Toxicity Profile for Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (1997)

Abstract

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DEGME) demonstrated a low skin irritancy in a number of species and a low eye irritancy in rabbits. A volunteer study using a DEGME solution did not identify any skin sensitizing potential. In laboratory animals, a low oral, inhalation and dermal toxicity has been demonstrated, with the kidney and liver being the target organs. Rats given repeated oral doses developed kidney and testicular damage and showed effects on the thymus, blood, liver, spleen and pituitary. No signs of toxicity were identified in a repeated inhalation study in rats. Mild liver toxicity and some blood effects were reported in guinea-pigs given multiple dermal doses. DEGME caused blood abnormalities when applied repeatedly to the skin of pregnant rabbits; doses that were not maternally toxic induced foetotoxicity. Oral administration during pregnancy caused foetal toxicity and foetal malformations in rats (even at non-toxic maternal doses) and embryotoxicity in mice. DEGME gave no evidence of mutagenic potential in Salmonella typhimurium bacteria (Ames test).