Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether: metabolism, disposition, and subchronic inhalation toxicity studies

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8457233· OSTI ID:5829736

Miller, R R; Hermann, E A; Young, J T; Landry, T D; Calhoun, L L

Short-term and subchronic vapor inhalation studies have shown that there are pronounced differences in the toxicological properties of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) and propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME). Overexposure to EGME has resulted in adverse effects on testes, bone marrow and lymphoid tissues in laboratory animals. PGME does not affect these tissues, and instead, overexposure to PGME has been associated with increases in liver weight and central nervous system depression. EGME is primarily oxidized to methoxyacetic acid in male rats, while PGME apparently undergoes O-demethylation to form propylene glycol. Since methoxyacetic acid has been shown to have the same spectrum of toxicity as EGME in male rats, the observed differences in the toxicological properties of EGME and PGME are thought to be due to the fact that the two materials are biotransformed via different routes to different types of metabolites. 6 references, 3 figures, 12 tables.

• Research Organization: Health and Environmental Sciences USA, Midland, MI
• OSTI ID: 5829736
• 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

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACETIC ACID
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BONE MARROW
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ETHERS
ETHYLENE
GLANDS
GLYCOLS
GONADS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LEUKOCYTES
LIVER
LYMPHOCYTES
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
METHYL ETHER
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROPYLENE
RATS
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TESTES
TISSUES
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES