2-Butoxyethanol

Synonyms

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether; 2-Butoxy-1-ethanol; 2-Butoxyethanol; 3-Oxa-1-heptanol; BUCS; Butoxyethanol; Butyl cellosolve; Butyl cellu-sol; Butyl glycol; Butyl oxitol; Chimec NR; Dowanol EB; EGBE; EGMBE; Ektasolve EB; Ethanol, 2-butoxy-; Ethylene glycol butyl ether; Ethylene glycol n-butyl ether; Ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether; Gafcol EB; Glycol butyl ether; Glycol ether EB; Glycol monobutyl ether; Jeffersol EB; Monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol; Monobutyl ethylene glycol ether; O-Butyl ethylene glycol; Poly-Solv EB; n-Butoxyethanol; [ChemIDplus] UN2369

Category

Glycol Ethers (E Series)

Description

Colorless liquid with a mild, ether-like odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as solvent in surface coatings; [ACGIH] Also used in hydraulic fluids, glass cleaners, and leather cleaners; [Sullivan, p. 1203] Used as a solvent in paints, coatings, inks, metal cleaners, and household cleaners; Occupational exposures are high in silk screen printing; [Reference #2]

Comments

Severe hemoglobinuria and changes in the lungs, kidneys, and liver are seen in mice after 7-hour lethal concentration studies. Volunteers showed no evidence of adverse effects other than mucous membrane irritation after 8 hour exposures to 200 ppm. No increase in red cell fragility was seen after these brief exposures. [ACGIH] For ethylene glycol ethers, there is limited positive evidence of spontaneous abortions and decreased sperm counts in humans and strong positive evidence of birth defects and testicular damage in animals. [ATSDR Case Studies # 29] Humans are resistant to butoxyethanol-induced red blood cell hemolysis. [Sullivan, p. 1204] See "Glycol ethers."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Butoxyacetic acid (BAA) in urine (with hydrolysis) = 200 mg/g creatinine at end of shift.

No

20 ppm

50 ppm

10 ppm, sum of the concentrations of EGBE and its acetate in air

700 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Human data: It has been stated that humans would be able to tolerate saturated concentrations (i.e., about 1,000 ppm) for 1 hour without experiencing any significant nonreversible effects [Carpenter et al. 1956].

0.88 mm Hg

0.1 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.35 ppm

2824 ppm

LC50 (rat)= 450 ppm/4hr;

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 0.1 ppm); Flash point = 62 deg C; VP from HSDB;

0.6 to 4.8 hours [Sullivan, p. 1203]

Reference Link #2

high ambient temp required

Hemolytic anemia

Acute solvent syndrome

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Yes

Not classifiable

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Dry Cleaning
• Painting (Solvents)
• Semiconductor Manufacturing
• Silk-Screen Printing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Intalagio printing