Where It Comes From
Made for chemical manufacturing; formed in vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, and other combustion (industrial processes, fires) [1][3].
How You Are Exposed
Mostly by breathing polluted air (traffic, smoke) or at work where it’s produced/used; skin or eye contact with the liquid can also occur [1][3].
Why It Matters
Strong eye, skin, and airway irritant; high exposures can cause breathing trouble and lung fluid; may affect liver/kidneys in animals; not classifiable for cancer (IARC Group 3) [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Workers handling it; people who smoke or breathe secondhand smoke; those with asthma/COPD, children, and older adults [1][3].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Don’t smoke; avoid secondhand smoke and heavy-traffic air; ventilate while cooking; at work, use local exhaust, closed systems, and PPE; follow spill/handling guidance; during fires, stay indoors with filtration or go upwind [1][3].
References
- [1]U.S. EPA. Hazard Summary: Crotonaldehyde (TTN Air Toxics). https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/crotonal.html
- [2]IARC. Crotonaldehyde. IARC Monographs, Vol. 71 (1999); Group 3. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/
- [3]CDC/NIOSH. Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Crotonaldehyde. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/