Propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) exposure. 2. Identification of products containing PGME, their importance and their use in Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE
In order to identify users of PGME and potential exposures, a chemical registration database maintained in Switzerland was analysed.


METHODS
The database contains information on the composition of products (qualitative and quantitative), the field of use, the year of registration and the domain of commercial applications (public or professional).


RESULTS
Identification of potential exposures in Switzerland was carried out. Out of a total of 150,000 products, 2334 were found to contain PGME and most contained between 1% and 10% PGME. There was a great increase in the number of products declared between 1983 and 1991. The principal fields of use were in inks, varnishes and paints.
Dentan
A
A
Institut de santé au travail, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Devanthéry
A
A
de Peyer
J E
JE
Droz
P O
PO
D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006795:Household Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013557:Switzerland
D011409:Propylene Glycols; C005216:propylene glycol methyl ether