Beta-propiolactone

Viral inactvator for Influenza and Rabies vaccines

Health Hazard Information

Acute Effects: Acute inhalation exposure beta-propiolactone causes severe irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract in humans.  Acute dermal exposure may cause irritation of the skin, blistering, or burn in humans.  Contact with eyes may cause permanent corneal opacification.  Burns of the mouth and stomach may occur in humans follwoing acute exposure via ingestion.  Acute oral exposure has been observed to result in muscular spasms, respiratory difficulty, and convulsions at high levels in rats.  In rats acutely exposed intravenously, liver and kidney tubular damage has been reported.   Acute animal exposure tests in rats have demonstrated beta-propiolactone to have extreme acute toxicity by inhalation.

Cancer Risk: No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of beta-propiolactone in humans,  Squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach has been reported in orally exposed rats.  In several studies of rats and mice exposed to beta-propiolactone via subcutaneous injection, local tumors have been observed at the site of injeciton.  Lymphomas and hepatomas have been reported in mice following intraperitoneal injection.  In mice, hamsters, and geuinea pigs dermally exposed, skin tumors have been observed.  EPA has not classified beta-propiolactone for carcinogencity.  IARC has clasiffied beta-propiolactone as a Group 2B, possible human carcinogen.

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/priola.html