Environmental health criteria 65: Butanols: Four isomers: 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, isobutanol
Following a brief review of the identity, physical and chemical properties, and analytical methods used to detect each of the four butanol isomers, this review considered sources of human and environmental exposure, environmental transport, distribution, and transformation, environmental levels and human exposure, metabolism and mode of action, effects of organisms in the environment, effects on experimental animals and in-vivo test systems, and effects of exposure on man. 1-Butanol (71363) is used as an organic solvent and as an intermediate in the manufacture of other organic chemicals. Human exposure is usually occupational. Studies of hazardous effects due to occupational exposure have included vacuoles in the corneal epithelium, swelling of the eyelids and occasional redness of the eyes. Prolonged exposures have resulted in hearing loss, vertigo, nausea, vomiting and/or headaches, effects on the central nervous system, liver, respiration, blood composition, and pregnancy complications. Exposure to 2-butanol (78922) occurs in the extraction of fish meal to produce fish protein concentrate, and in other food processing work. The most likely acute effect of 2-butanol in man is alcoholic intoxication. Also serving as a solvent, exposure to tert-butanol (75650) can cause mild skin irritation but no other effects on man have been reported. No reports of poisonings exist. Isobutanol (78831) is used as an organic solvent, as a plasticizer, in the manufacture of isobutyl esters, in perfumes, and as a flavoring agent. In animals isobutanol is absorbed through the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The only reported adverse effects in man relate to the occurrence of vertigo under conditions of severe and prolonged exposure to vapor mixtures of isobutanol and 1-butanol.