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NIOSH REL: 0.1 ppm (0.3 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 25 ppm (80 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL
19931994 ACGIH TLV: 5 ppm (16 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
Description of substance: Colorless liquid with a mild, etherlike odor.
LEL: . . . 1.8% (10% LEL, 1,800 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH*: 2,000 ppm [*Note: "Effective" IDLH = 1,250 ppm -- see discussion below.]
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: Based on a UCC [1969] report that 0 of 6 rats died after a 2hour exposure to 2,000 ppm, 4 of 6 rats died after a 4hour exposure to 2,000 ppm, and 6 of 6 rats died after an 8hour exposure to 2,000 ppm, an IDLH of 2,000 ppm was chosen. However, respirators have been assigned on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to a concentration of 50 ´ the OSHA PEL of 25 ppm (i.e., 1,250 ppm); only the "most protective" respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 1,250 ppm.
Shortterm exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
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| Rat
Rat Mouse | UCC 1969 UCC 1969 Werner et al. 1943 |
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Lethal dose data:
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| Rat
Rabbit Mouse G. pig | Ballantyne 1987 Carpenter et al. 1956 Gig Tr Prof Zabol 1963 Smyth et al. 1941 |
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Other animal data: It has been reported that rats survived a 2hour exposure to 2,000 ppm [UCC 1969].
Human data: Chronic exposure to 50 to 100 ppm has
been associated with headache, dizziness, lethargy, weakness,
hyperreflexia, disorientation, unequal pupil size, and visual
and/or auditory disturbances [ACGIH 1991]. It has been reported
that 3,380 mg/kg is the lethal oral dose [Young and Woolner
1946]. [Note: An oral dose of 3,380 mg/kg is equivalent to
a 70kg worker being exposed to about 50,000 ppm for
30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters per
minute and 100% absorption.]
| Revised IDLH: 200 ppm
Basis for revised IDLH: Based on health considerations and acute inhalation toxicity data in animals [UCC 1969], a value of about 400 ppm would have been appropriate for methyl Cellosolve®. However, the revised IDLH for methyl Cellosolve® is 200 ppm based on being 2,000 times the current NIOSH REL of 0.1 ppm (2,000 is an assigned protection factor for respirators; only the "most reliable" respirators are recommended above 2,000 times the NIOSH REL). |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1991]. 2Methoxyethanol. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, p. 918.
2. Ballantyne [1987]. The comparative acute toxicity and primary irritancy of the monohexyl ethers of ethylene and diethylene glycol. Vet Hum Toxicol 29(5):361366.
3. Carpenter CP, Pozzani UC, Weil CS, Nair JH III, Keck GA, Smyth HF Jr [1956]. The toxicity of butyl cellosolve solvent. AMA Arch Ind Health 14:114131.
4. Gig Tr Prof Zabol [1963]; 32(3):4854 (in Russian).
5. Smyth HF Jr, Seaton J, Fischer L [1941]. The single dose toxicity of some glycols and derivatives. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 23:259268.
6. UCC [1969]. Toxicology studies: methyl cellosolve. New York, NY: Union Carbide Corporation.
7. Werner HW, Mitchell JL, Miller JW, von Oettingen WF [1943]. The acute toxicity of vapors of several monoalkyl ethers of ethylene glycol. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 25(4):157163.
8. Young EG, Woolner LB [1946]. A case of fatal poisoning from 2methoxyethanol. J Ind Hyg Toxicol 28(6):267268. Go back to the Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)