| Agent Name |
GLYCOL ETHERS |
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| Alternative Name |
CLASS |
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| Major Category |
Solvents |
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| Synonyms |
Cellosolve solvents |
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| Category |
Glycol Ethers |
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| Sources/Uses |
Used in antifreeze and deicing solutions for cars, boats, and aircraft; also used as a solvent for paints, plastics, photographic developing solutions, coolants, hydraulic fluids, and inks; [ATSDR ToxFAQs] 2-Methoxyethanol has been used as a solvent for dyes in the textile industry; [ACGIH] |
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| Comments |
Glycol ethers include 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME), 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE), 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE), propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and their acetates. These agents may be absorbed through the skin without causing irritation. The most toxic glycol ethers are reproductive and suspected bone marrow toxins; studies of workers heavily exposed to these chemicals have shown evidence of testicular toxicity, increased risk of birth defects, and pancytopenia. [LaDou, p. 506-8]. 2-ME and 2-BE are reported causes of aplastic anemia in the workplace (production of coatings, dyes, and inks). [LaDou, p. 220t] "While there is insufficient evidence to conclude that exposure to glycol ethers results in blood or bone marrow toxicity, common sense dictates that exposure of these agents should be minimized." [Sullivan, p. 758] Of greatest concern are the ethylene glycol ethers 2-ME, 2-EE, and their acetates 2-MEA and 2-EEA. They cause liver, kidney, blood, and reproductive injury in animals. As photolithography solvents, they were discontinued in the mid-1990s in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and replaced with propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA) and other solvents. PGMEA is not metabolized to toxic intermediates like the ethylene glycol ethers. It has no known chronic health effects unless it is contaminated by the beta isomer of PGMEA. [Sullivan, p. 450-1] Classified by the European Union as reproductive toxins: EGEE (110-80-5), EGME (109-86-4), DEGDME (111-96-6), EGDME (110-71-4), TEGDME (112-49-2), and 1PG2ME (107-98-2) A 2001 study of 109 workers found "current glycol ether exposure levels were low and not correlated with either seminal quality or hormone levels." [Reference #1] |
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| Restricted |
ACGIH lowered its TLVs for methoxyethanol, 2-methoxyethanol acetate, 2-ethoxyethanol, and 2-ethoxyethaol acetate in 1985 to 5 ppm after new animal evidence of fetal death & resorption at inhalation levels as low as 10 ppm. [Sullivan, p. 490] |
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| Reference Link |
Glycol ethers and semen quality: a cross-sectional...[Occup Environ Med. 2007] - PubMed Result |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
Not evaluated |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Anemia |
Anemia, Aplastic |
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| Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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