Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Appearance clear, colorless liquid. Flash Point 43 deg C Warning! Flammable liquid and vapor. May cause harm to the unborn child. May cause harmful reproductive effects in men. Causes eye irritation. May be harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. This material has been reported to be susceptible to autoxidation and therefore should be classified as peroxidizable. May form explosive peroxides. May cause central nervous system depression. Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, central nervous system, liver, male reproductive system.

Potential health effects

Eye: Causes eye irritation. Caused moderate eye irritation in a standard Draize test. Skin: May cause mild skin irritation. Prolonged and/or repeated contact may cause irritation and/or dermatitis. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to those of ingestion. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin. Substance is readily absorbed through the skin. Not sensitizing in guinea pig maximization test. Ingestion: May cause irritation of the digestive tract. May cause liver and kidney damage. Exposure may cause anemia and other blood abnormalities. May be harmful if swallowed. May cause central nervous system depression. Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation. Inhalation overexposure may lead to central nervous system depression, producing effects such as dizziness, headache, confusion, incoordination, nausea, weakness, and loss of consciousness. Extreme exposures may cause other CNS effects including death. Chronic: 2-Ethoxyethanol may be a teratogen in humans since it has been shown to be a teratogen in animals. It may damage the testes and decrease fertility in males. Effects on liver and kidneys, stomach ulcers, blood changes and reduced growth seen at high doses. In humans, the main metabolite is ethoxyacetic acid, which is excreted in the urine, but is still detectable in the body 12 days after exposure.