2-Ethoxyethanol

CAS number: 110–80–5

NIOSH REL: 0.5 ppm (1.8 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Current OSHA PEL: 200 ppm (740 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (18 mg/m³) TWA [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a sweet, pleasant, ether-like odor.

LEL(@200 F): 1.7% (10% LEL(@200 F), 1,700 ppm)

Original (SCP) IDLH: 6,000 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [1963] that investigators concluded from animal experiments that substantially saturated atmospheres (6,000 ppm) at ordinary room temperatures will not produce serious injury in 1 hour [Waite et al. 1930].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50 (ppm)	LCLo (ppm)	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF)	Derived value
Rat G. pig Mouse	NPIRI 1974 Waite et al. 1930 Werner et al. 1943	2,000 ----- 1,820	----- 3,000 -----	7 hr 24 hr 7 hr	4,800 ppm (2.4) 10,950 ppm (3.65) 4,368 ppm (2.4)	480 ppm 1,095 ppm 437 ppm

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Mouse Rat	Eastman 1982 Gig Tr Prof Zabol 1963	oral oral	2,451 2,125	----- -----	4,575 ppm 3,967 ppm	458 ppm 397 ppm

Other animal data: Some investigators have stated that at ordinary room temperatures substantially saturated atmospheres (i.e., about 6,000 ppm) will not produce serious injury in 1 hour [Waite et al. 1930].

Human data: Volunteers with some work experience reported that odor levels of 125 ppm were noticeable and that the odor level that would be intolerable was greater than 255 ppm [Clayton and Clayton 1982].

Revised IDLH: 500 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for 2-ethoxyethanol is 500 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [NPIRI 1974; Werner et al. 1943]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations above 255 ppm.

REFERENCES:

1. AIHA [1963]. Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (2-ethoxyethanol). In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 24:288-289.

2. Clayton GD, Clayton FE, eds. [1982]. Patty's industrial hygiene and toxicology. 3rd rev. ed. Vol. 2C. Toxicology. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p. 3926.

3. Eastman Chemical Products [1982]. Material safety data sheet: EKTASOLVE® EE solvent. Kingsport, TN: Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., MSDS-10, 170A-1 (10-82), pp. 1-7.

4. Gig Tr Prof Zabol [1963]; 32(3):48-54 (in Russian).

5. NPIRI [1974]. Raw materials data handbook, physical and chemical properties, fire hazard and health hazard data. Vol. 1. Organic solvents. Bethlehem, PA: National Printing Ink Research Institute, p. 54.

6. Waite CP, Patty FA, Yant WP [1930]. Acute response of guinea pigs to vapors of some new commercial organic compounds. III. "Cellosolve" (mono-ethyl ether of ethylene glycol). Public Health Rep 45:1459-1466.

7. Werner HW, Mitchell JL, Miller JW, von Oettingen WF [1943]. Acute toxicity of vapors of several monoalkyl ethers of ethylene glycol. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 25:157-163.