1-Methoxy-2-propanol

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS EMERGENCY OVERVIEW RISK Irritating to eyes and skin. 1 of 15 Flammable.

Potential Acute Health Effects

SWALLOWED • Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual. • Propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) has low oral hazard. Ingestion of large amounts of PGME may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, light-headedness, drowsiness, incoordination, possible unconsciousness. Death may result from anaesthesia. A single oral dose of the beta-isomer produced central nervous system depression with dyspnea, somnolence, ataxia, and respiratory arrest in test animals. Repeated doses caused profound central nervous system depression, minor kidney injury and liver enlargement in rats. EYE • This material can cause eye irritation and damage in some persons. • The vapour when concentrated has pronounced eye irritation effects and this gives some warning of high vapour concentrations. If eye irritation occurs seek to reduce exposure with available control measures, or evacuate area. SKIN • This material can cause inflammation of the skin oncontact in some persons. • The material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition. • Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption. • Toxic amounts of PGME may be absorbed through the skin following extensive prolonged contact ; this may result in drowsiness. Constant contact with the beta-isomer, on the skin of rabbits, for several weeks caused very mild, simple irritation. Dose rates of 10 mg/kg produced incomplete anaesthesia, depression, and slight increase in kidney weights in test animals. • Open cuts, abraded or irritated skin should not be exposed to this material. • Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected. INHALED • Inhalation of vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This may be accompanied by narcosis, reduced alertness, loss of reflexes, lack of coordination and vertigo. • Inhalation of aerosols (mists, fumes), generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual. • There is some evidence to suggest that the material can cause respiratory irritation in some persons. The body's response to such irritation can cause further lung damage. • Inhalation hazard is increased at higher temperatures. • The odour of PGME becomes objectionable at 100 ppm and intolerable with anaesthetic effects at 1000 ppm. High vapour concentrations (above 1000 ppm) are intolerable due to severe eye, nose and throat irritation. Odour is transiently objectionable above 100 ppm. Obvious sedation, increased liver weights and reduced specific gravity of the urine were found in animals subject to concentrations of 3000 ppm PGME. Inhalation may produce central nervous system depression. High concentrations of the beta-isomer produced slight growth depression and slight liver change and lung effects in rats and mice.

Potential chronic health

Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems. Exposure to the material may cause concerns for human fertility, on the basis that similar materials provide some evidence of impaired fertility in the absence of toxic effects, or evidence of impaired fertility occurring at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects, but which are not a secondary non-specific consequence of other toxic effects. . Repeated oral doses of 3 g/kg produced minor changes in the liver and kidneys in rats. Repeated doses on the skin over a 90-day period resulted in absorption and anaesthetic death at 7-10 ml/kg/day. Mild narcosis was observed after topical application of 2-4 ml/kg/day. Administration of 2% PGME in drinking water ad libitum to males for 25 days did not elicit significant changes in testes or seminal vesicle and coagulating gland weights or in peripheral leukocyte counts. No significant testicular toxicity was found in rats or rabbits that were exposed at up to 3000 PGME, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks. Oral and parenteral administration to pregnant rabbits, mice and rats did not induce congenital malformations at concentrations up to 1800 mg/kg/day. In a study on the teratogenic potential of the acetate of the beta-isomer (2-methoxy-1-propyl acetate), a significant increase in the number of litters with abnormal rats and rabbits was found after inhalation exposure by the mothers to 2700 ppm or 550 ppm, respectively, on days 6 to 15, or 6 to 18 of gestation. The rabbit inhalation no-observed-adverse effect concentration was 145 ppm. A similar embryotoxicity profile was seen after inhalation of 2-methoxy-1-propanol (beta-PGMA). In contrast to the alpha-isomer, beta-PGMA is oxidised in rats to 2-methoxypropionic acid. Male dogs exposed to the beta-isomer, developed numerous spermiophages in epididymi. Administration of high doses of the beta-isomer to rats, by gavage, caused delayed ossification of the skull of rat foetus. Whilst alpha-PGMA undergoes hepatic O-demethylation as the principal pathway, the beta-isomer is detoxified by alcohol/ aldehyde dehydrogenase. Commercial PGME contains low concentrations of the beta-isomer. Some glycol esters and their ethers cause wasting of the testicles, reproductive changes, infertility and changes to kidney function. Shorter chain compounds are more dangerous. Higher concentrations and prolonged exposure can cause blood in the urine.