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Dipropylene glycol methyl ether
May 1994
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH)
CAS number: 34590–94–8
NIOSH REL: 100 ppm (600 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (900 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (600 mg/m3) TWA [skin]
1989 OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (600 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (900 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 100 ppm (606 mg/m3) TWA, 150 ppm (909 mg/m3) STEL [skin]
Description of Substance: Colorless liquid with a mild, ether-like odor.
LEL(@392 F): 1.1% (10% LEL(@392 F), 1,100 ppm)
Original (SCP) IDLH*: Unknown [*Note: “Effective” IDLH = 5,000 ppm — see discussion below.]
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: No acute toxicity data are available on which to base an IDLH for dipropylene glycol methyl ether. According to Patty [1963] this substance is low in toxicity by inhalation. Therefore, for this draft technical standard, respirators have been selected on the basis of the assigned protection factor afforded by each device up to a concentration of 50 × the OSHA PEL of 100 ppm (i.e., 5,000 ppm); only the “most protective” respirators are permitted for use in concentrations exceeding 5,000 ppm. Concentrations above 5,000 ppm are unlikely to be encountered in the workplace because of the high boiling point and low vapor pressure of this substance.
Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA
Lethal dose data:
| Species | Reference | Route | LD50(mg/kg) | LDLo(mg/kg) | Adjusted LD | Derived value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RatDog
Rat |
Rowe et al. 1954Shideman and Procita 1951
Smyth et al. 1962 |
oraloral
oral |
5,1357,500
5,350 |
———-
—– |
5,835 ppm8,523 ppm
6,080 ppm |
584 ppm852 ppm
608 ppm |
Human data: Concentrations between 300 and 400 ppm have been reported to be very disagreeable [Rowe et al. 1954]. Central nervous system impairment (undefined) occurred at 1,000 ppm in one of two subjects [Stewart et al. 1970].
| Revised IDLH: 600 ppmBasis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for dipropylene glycol methyl ether is 600 ppm based on acute toxicity data in humans [Rowe et al. 1954; Stewart et al. 1970] and animals [Rowe et al. 1954; Smyth et al. 1962]. This may be a conservative value due to the lack of relevant acute toxicity data for workers exposed to concentrations between 400 and 1,000 ppm. |
REFERENCES:
1. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1573.
2. Rowe VK, McCollister DD, Spencer HC, Oyen F, Hollingsworth RL, Drill VA [1954]. Toxicology of mono-, di-, and tripropylene glycol methyl ethers. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 9:509-525.
3. Shideman FE, Procita L [1951]. The pharmacology of the monomethyl ethers of mono-, di-, and tripropylene glycol in the dog with observations on the auricular fibrillation produced by these compounds. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 102:79-87.
4. Smyth HF Jr, Carpenter CP, Weil CS, Pozzani UC, Striegel JA [1962]. Range-finding toxicity data: list VI. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 23:95-107.
5. Stewart RD, Baretta ED, Dodd HC, Torkelson TR [1970]. Experimental human exposure to vapor of propylene glycol monomethyl ether. Arch Environ Health 20:218-223.