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2-Ethoxyethanol
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
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-hrLC (CF) | Derivedvalue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatG. pig
Mouse |
NPIRI 1974Waite et al. 1930
Werner et al. 1943 |
2,000—–
1,820 |
—–3,000
—– |
7 hr24 hr
7 hr |
4,800 ppm (2.4)10,950 ppm (3.65)
4,368 ppm (2.4) |
480 ppm1,095 ppm
437 ppm |
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MouseRat | Eastman 1982Gig Tr Prof Zabol 1963 | oraloral | 2,4512,125 | ———- | 4,575 ppm3,967 ppm | 458 ppm397 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 ppmBasis 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.