Glycol Ethers Research and in-depth Studies
Glycol ethers are among the most extensively studied and best known chemical substances. They have been used widely since the twenties, enabling to gather considerable information through experience of use. In addition, in-depth studies have been carried out on them in order to best control the risks from their use. Glycol ether manufacturers are always ready to provide the public authorities with any information at their disposal.
Several joint experts’ reports have condensed the results of several hundreds of individual studies on glycol ethers:
- ECETOC (2005) The Toxicology of Glycol Ethers and their Relevance to Man (fourth edition). Technical Report 95, European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals, Brussels.
- INSERM. (2006) Ethers de glycol: Nouvelles données toxicologiques’ Collection Expertise collective, Editions Inserm, Paris. XIII, 147p – 2006 press release
- Patty’s Toxicology fifth ed. Vol 7, Chapter 86. Wiley Interscience, New York.
The European Oxygenated Solvent Producers Association’s (OSPA) reviews and research work:
- Proceedings of the Third International Scientific Symposium on the Health Effects of Glycol Ethers – 2002. (2005) Toxicology letters, 153(1): 1-226.
- Kimber I, Pieters R. (2013) Household chemicals, immune function, and allergy: A commentary. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 10: 169-172.
- Boatman R, Kelsey J, Ball N. (2014) Acute toxicity classification for ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether under the Globally Harmonized System. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 68: 41-50.
- Poet T, Ball N, Hays SM (2016) Deriving Biomonitoring Equivalents for selected E- and P-series glycolethers for public health risk assessment. Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Hlth. 219, p 88–100.
- Kelsey JR, Cnubben NHP, Bogaards JJP, Braakman RBH, van Stee LLP, Smet K (2020) The urinary metabolic profile of diethylene glycol methyl ether and triethylene glycol methyl ether in Sprague-Dawley rats and the role of the metabolite methoxyacetic acid in their toxicity. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 110, 104512.
- Kelsey JR (2022) Ethylene oxide derived glycol ethers: A review of the alkyl glycol ethers potential to cause endocrine disruption, Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 129, 105113
- Kelsey JR (2022) Ethylene oxide derived glycol ethers: A review of the alkyl glycol ethers potential to cause endocrine disruption. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 2022 Mar;129:105113
- Kelsey JR, Seidel S. (2023) Propylene oxide derived glycol ethers: A review of the alkyl glycol ethers potential to cause endocrine disruption. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 2023 Jun 30:105442
- Kelsey JR, Otter R, Rogers E, Salthammer T (2023) The acute vapour inhalation toxicity of 2-butoxyethanol. Points considered when designing and conducting a study in Guinea pigs and evaluating existing inhalation toxicity data on low volatility solvents. Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 144, 105492
The European Oxygenated Solvent Producers Association (OSPA) also actively monitors newly published literature on glycol ethers. If they do not agree with the content of a publication, letters to the Editors are published:
- Ball N (2013) Letter to the Editor. Glycol Ethers and Congenital Malformations. Epidemiology, 6: 939-940.
- Kelsey J (2013) Concerning statements made in ‘Determinants of exposure to 2-butoxyethanol from cleaning tasks: a quasi-experimental study by Bello, A. et al, Ann. Occup. Hyg, Vol. 57, No. 1, pp. 125-135, 2013. Ann. Occup. Hyg, 57:1087-1088.
- Kelsey JR, Smet K (2014) Concerning statements made in “Development of a category approach to predict the testicular toxicity of chemical substances structurally related to ethylene glycol methyl ether” Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 70 (3) (2014) 711-719]. DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.07.004
- Smet K, Kelsey J. (2018) “ Plausibility of the findings reported in ‘Prenatal exposure to glycol ethers and cryptorchidism and hypospadias: a nested case-control study’ by Warembourg et al (2018) Occupational and environmental medicine. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2018-105346.
