US EPA

3039791 

Journal Article 

Review 

New toxicity data for the propylene glycol ethers - a commitment to public health and safety 

Spencer, PJ 

2005 

1 

Toxicology Letters
ISSN: 0378-4274
EISSN: 1879-3169 

156 

1 

181-188 

English 

15705495 

10.1016/j.toxlet.2003.09.023 

WOS:000227322000016 

Propylene glycol ethers are a class of solvents used in a wide array of industrial, commercial and consumer applications, such as in paints, cleaners and inks. A robust toxicity database exists for the propylene glycol ethers that provide strong product safety support. Standard toxicity studies conducted under good laboratory practices indicate a lack of genotoxic, developmental and reproductive hazards. Recent testing efforts have primarily focused in two areas: (1) examination of the chronic toxicity/oncogenicity potential of propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) in rats and mice and (2) expansion of the developmental toxicity database to higher molecular weight P-series glycol ether derivatives (i.e. propylene glycol n-propyl ether (PGPE), propylene glycol n-butyl ether (PGBE) and dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (DPGBE)). In PGME chronic toxicity/oncogenicity studies no treatment-related increases in the incidence of tumors occurred in either species. Like other previously tested P-series derivatives, PGPE, PGBE and DPGBE were negative in rodent and rabbit developmental toxicity studies. Collectively, the toxicity database for P-series glycol ether products continues to support the lack of significant health effects with proper use of the commercial products. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. 

propylene glycol ethers; carcinogenicity; teratology; pharmacokinetics