US EPA

4944882 

Journal Article 

Toxicology of mono-, di-, and tri-propylene glycol methyl ethers 

Rowe, VK; Mccollister, DD; Spencer, HC; Oyen, F; Hollingsworth, RL; Drill, VA 

1954 

Yes 

AMA Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine
ISSN: 0096-6703 

9 

6 (June 1954) 

509-525 

English 

13157665 

The monomethyl ethers of monopropylene, dipropy-lene and tripropylene glycols are powerful solvents of nitro-cellulose and synthetic resins. They are non-corrosive and thermally stable; and are miscible with many organic liquids, as well as with water. Now available in commercial quantities, they are useful in numerous industrial processes. This extensive study deals with possible toxic hazards from making, handling and using these substances.
Repeated doses were given orally to rats; eye contacts were made on rabbits; single closes and repeated doses were applied to the skin of rabbits; skin sensi-tization tests were carried out on human beings; and, more particularly, rats, guineapigs, rabbits and monkeys were exposed for varying periods to inhale different concentrations of the vapour of these monomethyl ethers. All the ethers were found to be low in single-dose oral toxicity; but LD50 values were obtained with white rats of 6-6 ml. per kgm. for mono-, 5-4 for di-, and 3-3 for tripropylene glycol methyl ether. Doses of 1 ml. per kgm. of monopropylene glycol ether given daily 5 days a week for 35 days to rats had no effect. Narcosis and some deaths were caused by large doses of mono- and tripropylene glycol ethers absorbed through the skin, but not by dipropylene glycol ether in similar doses. Depression of the central nervous system and occasionally eye, nose, and lung irritation followed inhalation if the concentrations were sufficiently great. The conclusion is that these compounds have so low a single-dose toxicity that they may be safely used industrially; however, prolonged, extensive contact of large areas of skin with mono- and tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether should probably be avoided. 

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