ETHYLENE GLYCOL
SYNONYMS:
DOWTHERM
SR-1; 1,2-DIHYDROXYETHANE; EEC No. 603-027-00-1; EG; EINECS No. 203-473-3;
1,2-ETHANEDIOL; ETHYLENE ALCOHOL; ETILENGLICOL (Spanish); FAST CURE 45 EPOXY; FRIDEX;
GLYCOL; GLYCOL ALCOHOL; 2-HYDROXYETHANOL; KTI NMD-25(+); LUTROL-9; LLEXAN E;
LOW DYE - FAST DRY INK; MACROGOL 400 BPC; M E G ; E T H Y L E N E D I H Y D R A
T E ; MONOETHYLENE GLYCOL; NCI-C00920; NORKOOL; PD ACTIVATOR; PRO 330 CLEAR
THIN SPREAD; 777 ETCH; TESCOL; UCAR-17; VANDALEX 20/24
IDENTIFICATION:
CAS:
107-21-1
DOT ID:
UN3077
Hazard Class or Division:
9 (MISC. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS)
ERG Guide:
171
Formula:
C2H6O2
RTECS No:
KW2975000
Properties:
Combustible,
slightly syrupy liquid. Clear, colorless. Commercial products often contain
colored dyes. Odorless but has a sweet taste. Sinks and mixes with water.
Uses:
Antifreeze
in cooling and heating systems; component of fire resistant hydraulic fluids;
solvent; heat-transfer agent; in metal coating as a metal cleaning agent.
HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
• Odor threshold:
more than 0.26 mg/m3
•
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have not classified ethylene glycol
for carcinogenicity.
•
OSHA Table Z-1 Air Contaminant
•
High levels irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. Exposure may cause kidneys
and central nervous system damage, causing renal problems or failure and
possible brain injury. Exposure to high levels may result in drowsiness and
loss of consciousness. Occupational exposure to heated ethylene glycol has
caused involuntary eye movement (nystagmus) that may indicate nerve damage.
Some individuals also reported attacks of unconsciousness lasting 5 to 10
minutes, which went away when they stopped working with ethylene glycol.
Prolonged or repeated contact may cause irritation of the skin, blistering and
dermatitis; brain and central nervous system changes; liver and kidney damage,
causing renal failure. Ingesting very large amounts of ethylene glycol can
result in death, while large amounts can result in nausea, convulsions, slurred
speech, disorientation, and heart and kidney problems.
Animal studies:
Female animals that ate large amounts of
ethylene glycol had babies with birth defects, while male animals had reduced
sperm counts.
Exposure Limits:
•
ACGIH TLV: 100 mg/m3 as vapor or mist ceiling limit/STEL, not classifiable as a
human carcinogen
•
OSHA PEL: None.
•
DFG MAK: 10 ppm/26 mg/m3
Respirator:
At
any concentrations above the NIOSH REL, or where there is no REL, at any
detectable concentration:
SCBAF:PD,PP
(any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is
operated in a pressure-demand or other positivepressure mode) SAF:PD,PP:ASCBA
(any suppliedair respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an
auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or
other positive-pressure mode).
Escape:
GMFOV [any airpurifying,
full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted
organic vapor canister] SCBAE (any appropriate escape-type, selfcontained
breathing apparatus).
Reactivity:
Reacts
with strong oxidizers, strong acids such as sulfuric acid, caustics, aliphatic
amines, isocyanates, chlorosulfonic acid, chromium trioxide, potassium
permanganate, sodium peroxide, and oleum. Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from
the air). May be explosive when heated.
FIRE INFORMATION:
If material or contaminated runoff enters waterways, notify
downstream users of potentially contaminated water.
Hazard Classifications:
Health Hazard (Blue)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Flammability (Red)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Reactivity (Yellow)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Flash
Point: 240°F (116°C) (oc); 232°F (111°C) (cc)
Flammable
Limits in Air: LEL 3.2%; UEL 15.3%.
Autoignition
Temperature: 752°F (400°C), pure; 775°F (413°C), antifreeze.
FIRST AID:
Move
victim to fresh air. Call emergency medical care. Apply artificial respiration
if victim is not breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. In case
of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water
for at least 20 minutes. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes.
Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, and take
precautions to protect themselves.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
•
Clean Air Act: Hazardous Air Pollutants (Title I, Part A, Section 112)
•
EPCRA Section 304: Reportable Quantity (RQ): CERCLA, 1 lb (0.454 kg)
•
EPCRA Section 313: Form R
de
minimis
concentration
reporting level: 1.0%
•
California LOL: CDGIJMNOQ
•
WHMIS, Ingredients Disclosure List (Canada): 1%