Substance fact sheet
The background information page contains information and concepts that will be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI. It is strongly recommended that you read this before reading the information presented below.
For an explanation of some of the terms used in this page, see the Glossary
| Substance name | 2-Methoxyethanol |
| CASR number | 109-86-4 |
| Molecular formula | C3H8O2 |
| Synonyms | Ethylene Glycol Mono Methyl Ether; Glycol monomethyl ether; Methyl cellosolve; Methyl oxitol; Ektasolve; EGME; MECS; Methyl Glycol; Methoxyethanol; Ethylene Glycol methyl ether; glycomethyl ether; methoxyhydroxyethane; methyl ethoxol; monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: 2-Methoxyethanol is a colourless, flammable, liquid, organic solvent. Melting Point (°C): -85.1 Boiling Point (°C): 124.6 Specific Gravity: 0.965 Vapour Density: 2.6 Chemical properties: |
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Common uses 2-Methoxyethanol is used as a jet fuel de-icer. It is also used as a solvent for cellulose acetate, resins, dyes, and quick drying varnishes, enamels, nail polishes and wood stains. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources The primary stationary sources of 2-Methoxyethanol are the industries that manufacture it or use it in production. Some of the industries that use it in production are the paint, varnish, wood stain, and lacquer industries. It is used in the semiconductor industry. These releases are primarily to the air. Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data Diffuse emissions are from commercial and household painting, staining and use of varnish and lacquers. These releases are primarily to the air. Natural sources 2-Methoxyethanol does not occur naturally in the environment. Mobile sources 2-Methoxyethanol is used as a de-icer in jet fuels, use of these fuels will release some 2-Methoxyethanol to the atmosphere. Consumer products which may contain 2-Methoxyethanol Automotive windshield washer fluid, automotive brake fluid, floor polish, household hard surface cleaners various paint and paint-related products, paint thinners, Wood stains and varnishes, polishing preparations |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to 2-Methoxyethanol? Workers in the industries that use or produce 2-Methoxyethanol are at risk of exposure. Consumers can be exposed to 2-Methoxyethanol by exposure to air from production and processing facilities using 2-Methoxyethanol. Consumers may also be exposed to 2-Methoxyethanol when using consumer products containing 2-Methoxyethanol, especially if there is not good ventilation. Household hard surface cleaners, Paints, varnishes, lacquers, and paint removers are some of the consumer products that may release 2-Methoxyethanol. By what pathways might 2-Methoxyethanol enter my body? 2-Methoxyethanol will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air or drink contaminated water. It can also pass through the skin. Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 2-Methoxyethanol registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.  Health guidelines Worksafe Australia: For 2-Methoxyethanol it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations in the air of 5 parts per million over an eight hour workshift. Worksafe Australia has determined that 2-Methoxyethanol may cause birth defects and be teratogenic (harm a foetus). See the Additional Information page for current health information. The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. What effect might 2-Methoxyethanol have on my health? 2-Methoxyethanol can effect you when breathed in or by passing through your skin. Short-term exposures may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Very high levels may cause you to feel dizzy, lightheaded and to pass out. Long-term effects from exposure to 2-Methoxyethanol are possible kidney damage, damaged blood cells, and damaged testes in males. Repeated exposures may cause headaches, weakness, drowsiness, personality changes and tremors. 2-Methoxyethanol has been shown to be a teratogen in animal studies, and is a possible human teratogen. A teratogen is a substance that harms a foetus. |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate 2-Methoxyethanol evaporates when exposed to air and dissolves completely in water. Material released to the water or soil will evaporate when exposed to air. In the air it will breakdown into other chemicals, within a couple of days to a week. In the water it will be broken down by bacteria in between a week and a few months. 2-Methoxyethanol does not bind to soil well, and material that is spilled, and does not evaporate may make its way into the groundwater, which could effect borewater. Environmental Transport Industrial emissions of 2-Methoxyethanol can produce elevated, but still low level concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Since 2-Methoxyethanol is readily broken-down in the air within days, it is not expected to travel very far with wind currents. Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 2-Methoxyethanol registers 0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8.  Environmental guidelines See the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. No national guidelines. What effect might 2-Methoxyethanol have on the environment? 2-Methoxyethanol has slight short-term and slight long-term toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to predict the effects of 2-Methoxyethanol on plants, birds or land animals. 2-Methoxyethanol is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and can contribute to photochemical smog. |
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Comparative data NPI Rank Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. 2-Methoxyethanol was ranked as 73 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 1.2.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this article
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