Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) 

Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Toxicity
Posttest

Disclaimer

In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.

CDC/ATSDR, our planners, and the presenters for this seminar do not have financial or other relationships with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters. This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use.

Online Instructions

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Posttest

1. What is ethylene glycol?
   1. It is a clear, colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting liquid.
   2. It causes acute toxicity in humans if ingested.
   3. It is poorly absorbed by skin and has low potential for significant inhalation exposure.
   4. All of the above.
2. Which of the following products may contain ethylene glycol?
   1. pesticides
   2. antifreeze
   3. cosmetics
   4. All of the above.
3. Which of the following statements about ethylene glycol are true?
   1. Inhalation is a common route of exposure because of the high vapor pressure.
   2. Accidental or intentional ingestion accounts for most poisonings.
   3. It is absorbed readily through intact skin.
   4. All of the above.
4. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ethylene glycol as
   1. a direct food additive
   2. an indirect food additive
   3. a direct pharmaceutical additive
   4. none of the above
5. After ingestion, ethylene glycol is
   1. slowly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract
   2. stored and persists in fatty tissue
   3. reaching peak tissue levels after 24 hours
   4. metabolized in the liver to a variety of compounds of increased toxicity
6. The first stage of ethylene glycol poisoning generally includes
   1. a characteristic odor of ethanol on the breath      
   2. symptoms similar to those of ethanol intoxication
   3. cardiopulmonary symptoms such as tachypnea and pulmonary edema
   4. oliguric renal failure.
7. Acute ethylene glycol exposure can adversely affect all of the following except
   1. lungs
   2. heart
   3. pancreas
   4. kidneys
8. Nephrotoxicity is the dominant effect of serious ethylene glycol poisoning. Which of the following statements is not true?
   1. Kidney damage manifests as acute oliguric renal failure.
   2. Costovertebral angle tenderness is the most common physical finding.
   3. Absence of oxalate crystals will rule out the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning.
   4. Urinalysis shows proteinuria.
9. As part of exposure history, you should explore
   1. a history of ethanol abuse
   2. a history of possible substance abuse
   3. similar symptoms in family members, friends, and coworkers
   4. all of the above
10. Useful laboratory tests for diagnosing ethylene glycol poisoning include which of the following?
    1. arterial blood gases (ABG)
    2. blood glucose
    3. blood ethanol
    4. all of the above
11. Which of the following is not a disadvantage of ethanol therapy?
    1. It requires continuous administration and frequent monitoring of serum ethanol and glucose levels
    2. It can cause CNS depression and hypoglycemia
    3. It has unpredictable results.
    4. It poses problems in patient care, such as drunkenness.
12. Treatment for acute propylene glycol poisoning might include determinations of which of the following?
    1. sodium bicarbonate therapy
    2. administration of calcium gluconate
    3. ethanol administration
    4. hyperbaric oxygen
13. Which of the following statements comparing ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are true?
    1. Propylene glycol is most commonly found in foods and medicines, and ethylene glycol is found in antifreeze and other commercial products.
    2. Both glycols are used for aircraft de-icing.
    3. Neither compound is likely to persist for long periods in the environment.
    4. All of the above.

Relevant Content

To review content relevant to the posttest questions, see:

What Is Ethylene Glycol?

Where Is Ethylene Glycol Found?

How Are People Exposed to Ethylene Glycol?

What Are U.S. the Standards for Ethylene Glycol Exposure Levels?

What Is the Biological Fate of Ethylene Glycol?

What Are the Stages of Ethylene Glycol Intoxication

What Are the Physiologic Effects of Ethylene Glycol Ingestion Poisoning

What Are the Physiologic Effects of Ethylene Glycol Ingestion Poisoning

How Should Patients Exposed to Ethylene Glycol Be Evaluated

What Laboratory Tests Can Assist in the Evaluation of Patients Exposed to Ethylene Glycol

How Should Patients Exposed to Ethylene Glycol Be Treated

What Is Propylene Glycol

What Is Propylene Glycol