Fate, effects and potential environmental risks of ethylene glycol: a review.
The fate, effects, and potential environmental risks of ethylene glycol (EG) in the environment were examined. EG undergoes rapid biodegradation in aerobic and anaerobic environments (approximately 100% removal of EG within 24 h to 28 days). In air, EG reacts with photo-chemically produced hydroxyl radicals with a resulting atmospheric half-life of 2 days. Acute toxicity values (LC(50)s and EC(50)s) were generally >10,000 mg/l for fish and aquatic invertebrates. The data collectively show that EG is not persistent in air, surface water, soil, or groundwater, is practically non-toxic to aquatic organisms, and does not bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Potential long-term, quasi-steady state regional concentrations of EG estimated with a multi-media model for air, water, soil, and sediment were all less than predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs).
Staples
C A
CA
Assessment Technologies Inc., Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. castaple@ix.netcom.com
Williams
J B
JB
Craig
G R
GR
Roberts
K M
KM
D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005399:Fishes; D006207:Half-Life; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry*; D007448:Invertebrates; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D019855:Ethylene Glycol