Fatty alcohols, C_12–18

MAK Value Documentation – Translation of the German version from 2024

  Andrea Hartwig¹ (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission<sup>2

1</sup> Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
² Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

The German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) summarized and evaluated the data for C_12–18 fatty alcohols [67762-25-8] to derive an occupational exposure limit value (maximum concentration at the workplace, MAK value) considering all toxicological end points. Relevant studies were identified from a literature search. There are no data for humans or repeated dose inhalation studies in animals to derive a MAK value for the C_12–18 fatty alcohols. Oral studies investigating alcohols with similar chain length resulted in NOAELs which would correspond to a concentration of 92 mg/m³ or higher at the workplace. However, as the C_12–18 fatty alcohols may act as non-ionic surfactants, effects on the pulmonary surfactant are likely to occur. As a result, a MAK value cannot be established. The C_12–18 fatty alcohols are not mutagenic or clastogenic in vitro. No in vivo genotoxicity studies and no carcinogenicity studies have been carried out with the C_12–18 fatty alcohols. There are no studies investigating the developmental toxicity of the C_12–18 fatty alcohols. A sensitizing potential is not expected based on the available data. The substance does not penetrate the skin in toxicologically relevant amounts.

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