Toxicity Profile for 3-Methyl-1-butanol (1995)

Abstract

3-Methyl-1-butanol was of moderate to low acute oral and dermal toxicity in laboratory animals, with the central nervous system being a particular target following exposure by various routes. In rat studies involving repeated oral administration, a fairly comprehensive study found a low toxic potential, whereas another, less detailed, study using a longer treatment period and a different strain of rat reported effects on the liver, spleen and bone marrow. No convincing evidence of reproductive toxicity was found in rats and rabbits exposed by inhalation during pregnancy. According to early study reports, an increase in malignant tumours was seen in rats given 3-methyl-1-butanol either orally or by injection. In man, high single oral doses of 3-methyl-1-butanol evidently caused coma and death. Locally, it caused skin reddening and may irritate the eyes and mucous membranes. Only one case of possible skin sensitization has been reported and no evidence of sensitizing potential was seen in a volunteer study. In rabbits, 3-methyl-1-butanol was an irritant to the skin and caused eye irritation in the liquid or vapour form.