Number
085-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Health services
Scientific research and development
Function
Other
Process
Other
Product category
laboratory chemicals
Application
Double esterase analysis
Abstract
2-Methoxyethanol is a part of two different incubation media. These incubation medium are used in double esterase analysis, a kind of blood analysis.
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
Ethanol
CAS No. 64-17-5 EC No. 200-578-6 Index No. 603-002-00-5
Chemical group
Alcohol
Classification: hazard statements
H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour
Other adverse effects
The substance is: 1 carcinogen (IARC), as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Reliability of information
Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication
Reason substitution
CMR
Hazard Assessment
The alternative, ethanol, is included in in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORT screening criteria (SDSC), however only for presence in alcoholic beverages, which this is not. It is also highly flammable. 2-methoxyethanol holds the R-phrases R10, 60, 61, 20/21/22.
Description of Substitution
Incubation is one of the steps included in double esterase analysis. The sample which typically comes from blood or bone marrow is air-dried and then fixated. After this the smears of blood or bone marrow are incubated in two steps. In the first step the sample is incubated in an incubation medium for 15 minutes. After this the sample is incubated in a different incubation medium for an additional 5 minutes. Both of these incubations mediums usually contain 2-methoxyethanol. In this substitution however, 2-methoxyethanol has been substituted with ethanol.
The advantages with using ethanol instead of 2-methoxyethanol is that ethanol is less hazardous and therefore less restricted and also easier to work with. A further advantage with the substitution is that there are no changes in the original process when changing from 2-methoxyethanol to ethanol which makes the substitution easy to perform.
There are currently no known disadvantages with the substitution. An important thing to note however is that the colouring of the samples are different when using 2-methoxyethanol compared to ethanol. The difference is not important though as the cells are just as easy to count which is the purpose of the analysis.
Case/substitution evaluation
2-methoxyethanol holds a number of properties making it very inappropriate from the workers' health perspective, including reproductive toxicity and harmful by inhalation, contact or swallowed. To substitute this with ethanol is very beneficial, if the ethanol is handled with care due to its flammability.
State of implementation
Full capacity
Enterprise using the alternative
Department for Clinical chemistry at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Availability ofAlternative
On the market.
Type of information supplier
User
Contact
Research analyst at the department for Clinical chemistry at Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Date, reviewed
February 27, 2020