Toxicology of Diethylene Glycol Butyl Ether 1. Exposure and Risk Assessment

Abstract

Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether (DGBE) is a glycol ether solvent used in many consumer products including hard-surface cleaners and paints; its acetate ester (DGBA) is also used in paints. The highest consumer exposure to DGBE was estimated to be about 0.06 mg/kg/day from use in cleaners, and to DGBA was 0.19 mg/kg/day by inhalation from use in paints. DGBA was shown to be rapidly metabolized to DGBE, and its systemic toxicity was considered to be similar to DGBE. Prior toxicology studies and those required by a 1988 TSCA Final Test Rule, detailed in the following four papers, confirm that DGBE (and by implication DGBA): (1) can be absorbed dermally, (2) is not genotoxic in a battery of assays, (3) is not a systemic nor a reproductive toxicant by the dermal route in rats, and (4) is not neurotoxic by the dermal route in rats. There is an adequate margin of safety between the no observed adverse effect level in the animal studies and the estimated human exposure levels, confirming that there is no risk of systemic toxicity from the use of DGBE or DGBA in consumer products.

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