What are ethylene glycol ethers?

What are ethylene glycol ethers?

Glycol ethers are a group of solvents based on alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol commonly used in paints and cleaners. These solvents typically have a higher boiling point, together with the favorable solvent properties of lower-molecular weight ethers and alcohols.

What does glycol ether do?

Glycol ethers are a large group of organic solvents used in industry and the home as glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, floor cleaners and oven cleaners. They are absorbed as volatile fumes from the air by the skin as well as inhalation.

What is a 313 chemical?

Ammonia (includes anhydrous ammonia and aqueous ammonia from water dissociable ammonium salts and other sources; 10 percent of total aqueous ammonia is reportable under this Page 3 Table II. EPCRA Section 313 Chemical List for Reporting Year 2020 Toxics Release Inventory Reporting Forms and Instructions II-3 listing).

What are some of the effects of glycol ethers?

Acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of the glycol ethers in humans results in narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Chronic (long-term) exposure to the glycol ethers in humans may result in neurological and blood effects, including fatigue, nausea, tremor, and anemia.

What is glycol in chemistry?

glycol, any of a class of organic compounds belonging to the alcohol family; in the molecule of a glycol, two hydroxyl (―OH) groups are attached to different carbon atoms. The term is often applied to the simplest member of the class, ethylene glycol.

What does glycol ether smell like?

This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol….2-Butoxyethanol.

How does glycol ethers enter the body?

The glycol ethers may readily enter the body by inhalation as well as dermal uptake.

What does Title III SARA mean?

Title III of SARA (SARA Title III) is the Emer- gency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA). SARA Title III establishes requirements for federal, state, and local governments, Indian tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and Community Right-to-Know reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals.

What is glycol and glycerol?

Glycols are alcohols with two OH groups on adjacent carbon atoms. Glycerol is the most important trihydroxy alcohol.

What is glycol made up of?

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.” The name ethylene glycol refers literally to “the glycol made from ethylene.”…

What is the formula for glycol ethers?

The glycol ethers category is defined by the following formula: R – (OCH 2 CH 2 n – OR’ where: n = 1, 2, or 3; R = Alkyl C7 or less, or phenyl or alkyl substituted phenyl; R’ = H or alkyl C7 or less, or OR’ consisting of a carboxylic acid ester, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, or sulfate.

When did the EPA change the definition of glycol ethers?

On June 28, 1994, EPA promulgated a final rule (published in the Federal Register July 5, 1994, 59 FR 34386) modifying the definition of the glycol ethers category on the list of toxic chemicals under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), 42 U.S.C. 11001 et seq.

What are glycol ethers used for?

The glycol ethers are used as solvents for resins, lacquers, paints, varnishes, gum, perfume, dyes, inks, as. a constituent of paints and pastes, cleaning compounds, liquid soaps, cosmetics, and hydraulic fluids.

What is Section 313 of the EPCRA?

List of Toxic Chemicals within the Certain Glycol Ethers Category Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) requires certain facilities manufacturing, processing, or otherwise using listed toxic chemicals to report the annual quantity of such chemicals entering each environmental medium.