US EPA

1619523 

Journal Article 

The Hidden Carcinogen In The Manufacture Of Isopropyl Alcohol 

Wright, U 

1979 

Yes 

Developments in Toxicology and Environmental Science
ISSN: 0165-2214 

NIOSH/00147450 

4 

93-98 

The potential carcinogenicity of diisopropyl-sulfate (2973106) used in manufacturing isopropyl-alcohol (67630) is discussed. Previous epidemiologic surveys of isopropyl-alcohol manufacturing facilities found an incidence of nasal sinus and laryngeal cancer far in excess of the general United States population. Isopropyl-alcohol is manufactured by the strong and weak acid processes. Both processes use propylene and sulfuric-acid as raw materials, and form diisopropyl-sulfate as an intermediate. The diisopropyl-sulfate is subsequently hydrolyzed to form isopropyl-alcohol. The main difference between the two processes is in the strength of the sulfuric-acid. The weak acid process uses 60 percent sulfuric-acid and the strong acid process uses 88 to 93 percent sulfuric-acid. Animal carcinogenesis studies on an oily residue (known as isopropyl oil) formed in both processes showed the oil to be noncarcinogenic. Diisopropyl-sulfate is an alkylating agent belonging to the dialkyl sulfate family. Dimethyl-sulfate (77781), diethyl-sulfate (64675), and diisopropyl-sulfate have induced malignant tumors in laboratory animals. An excess of paranasal sinus and upper respiratory tract cancers have been recently reported among workers engaged in the weak acid isopropyl-alcohol manufacturing process. These facts do not prove, however, that diisopropyl-sulfate is a human carcinogen. 

DCN-134346; Carcinogens; Epidemiology; Humans; Carcinomas; Industrial environment; Industrial chemicals; Carcinogenicity; Industrial engineering; Industrial exposures; Industrial hazards; Industrial emission sources