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EXPERT PANEL REVIEW OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL
AND PROPYLENE GLYCOL
The National Toxicology Program
(NTP) Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR) convened
an expert panel on February 11-13,
2003, in Alexandria, Virginia,
to evaluate whether or not exposure to ethylene glycol or propylene glycol is a
reproductive and/or developmental hazard. The CERHR selected ethylene glycol for evaluation because it is a high
production volume chemical, there is the potential for widespread occupational
and general population exposures due to its use in heating and cooling systems
(e.g., automotive antifreeze), and there is published evidence from laboratory
studies of developmental toxicity resulting from exposure to ethylene
glycol. Propylene glycol is used commercially as an
intermediate in the manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins and in the
production of plasticizers. Propylene glycol was selected for
evaluation because of its similarity in structure to ethylene glycol and the
potential for widespread human exposure through its use in food, tobacco,
pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, various paints and coatings and as an
antifreeze and de-icing solution. The expert panel reviewed and evaluated the
available scientific evidence on ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in three
primary areas: human exposure, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and
metabolism. They considered the quality,
quantity and the strength of the evidence in their deliberations about the
potential for either chemical to cause adverse effects on human reproduction
and/or development.
For ethylene glycol, the expert panel concluded that there was
“negligible concern” for developmental toxicity and reproductive toxicity at
current estimated levels of human exposure.
For propylene glycol, the expert panel concluded “that current
estimated exposures to propylene glycol are of negligible concern for [causing]
reproductive or developmental toxicity in humans.”
The expert panel reports from the
evaluation of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol will be posted on the CERHR
website (http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov) and made available from the CERHR in
printed text by April 2003.The CERHR
will solicit public comment on the reports through an announcement in the Federal Register.
Following this comment period, the CERHR will
prepare an NTP-CERHR monograph on each chemical consisting of the NTP brief,
expert panel report, and all public comments received on the reports.
The monograph will be available to the public
and sent to appropriate federal and state health and regulatory agencies.
The NTP established the CERHR in
1998 as a public resource for providing scientifically based, uniform assessments
of the potential for adverse effects on reproduction and/or development caused
by man-made or naturally occurring chemicals or chemical mixtures to which
humans are exposed. The CERHR relies on
scientific experts to conduct its evaluations. The public is invited to nominate scientists to serve on its expert panels.
Questions about the expert panel review or
the CERHR can be directed to Dr. Michael Shelby, CERHR Director at
919-541-3455 or Shelby@niehs.nih.gov
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