Priority Existing Chemical Assessment Reports

PEC No.1s (Secondary Notification)

Triglycidylisocyanurate (TGIC)

 

 

Chemical name (IUPAC)

Triglycidylisocyanurate

 

Registry numbers

Triglycidylisocyanurate is listed on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS).

CAS number 2451-62-9
EINECS number 219-514-3

 

Other names

1,3,5-Triglycidyl isocyanurate

TGIC

1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione1,3,5-tris (oxiranylmethyl)-

1,3,5-Tris(oxiranylmethyl) 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6 (1H,3H,5H)-trione

Tris(2,3-epoxypropyl) isocyanurate

Trade names
Araldite PT 810

TEPIC

TK 10622
 

APPLICANTS

Ameron Coatings
P.O. Box 356
Seven Hills NSW 2147

Dulux Australia
Powder & Industrial Coatings
51 Winterton Road
Clayton VIC 3168

Interpon Powder Coatings
Akzo Nobel Pty. Limited
P.O. Box 26
Sunshine VIC 3020

Jotun Australia Pty Ltd
P.O. Box 105
Altona Nth. VIC 3025

Sumitomo Australia Limited
GPO Box 4241
Sydney NSW 2001

Vantico Pty Limited
235 Settlement Road
Thomastown VIC 3074

 

TRIGLYCIDYLISOCYANURATE OVERVIEW – SECONDARY NOTIFICATION

Triglycidylisocyanurate (TGIC) was the subject of an assessment as a Priority Existing Chemical and a full public report was published in April 1994. As a result of new data becoming available, the chemical has been reassessed under the secondary notification provisions of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (the Act).

This assessment has evaluated new animal studies including oral toxicity/fertility, carcinogenicity and contact hypersensitivity studies, in addition to human case reports of respiratory sensitisation. A new biodegradability study was also provided. The consequences of the new data on the health and environmental hazard and risk assessments were evaluated.

The original TGIC report, (TGIC-1), concluded that TGIC is a hazardous substance, being toxic by oral and inhalational routes (R23/25), a skin sensitiser (R43), genotoxic (R46) and capable of causing serious eye damage (R41).

New human data confirmed that TGIC is a skin sensitiser and also demonstrated that it is a respiratory sensitiser. Repeated dose toxicity studies in animals indicate that TGIC causes severe effects after repeated exposure. The principal effects were significantly lower bodyweight, mastocytosis in lymph nodes and depletion of spleen lymphoid cells. TGIC was not carcinogenic in male rats exposed to TGIC by gavage. However, the carcinogenic potential of TGIC in female rats has not been studied.

Induction of chromosomal aberrations and cytotoxicity in mouse spermatogonia raised concerns in the original report, regarding potential reproductive effects of TGIC. A recent fertility study in male rats provides some evidence that TGIC does not affect male fertility. However, the potential for TGIC to affect female fertility and offspring growth and fertility has not been tested.

As reported in TGIC-1, TGIC residues released to the environment are expected to rapidly degrade due to the epoxide nature of the compound. The reactivity of TGIC precludes any possibility of bioaccumulation. In the aquatic environment, persistence is expected to be limited.

The occupational risk assessment in TGIC-1 concluded that TGIC is unlikely to cause adverse health effects if appropriate control measures, safe work practices and atmospheric monitoring strategies are implemented. The new data showing that TGIC is a respiratory sensitiser confirms the need to maintain occupational exposure levels to the lowest practicable level. The new repeated dose data goes some way towards predicting the long term health effects of occupational exposure to TGIC. However, there remain several data gaps, and therefore the potential for chronic health effects is not fully understood.

The new data does not change the public health and environment conclusions of the original report. TGIC is unlikely to present a risk to the public or the environment.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Further to the new data provided under this assessment, and in accordance with the health effects criteria detailed in the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission’s (ASCC) Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances (ASCC, 1999), TGIC should be classified with additional risk phrases: ‘may cause sensitisation by inhalation’ (R42) and ‘danger of serious damage to health by prolonged exposure if swallowed’ (R48).

Consistent with good occupational health and safety principles, all occupational control measures including atmospheric monitoring, as recommended in the TGIC-1 report should be adhered to.

It is recommended that employers conduct an assessment of the risks to the health of employees from exposure to TGIC. Where there is a likelihood of sensitisation occurring in workers, then a health surveillance program should be provided.