ABSTRACT
Natural essential oils containing citral have been used in traditional and oriental folk medicines for millennia. The industrial manufacturing and chemical synthesis of citral has been known for more than a century, and even in the early stages of development, its reactivity and readily oxidizable characteristics were well known. It has long been considered best practice in laboratories and small-scale manufacturing units that spillages collected in absorbent paper or rags should be soaked in water before disposal to prevent combustion of citral and organic matter in the air. Citral is also active on human skin and can cause irritation, and even sensitization in some cases, although under “good manufacturing practice” and using personal protection equipment current in the industry, cases of reported problems are fortunately few.
