1‐Octanol

MAK Value Documentation, addendum – Translation of the German version from 2018

  Andrea Hartwig¹ (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission<sup>2

1</sup> Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
² Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has evaluated 1‐octanol [111‐87‐5] to derive a maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value), considering all toxicity endpoints. Irritation is the critical effect. Neither appropriate data in humans nor inhalation or oral studies of 1‐octanol with animals are available for derivation of a MAK value. An 8‐week feeding study in Wistar rats with the structurally related 1‐dodecanol resulted in a NOAEL of 100 mg/kg body weight and day for systemic toxicity. Additionally, a NOAEL of 125 mg/kg body weight and day for 2‐ethylhexanol was obtained in a 90‐day oral study in rats. Therefore, a NOAEL of approximately 100 mg/kg body weight and day was assumed for 1‐octanol. From this NOAEL, the concentration in workplace air was calculated to be 245 mg 1‐octanol/m³ according to the Commission's procedure. However, 1‐octanol can cause irritation. The RD₅₀ values of 50 ml/m³ and 45 ml/m³ for 1‐octanol and 2‐ethylhexanol, respectively, suggest a similar irritating potency. Therefore, the MAK value for 1‐octanol was set at 10 ml/m³ by analogy with 2‐ethylhexanol. As local effects are critical, the substance is assigned to Peak Limitation Category I and an excursion factor of 1 has been established by analogy with 2‐ethylhexanol. From a synopsis of all data, 1‐octanol is classified in Pregnancy Risk Group C. 1‐Octanol is not mutagenic in bacteria. There are no long‐term studies with 1‐octanol. Skin absorption does not contribute significantly to systemic toxicity and 1‐octanol is not expected to lead to contact sensitization.

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