Ethylene glycol CAS 107-21-1
ethylene glycol, the simplest member of the glycol family of organic compounds. A glycol is an alcohol with two hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbon atoms (a 1,2-diol). The common name ethylene glycol literally means “the glycol derived from ethylene.”
Also called: ethane-1,2-diol
Ethylene
glycol is a clear, sweet, slightly viscous liquid that boils at 198 °C
(388.4 °F). Its most common use is as an automotive antifreeze. A 1:1
solution of ethylene glycol and water boils at 129 °C (264.2 °F) and
freezes at ?37 °C (?34.6 °F), serving as an excellent coolant in
automotive radiators. Ethylene glycol is highly poisonous; animals or
humans that drink the solution become very ill and may die.
In
addition to its use in antifreeze, ethylene glycol is used as an
ingredient in hydraulic fluids, printing inks, and paint solvents. It is
also used as a reagent in making polyesters, explosives, alkyd resins,
and synthetic waxes.
Ethylene glycol
CAS Registry Number 107-21-1
What is it?
Ethylene glycol is an industrial chemical.
How is it used?
Ethylene glycol is primarily used as a component of de-icer and
anti-icer/anti-freeze fluid used in aircraft de-icing and anti-icing
operations, and as an anti-freeze component in motor vehicles.
It is also used in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and in oil and gas processing.
Ethylene glycol is present as a slow-evaporating solvent and/or freeze-thaw stabilizer in latex paints.
It can also be used in a variety of other products such as floor
and wall adhesives, brake fluid, automotive wax/polish and floor
wax/polish, in caulks and grout, concrete sealers and shoe polish.
Ethylene glycol is manufactured in and imported into Canada.
Why did the Government of Canada assess it?
Ethylene glycol was included on the Priority Substances List (PSL)
in order to assess its potential environmental and human health risks
posed by exposure (not including workplace exposures) to the general
population of Canada.
In December 2000, the assessment of
ethylene glycol was temporarily suspended to allow government scientists
more time to address the data gaps, identified during the assessment
period, that were related to the human health effects of ethylene glycol
and how Canadians are exposed to this chemical.
At the same time, a State of the Science Report for Ethylene Glycol was posted on the Health Canada Web site.
The essential information needed to complete the assessment was
identified and acquired during subsequent years, and has been
incorporated into the final updated assessment report.
How is it released to the environment?
Most releases of ethylene glycol to the environment are expected to occur from aircraft de-icing/anti-icing operations.
These releases of ethylene glycol are expected to end up in surface water or groundwater.
Based on handling practices currently in place, such releases should be low.
Releases of ethylene glycol to outdoor and indoor air may also
occur from manufacturing and processing facilities and from use of
consumer products.
How are Canadians exposed to it?
Canadians may be exposed to low levels of ethylene glycol through the use of consumer products containing ethylene glycol.
What are the results of the assessment?
The Government of Canada has conducted an evaluation of ethylene
glycol, and published the results in a final assessment report.
Results of the final assessment indicate that ethylene glycol is not
expected to remain in the environment for a long time or accumulate in
organisms.
Furthermore, the quantity of ethylene glycol that may
be released to the environment is below the level expected to cause
harm to organisms.
The Government of Canada has therefore
concluded that ethylene glycol is not entering the environment in a
quantity or under conditions that constitute a danger to the
environment.
The Government of Canada has also concluded that
ethylene glycol is not harmful to the health of the general population
at current levels of exposure.
This assessment addresses the potential for harm to the general population in Canada (not including workplace exposures).
What is the Government of Canada doing?
Based on the conclusion of the final assessment, no further action will be taken on ethylene glycol at this time.
The final assessment report was published on April 17, 2010.
What can Canadians do?
The health risks associated with a chemical depend on the hazard
(its potential to cause health effects) and the dose (the amount of
chemical to which you are exposed).
Ethylene glycol is not
presently a concern for the environment or human health at current
levels of exposure. However, Canadians are reminded when using any
product, to carefully follow any safety warnings and directions.
Canadians who handle this substance in the workplace should consult
with their occupational health and safety representative about safe
handling practices, applicable laws and requirements under the Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information System.
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