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The Toxics Use Reduction Institute is a research, education, and policy center established by the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989. University of Massachusetts Lowell  600 Suffolk Street, Wannalancit Mills, 5th Floor  Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Ph: (978) 934-3275  Fax: (978) 934-3050  Web: www.turi.orgN-propyl bromide (nPB) or 1-bromopropane, is a relatively new solvent that is used in vapor degreasing, metal cleaning, dry cleaning, as a solvent carrier in adhesives, and as a chemical intermediate. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies nPB as a volatile organic compound (VOC). Use of nPB is increasing as an alternative for other solvents that have become more strictly regulated, such as methylene chloride, perchloroethylene (perc), and trichloroethylene (TCE). This trend is of concern because evidence has emerged linking nPB to a range of human health hazards. As of 2010, Massachusetts’ facilities in sectors regulated by the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) with ten or more employees are subject to reporting, planning and fee requirements if they use 10,000 pounds or more of nPB annually. Health and Environmental Impacts N-propyl bromide is a hazardous chemical. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently issued a Hazard Alert for nPB.1 Individuals can be exposed to nPB via two primary routes: inhalation of vapor or mists and skin contact. Acute (Short-Term) Health Effects The following effects have been reported among workers with high exposures to nPB:2,3,4Eye, nose, throat, or lung irritation Headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, malaise Chronic (Long-Term) Health Effects Studies of both short- and long-term worker exposure to nPB indicate effects on the peripheral and central nervous systems, and hematological (blood) effects. Animal studies indicate similar nervous system effects, as well as effects on the liver, male and female reproductive systems, and on the developing fetus. nPB also causes cancer in animals. Neurotoxicity: Peripheral and central nervous system toxicity have been observed in workers exposed to nPB, and in animals. In several studies, exposed workers exhibited the following symptoms:1,5,6Joint pain or leg weakness and pain leading to difficulty with standing and walking (stumbling); Muscle twitching or numbness, tingling, and prickling in the hands or feet, loss of vibration sense; Anxiety, apathy, insomnia, and memory and concentration difficulties.Symptoms persisted for months and, in some cases, years after exposure.5Developmental and Reproductive Effects: The National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) released a report on nPB in 2003.7 This expert panel concluded that nPB is a developmental and reproductive toxicant based on animal nPB FACTS Synonyms nPB; 1-Bromopropane; 1-BP, n-Propyl Bromide; Propyl bromide Chemical Formula C3H7Br CAS Number 106-94-5 Vapor Pressure 110.8 mm Hg at 20°C Solubility Soluble in cold water (2.5g/l@ 20°C), diethyl ether, acetone, and ethanol Flashpoint/ Flammability  Vapors of nPB may form a flammable mixture at concentrations between 3 and 9%; flash point varies from 10°C to none, depending on the test method.  The European Union characterizes nPB as R11 (highly flammable), and acknowledges the inherent difficulty in determining flash point of halogenated hydrocarbon liquids.aHowever, some technical specification materials and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for nPB state that nPB is “nonflammable”.  As typically used, nPB is not more of a flammability concern than many other halogenated solvents. Always keep solvents away from open flame or sparks. Description Colorless liquid at room temperature and pressure and has a pungent odor. It is found in products in liquid or spray form and is sometimes marketed as a “green” solvent. aSee: European Chemicals Bureau. Summary Record: Expert meeting on classification for flammability hazard. Meeting at the Health & Safety Executive, UK. December 2002. Available at: http://ecb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/Classification-Labelling/ADOPTED_SUMMARY_RECORDS/5902a1_sr_physchem_1202.pdf Accessed: January 25, 2011.Massachusetts Chemical Fact Sheet n-Propyl Bromide nPB, 1-Bromopropane or 1-BP This fact sheet is part of a series of fact sheets developed by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) to help Massachusetts companies and communities understand uses and health and environmental effects of individual chemicals, as well as the availability of safer alternatives.
Page 2 of 4 Toxics Use Reduction Institute – updated April 2014 studies. As reviewed in this report, nPB affected a number of reproductive endpoints that can result in impaired fertility or sterility in both females and males. nPB also caused delayed growth in the offspring of animals exposed during pregnancy. While no epidemiological study has examined the developmental and reproductive effects of nPB in humans, some case studies of female workers occupationally exposed to nPB reported altered menstrual periods.7 These effects have not been observed in all studies.8 The European Union characterizes nPB with the risk phrases R60 (may impair fertility) and R62 (possible risk of harm to the unborn child). Liver toxicity: Animal studies suggest that exposure may harm the liver.9Immunosuppression: Animal studies demonstrate that exposure may suppress the immune system.10Hematological effects: Studies of workers indicate that exposures can result in lowered red blood cell count.1Cancer: Evidence from a 2-year inhalation cancer study conducted by NTP shows that nPB can cause cancer in animals.10 In 2013, NTP identified nPB as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.11Because nPB is a newer solvent, and cancer takes a long time to develop, studies of cancer associated with nPB exposure among workers or the public have not been conducted. Worker Exposure Limits No federal or Massachusetts agency has established safe exposure limits for workers using nPB, although NIOSH is in the process of developing a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL).12 In 2005, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) set a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 10 ppm as a time weighted average (TWA). In 2013, ACGIH proposed lowering the nPB TLV to 0.1 ppm based on the emerging evidence regarding health effects associated with nPB.13 This evidence demonstrated nervous system damage in workers exposed to levels of nPB as low as 1.28 ppm, as well as potential of nPB to cause cancer.10,14Employers and workers should err on the side of caution by keeping exposures to nPB as low as possible, and preferably below 1 ppm. Environmental Fate EPA recommends that nPB be disposed of similarly to other halogenated solvents in order to avoid damage to aquatic life.15 The LC50 (lethal concentration at which 50% of test animals die), is 67 mg/L (slightly toxic) for fathead minnows.12 According to EPA, nPB has a low tendency to concentrate in living organisms, is moderately mobile in soil and tends to volatilize and break down easily in water.12Uses nPB is effective in dissolving fats/oils, waxes and resins. As a degreasing agent, nPB is used in operations such as metal finishing and metal working; precision cleaning; auto parts cleaning; dry cleaning; and removing solder flux residue in electronic parts manufacturing. nPB is also used as a chemical processing intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, insecticides, quaternary ammonium compounds, flavors and fragrances, and as a solvent for extracting tar from asphalt. Some facilities using nPB as a drop-in substitute had problems with equipment corrosion. Similar to other halogenated solvents, nPB must be stabilized to prevent the build up of acid breakdown products, and to inhibit reaction with metals. If not properly stabilized, nPB breaks down into hydrobromic acid, which can corrode equipment and potentially emit very toxic hydrogen bromide gas. Chemicals used as stabilizers are often claimed trade secret by manufacturers, but may include 1,3-dioxolane and 1,2- butylene oxide. In 2011, two Massachusetts facilities reported nPB use under TURA. Both used nPB in industrial cleaning applications. PRODUCTS CONTAINING nPB Employers or employees may only know nPB products by their trade names. The following list shows some common trade names for nPB-containing products. This list is not comprehensive, and product formulations may change at any time. If there is a question as to whether a specific product contains nPB, check the material safety data sheet (MSDS). A number of additional nPB-containing products are no longer on the market, but may still be present in your workplace—again, check the MSDS. Degreasing, lubrication, extraction & cleaning agents Abzol (Albemarle) Metalnox M6960 (Kyzen) Alpha VaporEDGE 1000 (Cookson Electronics) Misty Safety Solvent 2000 (Amrep) Contact Cleaner (Blaster) NPB Heavy Duty Cleaner Degreaser (MG Chemicals) DrySolv (Envirotech) Pensolv PB2000 (West Pentone) Ensolv A, CW, EX, GCS & Ionic (Envirotech) Solvon (Poly Systems) Entron and Entron-Aero (Reliance) Techtride NPB (Parts Cleaning Technologies) GenTech (Reliance) Triagen (Ecolink) Hypersolve (Ecolink) VDS-3000 (SuperKleen/Albatross) Instant Super Degreaser II, NoFlash, Electra-X (LPS) X-CEL, XCEL IC (Western Chemical International) Lenium ES, GS, XS, RV (Petroferm) Adhesives Whisper Spray (Henkel) Endurabond Normac 900R-NPB (Blair Rubber Co) K-Grip 501 Spray Adhesive (Maple Leaf Sales II) Soft Seam Adhesive (Spectrum Adhesives, formerly Mid-South Adhesives)