Analyses of ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers and their proposed metabolites in blood and urine

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8457249· OSTI ID:5705378

Smallwood, A W; DeBord, K E; Lowry, L K

Glycol ethers are known to produce embryotoxic and teratogenic effects in a variety of animal species. In addition, testicular edema and tubular atrophy have been reported. The health effects of this class of compounds are not known in humans, despite the fact that these solvents are widely used in industry. In order to evaluate potential effects in humans, it is first necessary to estimate exposure in the workplace (environmental monitoring). However, in the case of glycol ethers traditional air monitoring may be ineffective because of the low volatility of these solvents and the possible significant exposure via the skin. Biological monitoring can be used to estimate glycol ether uptake by all routes of exposure. The compounds can be measured in blood or the metabolites quantitated in urine. These procedures are suggested for measuring 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-butoxyethanol in blood. In addition, tentative procedures have been developed to measure the oxidized acidic metabolites, methoxyacetic acid and ethoxyacetic acid in urine as possible indices of exposure. All procedures have detection limits of less than 11 parts per million. These procedures are ready to be validated in workers exposed to these solvents. 12 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH
• OSTI ID: 5705378
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACETIC ACID
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ALCOHOLS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ETHERS
GLYCOLS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
METABOLITES
MONITORING
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
SOLVENTS
TOXICITY
UPTAKE
URINE
WASTES