Dose‐response assessment of non‐cancer effects of propionaldehyde based on comparative toxicity with other short‐chain aldehydes

Propionaldehyde, the three‐carbon saturated aldehyde, has been the subject of limited toxicological investigation. Other low‐molecular‐weight aldehydes such as formaldehyde, unsaturated aldehydes such as acrolein, and the two‐carbon saturated acetaldehyde have been studied much more extensively due to their more widespread use and more severe toxicity, including carcinogenicity. For propionaldehyde, the current toxicological literature cannot support an evaluation of human risk from long‐term exposure because current practice requires both an adequate subchronic study to assess noncancer endpoints and a chronic bioassay to evaluate carcinogenic potential. The biological activities of propionaldehyde and other low‐molecular‐weight aldehydes, especially acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, have been evaluated in several different systems, both in vitro and in vivo. The results of these investigations show consistent similarities in effects and potency between propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde in a range of test systems. A detailed comparison of the noncancer toxicological activity of short‐chain aldehydes is presented with a discussion of the use of studies of acetaldehyde to make inferences regarding noncancer effects from propionaldehyde.