title: New toxicity data for the propylene glycol ethers - a commitment to public health and safety.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting, The Dow Chemical Company, 1803 Building, Midland, MI 48674, USA. pjspencer@dow.com
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004987:Ethers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011634:Public Health; D051381:Rats; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012997:Solvents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D004987:Ethers; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D012997:Solvents