Is triethanolamine a hazardous chemical?

Whether triethanolamine is considered a hazardous chemical involves multiple aspects, including its physical and chemical properties, regulatory classification, and safety precautions in practical applications.

Firstly, from the perspective of physical and chemical properties, triethanolamine is an organic compound with weak alkalinity that can react with inorganic or organic acids to form salts. At the same time, it also has flammability, which means that under specific conditions such as high temperature, fire source, or contact with other flammable substances, it may cause a fire or explosion. In addition, triethanolamine may also cause irritation to the eyes and have potential toxic effects. Although its toxicity is relatively low, it may still have adverse effects on human health in prolonged or extensive exposure.

However, from the perspective of regulatory classification, triethanolamine is not uniformly considered a hazardous chemical by regulations in all countries or regions. In China, according to the announcement of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China, 118 chemicals such as triethanolamine for industrial use are no longer subject to industrial product production license management and are no longer considered hazardous chemicals. This indicates that in China, triethanolamine is generally not considered a hazardous chemical in the traditional sense.

It is worth noting that although triethanolamine is not considered a hazardous chemical under certain regulatory classifications, special attention should still be paid to safety during storage, transportation, and use due to its flammability, irritability, and potential toxicity. In addition, triethanolamine is also considered a sensitive item in the import and export process, as it can be used as one of the main raw materials for the production of chemical weapons. Therefore, when it comes to the import and export activities of triethanolamine, it is necessary to comply with the relevant license management system.

In summary, whether triethanolamine is considered a hazardous chemical depends on the specific regulatory classification and practical application scenarios. In most cases, it is not considered a hazardous chemical in the traditional sense, but corresponding safety regulations and operating procedures still need to be followed during storage, transportation, and use. Meanwhile, due to its potential danger, especially the sensitivity in the import and export process, special attention needs to be paid to the dynamic changes in relevant regulations and policies.

To ensure the safe use of triethanolamine, it is recommended that relevant enterprises and personnel strengthen their understanding of its physical and chemical properties, master the correct storage, transportation, and use methods, and strictly comply with relevant safety regulations and operating procedures. At the same time, the government and regulatory agencies should strengthen the supervision of hazardous chemicals such as triethanolamine to ensure their safety and controllability in production, circulation, and use.