ethane-1,2-diol

Urinary concentrations of ethylene glycol were measured in 117 samples from 33 aviation workers (basket operators, de-icing truck drivers, leads and coordinators) exposed to de-icing fluid over a winter period of 2 months at a Montreal, Canada airport. Ethylene glycol quantities in post-shift and next-morning urine samples exceeded 5 mmol/mol creatinine in 16 of the 33 workers The range reported was 5.2-129 mmol/mol creatinine with exposure greatest for basket operators and coordinators(1). In another study of 10 car mechanics urinary concentrations of ethylene glycol were 7.3-47 mmol/mol creatinine verses non-mechanics (office workers) that had levels of 1.7-36 mmol/mol creatinine. A German study reported that workers that had no occupational exposure to ethylene glycol had mean and me...

USDA APHIS Chemical Effects: collection=usda_chemeffect&query_type=synonym&query='^107-21-1$'

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), ethylene glycol, which has a vapor pressure of 0.0878 mm Hg at 25 °C,(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase ethylene glycol is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 50 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.7X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3). Ethylene glycol is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight, since it does not contain functional groups that are expected to absorb light with wavelengths >290 nm(SRC).

The Koc of ethylene glycol is estimated as 0.2(SRC), using a log Kow of -1.36(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that ethylene glycol is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Percent adsorption to 4 soils (two clay and two sandy clay soils) ranged from 0-0.5% indicating that this compound is not readily adsorbed to these soils and should have high mobility(4). Desorption was almost complete at the end of a 4 hour experiment using the same soils and a montmorillonite sample(4). Leaching experiments with undisturbed soil cores of sandy till showed that 14C-labelled ethylene glycol closely followed the movement of water when chloride was used as a tracer; no adsorption was observed for this compoun...

ANAEROBIC: Under anaerobic conditions, ethylene glycol at 30 mg carbon/L was completely biodegraded within 7 days; glucose was added to this culture at 15 mg-C/L(1). Dilute organic wastes (13 lb COD/day/1000 cu ft), containing ethylene glycol at 135 mg/L were added to an anaerobic lagoon resulting in an effluent concentration of 30 mg/L ethylene glycol; anaerobic lagoons receiving concentrated wastes (22 and 48 lb COD/day/1000 cu ft) with ethylene glycol at 755 mg/L resulted in effluent ethylene glycol concentrations of 155 and 190 mg/L, respectively(2).

A BCF of 10 was reported for fish, Golden ide (Leuciscus idus melanotus), after 3 days of exposure(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). A BCF of 190 after 1 day exposure was reported for algae (Chlorella fusca)(1). Crawfish were exposed to ethylene glycol at three concentrations (50 ug/mL, 200 ug/mL, and 1000 ug/mL) for 61 days and then transferred to clean water for 67 days; BCF values of 0.21 to 0.61 were recorded(3). Crawfish were able to completely eliminate the accumulated ethylene glycol within 5 days for animals exposed to 50 ug/mL and 6 days for those exposed to 200 and 1000 ug/mL ethylene glycol(3).

The Henry's Law constant for ethylene glycol is 6.00X10-8 atm-cu m/mole(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that ethylene glycol is expected to be essentially nonvolatile from water surfaces(2). Ethylene glycol's Henry's Law constant indicates that volatilization from moist soil surfaces is not expected(SRC). Ethylene glycol is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 0.0878 mm Hg at 25 °C(3).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylene glycol with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been reported as 7.7X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 50 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(2). Ethylene glycol is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of hydrolyzable functional groups(3). Ethylene glycol is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight, since it does not contain functional groups that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(3). Photooxidation in aqueous systems will not be an important environmental fate process(4,5).

RAIN/SNOW/FOG: A 10 mL fog sample (pH 2.54) was collected at the top of Mount Maya (700 m in altitude) adjacent to the midtown of Kobe City Japan on June 10, 1997 and preserved by freezing(1). This sample was determined to contain ethylene glycol at a concentration of 4.0 ug/mL(1). In a study of aircraft deicing and anti-icing fluids used at a medium-sized airport, ethylene glycol was detected in snowbanks sampled at six different times in February and March over a four year period. The range of ethylene glycol concentrations reported for 5 out of 6 of the samples was approximately 0-1600 mg/L melted snow. An additional sample taken on March 3, 2002 indicated a median level of about 1000 mg/L with a range of approximately 1800-2200 mg/L(2).

Wine analyzed in Italy detected up to 6.25 mg/L of ethylene glycol. Although the source was not identified, all of the 44 samples tested detected the presence of ethylene glycol with an average concentration of 2.8 mg/L(1). A Japanese study used headspace analysis of volatiles to detect ethylene glycol in roasted sesame seeds(1). Bread packaged in airtight plastic bags and preserved with carbonic anhydride and ethylene oxide reported maximum transient concentration of 92.2 mg/kg ethylene glycol during the sampling period(1).

/AQUATIC SPECIES/ Tests performed on lamprey larvae at 5.0 ppm, conducted for a 24-hr period at water temperature of 55 °F, indicated no effect.

Ethylene glycol was detected in emissions from water-borne architectural coatings; organic gas emissions from these coatings contained 44%, by weight, ethylene glycol(1). Emissions from industrial adhesives, based on composite samples of primers, lacquers, and enamels, contained 0.2%, by weight, ethylene glycol(1). Regionwide emission totals for ethylene glycol in the Los Angeles, CA region were 10X10+3 kg/day(2).

Environmental effects of the substance have been adequately investigated, but no significant effects have been found.

The metabolism of ethylene, generated as a natural grown regulator in pea plants, is reported to produce ethylene glycol as a metabolic product(1).

SOURCE DOMINATED: Ethylene glycol was detected in emissions from water-borne architectural coatings; organic gas emissions from these coatings contained 44%, by weight, ethylene glycol(1). Emissions from industrial adhesives, based on composite samples of primers, lacquers, and enamels, contained 0.2%, by weight, ethylene glycol(1). Region-wide emission totals for ethylene glycol in the Los Angeles, CA region were 10X10+3 kg/day(2).

Ethylene glycol's production and uses such as a coolant and antifreeze, solvent, brake fluid, in cosmetics (up to 5%), ball point pen inks, printing inks, and adhesives(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC). Ethylene glycol's use as a component of deicing fluid for airport runways(1) and drilling/fracturing fluids as crosslinker/breaker fluid/scale inhibitor(2,3), and friction reducer(4) will result in its direct release to the environment(SRC).

Contact with skin and eyes is most likely to occur in industrial handling. Inhalation may be a problem if material is handled hot or if a mist is generated by violent agitation. Swallowing is not likely to be an industrial problem unless material is stored in unmarked or mislabeled containers(1).

Ethylene glycol has been found to migrate into a number of foods packaged in regenerated cellulose films containing triethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol as softening agents. The concentrations of ethylene glycol reported in various model food systems examined were: in fruit cakes at 27-34 mg/kg after 84-336 days of storage; in meat pies at <10 mg/kg after 3-7 days of storage; in toffee at <10-22 mg/kg after 168-450 days of storage; in madeira cake at 10-22 mg/kg after 21-28 days storage; and in boiled sweets at 14-34 mg/kg after 168-450 days storage(1). Ethylene glycol was shown to migrate into food simulants from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles used in the packaging of carbonated beverages. The compound was detected at a concentration of about 100 ppb (94 ug/bottle) in a...

Ethylene glycol's production and uses such as a coolant and antifreeze, solvent, brake fluid, in cosmetics (up to 5%), ball point pen inks, printing inks, and adhesives may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. Ethylene glycol's use as a component of deicing fluid for airport runways and drilling fluids will result in its direct release to the environment. If released to air, a vapor pressure of 0.0878 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates ethylene glycol will exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase ethylene glycol will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 2 days. Ethylene glycol is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis...

Symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning usually follow a three-step progression. Stage 1 consists of neurological symptoms including victims appearing to be intoxicated, exhibiting symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, slurred speech, and confusion. Over time, the body metabolizes ethylene glycol into other toxins, it is first metabolized to glycolaldehyde, which is then oxidized to glycolic acid, glyoxylic acid, and finally oxalic acid. Stage 2 is a result of accumulation of these metabolites and consists of tachycardia, hypertension, hyperventilation, and metabolic acidosis. Stage 3 of ethylene glycol poisoning is the result of kidney injury, leading to acute kidney failure. Oxalic acid reacts with calcium and forms calcium oxalate crystals in the kidney. (L1023, A2703)

Initial treatment consists of stabilizing the patient and gastric decontamination. Gastric lavage or nasogastric aspiration of gastric contents are the most common methods employed in ethylene glycol poisoning. Ipecac-induced vomiting or activated charcoal. The antidotes for ethylene glycol poisoning are ethanol or fomepizole; antidotal treatment forms the mainstay of management following ingestion. Ethanol (usually given IV as a 5 or 10% solution in 5% dextrose and water, but also sometimes given in the form of a strong spirit such as whisky, vodka or gin) acts by competing with ethylene glycol for the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase thus limiting the formation of toxic metabolites. Fomepizole acts by inhibiting alcohol dehydrogenase, thus blocking the formation of the toxic metabolites....

The cases of 2 otherwise healthy 16-yr-old girls who were treated with sodium bicarbonate and intravenous injections of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) after ingesting unknown quantities of ethylene glycol are described. It was noted that patient 2 was admitted twice for ethylene glycol poisoning in unrelated events. In patient 1, the Cmax of ethylene glycol in plasma was 14 mM/L. In patient 2, Cmax of ethylene glycol during the 2 admissions were 18 mM/L and 45 mM/L. In patient 1, a blood ethyl alcohol level of 130-140 mg/dL was reached in 3 hr and was maintained for 22 hr. During this period, ethylene glycol metabolism was effectively inhibited and 88% of eliminated ethylene glycol was accounted for in urine. During the admissions of patient 2, ethyl alcohol was presumed to effectively inhibit...

Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system

LD50: 4700 mg/kg (Oral, Rat) (L1025) LD50: 5010 mg/kg (Intraperitoneal, Rat) (T14) LD50: 3260 mg/kg (Intravenous, Rat) (T14) LD50: 2800 mg/kg (Subcutaneous, Rat) (T23) LD50: 9530 mg/kg (Dermal, Rabbit) (T23)

Health effects of ethylene glycol poisoning include tachycardia, hypertension, hyperventilation, and metabolic acidosis. Stage 3 of ethylene glycol poisoning is the result of kidney injury, leading to acute kidney failure. Oxalic acid reacts with calcium and forms calcium oxalate crystals in the kidney (L1023).

ACGIH Carcinogen - Not Classifiable.

Oral (T29); dermal (T29)

Ethylene glycol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to glycoaldehyde, which is then metabolized to glycolic, glyoxylic, and oxalic acids. These acids, along with excess lactic acid are responsible for the anion gap metabolic acidosis. Oxalic acid readily precipitates with calcium to form insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Tissue injury is caused by widespread deposition of oxalate crystals and the toxic effects of glycolic and glyoxylic acids. Ethylene glycol produces central nervous system depression. The glycol probably causes the initial CNS depression; oxalate and the other intermediates seem to be responsible for nephrotoxicity. Glycoaldehyde and glyoxylate may be the principal metabolites responsible for EG nephrotoxicity and do so by causing ATP depletion and phospholipid an... CDC-ATSDR Toxicological Profile

Acute Inhalation: 2 mg/m3 (L134) Acute Oral: 0.8 mg/kg/day (L134)

Using a deterministic approach, the average daily intake of ethylene glycol from ingestion of foods was calculated for the general population was 2.5-41.0 ug/kg body weight per day and for a highly exposed occupational population was 22-88 ug/kg body weight per day.

Short-term Oral Reference Dose Reference: ATSDR Final

Doses of 1000 to 2000 mg/kg bw (100 mL) are lethal in humans.

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

References: DOI:10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.022

Smaller infants appear to have a decreased ability to clear /ethylene glycol/ when compared to older children and adults.

Fraction of Contaminant Absorbed Dermally from Soil: 0.1

A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.

Fraction of Contaminant Absorbed Dermally from Soil: 0.1