Science and the perceived environmental risk from ethylene glycol and propylene glycol
- Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, CT (United States)
Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are widely used in aircraft deicing fluids (ADF), heat transfer fluids, and engine coolants. Discharges of these compounds to the environment have been reduced in recent years, but remain significant. The perceived environmental risk affects the decisions of businesses and regulatory agencies. There is a perception that propylene glycol poses a lower environmental risk than ethylene glycol. This perception is an inference from the use of low concentrations of propylene glycol in food additives -- something safe for food must be safe for fish. Environmental risk, however, must be established on the basis of scientific data, including acute and chronic toxicity to freshwater and saltwater species, oxygen demand, and persistence. A review of aquatic toxicity data for marine and freshwater species, and a review of treatability data in wastewater and soil for these widely used compounds has been completed. The data show that the two compounds, in fact, pose similar environmental risks, and in certain aspects one or the other glycol appears to be preferable. All aspects must be considered to give a valid perception of risk. The role of additives in deicing fluids is significant. Environmental fate and effect data indicate that additives are usually more toxic than the glycols, and environmental data for particular formulations must be evaluated as part of any risk assessment.
- OSTI ID:
- 40071
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273-; TRN: IM9520%%266
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 15. annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Denver, CO (United States), 30 Oct - 3 Nov 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 15th annual meeting: Abstract book. Ecological risk: Science, policy, law, and perception; PB: 286 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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