Number
037-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Scientific research and development
Health services
General manufacturing, e.g. machinery, equipment, vehicles, other transport equipment
Manufacture of bulk, large scale chemicals (including petroleum products)
Manufacture of fine chemicals
Manufacture of rubber products
Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
Other
Function
Solvent
Other
Process
Chemical production or refinery in closed process without likelihood of exposure or processes with equivalent containment conditions.
Chemical production or refinery in closed continuous process with occasional controlled exposure or processes with equivalent containment conditions
Manufacture or formulation in the chemical industry in closed batch processes with occasional controlled exposure or processes with equivalent containment condition
Chemical production where opportunity for exposure arises
Transfer of substance or mixture (charging and discharging) at non-dedicated facilities
Transfer of substance or mixture (charging and discharging) at dedicated facilities
Transfer of substance or mixture into smallcontainers (dedicated filling line, including weighing)
Product category
other
Application
Diverse
Abstract
This document concerns the general toxicity of 2-methoxyethanol and some common alternatives to its use in different applications. The most common substitutes for 2-methoxyethanol are: PGME, EGBE, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (EGPE) and their acetates (PGMEA, EGBEA, EGPEA). The decision which alternative to use depends on what application 2-methoxyethanol is currently used in.
Substituted substances
2-Methoxyethanol
CAS No. 109-86-4 EC No. 203-713-7 Index No. 603-011-00-4
Chemical group
Glycol ethers
Classification: hazard statements
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
H360FD May damage fertility. May damage the unborn child
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
H302 Harmful if swallowed
Alternative Substances
2-Methoxy-1-methylethyl acetate
CAS No. 108-65-6 EC No. 203-603-9 Index No. 607-195-00-7
Chemical group
Carboxylic acid esters
Classification: hazard statements
H226 Flammable liquid and vapour
2-Butoxyethanol
CAS No. 111-76-2 EC No. 203-905-0 Index No. 603-014-00-0
Chemical group
Glycol ethers
Classification: hazard statements
H331 Toxic if inhaled
H302 Harmful if swallowed
H315 Causes skin irritation
H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Other adverse effects
$adverseeffectsEN
2-Butoxyethyl acetate
CAS No. 112-07-2 EC No. 203-933-3 Index No. 607-038-00-2
Chemical group
Carboxylic acid ester
Classification: hazard statements
H332 Harmful if inhaled
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
2-(Propyloxy)ethanol
CAS No. 2807-30-9 EC No. 220-548-6 Index No. 603-095-00-2
Chemical group
Glycol ethers
Classification: hazard statements
H312 Harmful in contact with skin
H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate
CAS No. 763-69-9 EC No. 212-112-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Carboxylic acid esters; ethers
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
physical hazards
CMR
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: 2-methoxyethanol may cause cancer (cat. 1B), according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). It fulfils the criteria to be listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Alternative substances: The alternative substances are not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database. » Check the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC)
Description of Substitution
2-Methoxyethanol has found a wide application as a solvent, chemical intermediate and solvent coupler of mixtures and water-based formulations. Its use has declined, however, in recent years as a result of its classification and consequent replacement by other substances in some countries. For cosmetics the use of 2-Methoxyethanol is forbidden. Sources indicate that it is now mainly used as a chemical intermediate or as additive for fuels (OSPA, 2010). It can also be used as an industrial processing aid in different areas (e.g. in the manufacture of medical devices). According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, 1993) the most common substitutes for 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol and their acetates are PGME, EGBE, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (EGPE) and their acetates (PGMEA, EGBEA, EGPEA). These chemicals account for almost 90 percent of reported substitutions. It is important to consider that the substitution of 2-methoxyethanol must always be investigated in detail for every specific application, especially if it is used as a solvent or in plastics industry. It is therefore not feasible to name a general substitute for 2-methoxymethanol in all applications. The substances mentioned above are however good alternatives regarding both function and toxicological properties. Aside from alternatives to 2-methoxyethanol the document also contains information on physical and chemical properties of the substance as well as information on hazards for environment and human health, and on use and exposure.
Case/substitution evaluation
This is a dossier prepared for the inclusion of 2-methoxyethanol for the candidate list of SVHC. The dossier identifies the alternatives used. Even though some of the alternatives may be regarded safer than the original substance, there is still a need to identify even safer alternatives for 2-methoxyethanol.
Type of information supplier
Authority
Producer / distributor
Contact
The document is authored by the Environment Agency Austria in cooperation with the Belgian Federal Public Service and the Polsh Bureau for Chemical Substances and Preparations. Many of the statistics in the report come from the Oxygenated Solvent Producers Association (OSPA).
Type of publication and availability
Annex XV dossier, freely available
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
Daphnia Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS) - CCOO December 1995
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/b6b959c2-14c8-4612-9e91-cf181a867dd2
Date, reviewed
December 11, 2020