Glutaraldehyde (Glutaral) Ingredient Allergy Safety Information

What is it?

Glutaral (gluteraldehyde) is preservative used as a cold sterilant and disinfectant for medical and dental equipment. It is also used as a chemical and cosmetic preservative.

How do I avoid it?

Skin contact with glutaral (gluteraldehyde) is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing glutaral (gluteraldehyde) should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your skin care products for this ingredient. If there is no information ask your pharmacist. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.

Glutaral (gluteraldehyde) readily permeates rubber gloves. Therefore, wearing protective clothing such as nitrile gloves may be helpful. There are alternative, glutaraldehyde-free solutions which can provide high level disinfection for medical devices.

Uses:

Allergy and collagen extracts
Biocide in metal-working and oil and gas pipelines
Electron microscope fixative
Embalming fluid and tissue fixatives
Leather tanning agent
Cold sterilization for medical, dental, and barber equipment
Sprays used to sterilize countertops, trays, and equipment
Slimicide in paper manufacturing
Skin care products/Cosmetics

Antiperspirants/Deodorants
Hair sprays, gels, tonics, and lotions
Hair colorants/“Permanents-relaxers”
Soaps/Cleansers
Shampoos/Conditioners
Moisturizers
Make-ups
Powders/Sprays
Sunscreens

Medication used for treatment of:

Hyperhidrosis
Herpes infections
Antifungal
Warts
Bullous diseases

Waterless hand cleansers
X-ray and photographic film processing solutions
Preparation of dental materials, surgical grafts, and bioprosthesis
Wallpaper and paper
Liquid fabric softener

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggests ways in which health care workers may be exposed to Glutaral (Gluteraldehyde) including:

Hospital staff who work in areas with a cold sterilizing procedure that uses glutaral (gluteraldehyde) (eg, gastroenterology or cardiology departments)
Hospital staff who work in operating rooms, dialysis departments, endoscopy units, and intensive care units, where glutaraldehyde formulations are used in infection control procedures
Central Supply workers who use glutaraldehyde as a sterilant
Research technicians, researchers, and pharmacy personnel who either prepare the alkaline solutions or fix tissues in histology and pathology labs
Laboratory workers who sterilize bench tops with glutaral (gluteraldehyde) solutions
Workers who develop x-rays

Other names for Glutaral (Gluteraldehyde):