US EPA

The Health and Environmental Effects Profile for propylene oxide was prepared by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, Cincinnati, OH for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response to support listings of hazardous constituents of a wide range of waste streams under Section 3001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and to provide health-related limits for emergency actions under Section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Both published literature and information obtained from Agency program office files were evaluated as they pertained to potential human health, aquatic life and environmental effects of hazardous waste constituents. Quantitative estimates have been presented provided sufficient data are available. Propylene oxide has been evaluated as a carcinogen. The human carcinogen potency factor (q1*) for propylene oxide is .239 (mg/kg/day)-2 for oral exposure. The Reportable Quantity (RQ) value of 1, 10, 100, 1000 or 5000 pounds is used to determine the quantity of a hazardous substance for which notification is required in the event of a release as specified by CERCLA based on chronic toxicity. The RQ value for propylene oxide is 1000.

U.S. EPA. Health And Environmental Effects Profile for Propylene Oxide. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/X-85/401 (NTIS PB88182217).

Prepared in cooperation with Syracuse Research Corp., NY.