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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Toxicological information

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
acute toxicity: inhalation
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Study period:
1984
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Sufficiently well reported to regard as reliable contributor to data for this end point

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
publication
Title:
The effects on the rat of single inhalation exposures to ethylene glycol monoalkyl ethers, in particular ethylene glycol monomethyl ether,
Author:
Samuels DM, Doe JE, Tinston DJ
Year:
1984
Bibliographic source:
Arch Toxicol, 7, p167-70
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Further studies on the toxicology of the glycol ethers with emphasis on rapid screening and hazard assessment.
Author:
Doe JE
Year:
1884
Bibliographic source:
Env Hlth Persp, 57, 199-206

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The purpose of the study was to assess testes effects following acute exposure. However, the methodology used does provide acute lethality information.
Test type:
standard acute method
Limit test:
no

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
2-methoxyethanol
EC Number:
203-713-7
EC Name:
2-methoxyethanol
Cas Number:
109-86-4
Molecular formula:
C3H8O2
IUPAC Name:
2-methoxyethanol
Details on test material:
Supplier: Merck
Purity: 99.5%

Test animals

Species:
rat
Strain:
other: Alderley Park (Alpk) albino
Sex:
male
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
8 week old pathogen free animals used. Animals acclimatized to whole body test chambers for 24 hours before transferring to holding cages for 13 days observation after exposure.

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:
inhalation: gas
Type of inhalation exposure:
whole body
Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:
yes
Remarks:
Concentrations monitored using an infra-red analyzer.
Duration of exposure:
ca. 4
Concentrations:
150, 300, 625, 1250, 2500, 5000ppm. Top dose corresponded to saturated vapour pressure of 15.8mg/l.
No. of animals per sex per dose:
20 plus 40 control animals.
Control animals:
yes
Details on study design:
Body weights recorded on day -1, 6 and 13. Animals sacrificed on day 13 and sex organs examined

Results and discussion

Effect levelsopen allclose all
Sex:
male
Dose descriptor:
LC0
Effect level:
> 15.8 mg/L air
Exp. duration:
4 h
Sex:
male
Dose descriptor:
other: NOAEC
Effect level:
ca. 0.95 mg/L air
Exp. duration:
4 h
Mortality:
There was no record of any deaths at any exposure concentration.
Gross pathology:
Dose related decrease in testes weight from 1250ppm upwards.
Other findings:
Testes weights were not affected at 650ppm but there was evidence of sperm damage (minimal degenerative changes), disordered spermatogenesis, tubular atrophy). The NOAEL from the study was 300ppm (0.95mg/l).

Any other information on results incl. tables

The results do not provide a true LC50 and as such are only of partial use for classification and labeling purposes, but they can be used to derive a NOAEL for risk assessment purposes with appropriate safety factors.

In the second study, disordered spermatogenesis was seen in exposed animals (both dose levels) which persisted until the end of the observation period on day 19.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:
not classified
Remarks:
Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU
Conclusions:
It can be concluded that the LC50 is greater than 5000ppm (15.8mg/l)
Executive summary:

In a study designed to assess testes effects following acute exposure, male rats were exposed to a number of concentrations of methoxyethanol in the range 150ppm up to saturated vapour pressure for a period of 4 hours. No deaths were observed at any concentration. However, the study did note adverse effects on the testes of animals exposed to 625ppm and above of methoxyethanol, producing a NOAEC of 300ppm. The study did not provide a true LC50 and as such the results are only of partial use for classification and labeling purposes, but they can be used to derive a NOAEL for risk assessment purposes with appropriate safety factors. It can also be concluded that the LC50 is greater than 5000ppm (15.8mg/l)

Results synopsis

LC0>15.8mg/l (4hrs exposure)

NOAEC=0.95mg/l (4hrs exposure, testes effects)