Propylene glycol monomethyl ether

Synonyms

1-Methoxy-2-hydroxypropane; 1-Methoxy-2-propanol; 2-Methoxy-1-methylethanol; 2-Propanol, 1-methoxy-; Closol; Dowanol 33B; Dowtherm 209; Methyl proxitol; PGME; Poly-Solve MPM; Propasol solvent M; Ucar Solvent LM (Obs.); [ChemIDplus] UN3092

Category

Glycol Ethers (P Series)

Description

Clear, colorless liquid with a mild, ethereal odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent in paints, inks, nail polish removers, and cleaning agents; Also used in finishing leather and in electronics and agriculture; [ACGIH] Used to make lacquers and paints, as a solvent for resins, celluloses, acrylics, dyes, and inks (gravure, flexographic and silk screening), as antifreeze, and in household cleaners and spot removers; [HSDB]

Comments

Rats inhaling 3000 ppm, 6 hours/day for 9 days, show signs of sedation, but tissue examination shows no evidence of gross or microscopic disease. Similarly exposed rats had increased liver weights after 6 months; Human volunteers exposed to 2500 ppm had severe lacrimation and painful breathing; In another human experiment, subjects complained of slight eye effects at 150 ppm, but not at 100 ppm; "TLV Basis" is eye and upper respiratory tract irritation; [ACGIH] A lachrymator; [CHEMINFO] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression; [ICSC] See "Glycol ethers."

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

50 ppm

100 ppm

100 ppm

12.5 mm Hg

10 ppm

Odor Threshold High

100 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 10,000 ppm/5h

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from CHEMINFO, low (detection), high (objectionable); Flash point = 32 deg C; VP from HSDB;

Reference Link #2

may ignite at ambient temp

Yes

Acute solvent syndrome

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Painting (Solvents)
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing
• Silk-Screen Printing
• Textiles (Printing, Dyeing, or Finishing)