. J. reprod. Fert., 23, 456-462 Mortelmans, K., Haworth, S., Lawlor, T., Speck, W., Tainer, B. Zeiger, E. (1986) Salmonella mutagenicity tests II. Results from the testing of 270 chemicals. Environ, mol. Mutag., 8 (Suppl. 7), 1-119... 

Santa Maria, A., Pozuelo, J.M., Lopez, A. Sanz, F. (1996) Toxicity of potential irritants in mammalian cells in vitro. Ecotoxicol. environ. Saf., 34, 56-58 Scheuer, B. (1983) [Contact allergy with triethanolamine.] Der Hautarzt, 34, 126-129 (in German)... 

Mono- and triethanolamine are miscible with water or alcohol in all proportions and is only slightly soluble in ether. Diethanolamine will dissolve in water, is very soluble in alcohol, and is only slightly soluble in ether. All of the compounds are clear, viscous liquids at standard conditions and white crystalline solids when frozen. They have a relatively low toxicity. In early processes, the ethanolamines were manufactured by reacting ethylene chlorohydrin (C1CH2CH20H) with ammonia (NH3). Current processes... 

In the early part of my paper, I referred to the work of Voronkov j[3] regarding the physiological effects observed by him for a series of organosilicon compounds. A particularly intriguing observation was the high mammalian toxicity of the compound phenylsilatrane. This compound can easily be obtained from phenylsilicon trichloride and triethanolamine ... 

Alkanolamines are used during the sweetening process in the oil and gas industry to remove toxic levels of gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide from raw gas condensates. Various alkanolamines such as A-methyldiethanolamine (23) and triethanolamine (25) may be utilized. They are therefore of concern as environmental contaminants of groundwater and wetland areas. Headley et al. (66)... 

Adsorption. Organic compounds are adsorbed on activated carbon and synthetic resins (eg, XAD-2 and XAD-4, Rohm and Haas Co.). This technique depends on the properties of the compound being removed and the regenerative capabiHty of the adsorbent. The EPA has developed carbon-adsorption isotherms for various toxic organic compounds, and the results are shown in Table 7 (36). The following compounds are not adsorbed on activated carbon acetone cyanohydrin, butylamine, choline chloride, cyclohexylamine, diethylene glycol, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, morpholine, and triethanolamine. 

Triethanolamine can react with reagents such as thionyl chloride to replace the hydroxy groups with halogens. The products of these reactions are very toxic, resembling other nitrogen mustards. 

Triethanolamine may be irritant to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Inhalation of vapor may be harmful. Protective clothing, gloves, eye protection, and a respirator are recommended. Ideally, triethanolamine should be handled in a fume cupboard. On heating, triethanolamine forms highly toxic nitrous fumes. Triethanolamine is combustible. 

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