Triethylene glycol HO(CH₂CH₂O)₃H

Abstract

TEG is a liquid higher glycol of very low vapor pressure with uses that are primarily industrial. It has a very low order of acute toxicity by i.v., i.p., peroral, percutaneous and inhalation (vapor and aerosol) routes of exposure. It does not produce primary skin irritation. Acute eye contact with the liquid causes mild local transient irritation (conjunctival hyperemia and slight chemosis) but does not induce corneal injury. Animal maximization and human volunteer repeated insult patch tests studies have shown that TEG does not cause skin sensitization. A study with Swiss-Webster mice demonstrated that TEG aerosol has properties of a peripheral chemosensory irritant material and caused a depression of breathing rate with an RD(50) of 5140 mg m(-3). Continuous subchronic peroral dosing of TEG in the diet of rats did not produce any systemic cumulative or long-term toxicity. The effects seen were dose-related increased relative kidney weight, increased urine volume and decreased urine pH, probably a result of the renal excretion of TEG and metabolites following the absorption of large doses of TEG. There was also decreased hemoglobin concentration, decreased hematocrit and increased mean corpuscular volume, probably due to hemodilution following absorption of TEG. The NOAEL was 20 000 ppm TEG in diet. Short-term repeated aerosol exposure studies in the rat demonstrated that, by nose-only exposure, the threshold for effects by respiratory tract exposure was 1036 mg m(-3). Neither high dosage acute nor repeated exposures to TEG produce hepatorenal injury characteristic of that caused by the lower glycol homologues. Elimination studies with acute peroral doses of TEG given to rats and rabbits showed high recoveries (91-98% over 5 days), with the major fraction appearing in urine (84-94%) and only 1% as CO(2). TEG in urine is present in unchanged and oxidized forms, but only negligible amounts as oxalic acid. Developmental toxicity studies with undiluted TEG given by gavage produced maternal toxicity in rats (body weight, food consumption, water consumption, and relative kidney weight) with a NOEL of 1126 mg kg(-1) day(-1), and mice (relative kidney weight) with a NOEL of 5630 mg kg(-1) day(-1). Developmental toxicity, expressed as fetotoxicity, had a NOEL of 5630 mg kg(-1) day(-1) with the rat and 563 mg kg(-1) day(-1) with mice. Neither species showed any evidence of embryotoxicity or teratogenicity. There was no evidence for reproductive toxicity with mice given up to 3% TEG in drinking water in a continuous breeding study. TEG did not produce mutagenic or clastogenic effects in the following in vitro genetic toxicology studies: Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test, SOS-chromotest in E. coli, CHO forward gene mutation test (HGPRT locus), CHO sister chromatid exchange test, and a chromosome aberration test with CHO cells. The use patterns suggest that exposure to TEG is mainly occupational, with limited exposures by consumers. Exposure is normally by skin and eye contact. Local and systemic adverse health e...

Triethylene Glycol Up-Regulates Virulence-Associated Genes and Proteins in Streptococcus mutans

“…It is characterised by two hydroxyl groups along with two ether linkages, which contribute to its high water solubility, hygroscopicity, solvent properties and reactivity with many organic compounds [53]. Due to its lipophilic nature, TEGDMA, the precursor of TEG, can easily penetrate the cytosol and lipid compartment of mammalian cells [54, 55].…”

“…TEG has been used for a variety of applications in industry including natural gas dehydration and as a humectant, solvent, and chemical intermediate in the synthesis of resins, plasticizers, lubricants and polyurethanes [53]. In the 1940s TEG vapor or mist was first introduced for disinfection purposes, especially in hospital wards [58].…”

Diethylene Glycol in Health Products Sold Over-the-Counter and Imported from Asian Countries

“…The median percent DEG v/v for medications implicated in the 1995 Haiti mass poisoning was 14.4% [3] Regrettably, information about TEG in the literature is scarce, but TEG is considered to have a low order of toxicity [9]. Only two reports of human poisoning could be found in the medical literature [8,10].…”

“…TEG is an ethylene glycol derivative that has been used in certain brake fluid formulations. It has been reported to cause coma and metabolic acidosis when ingested in extremely large amounts [8][9][10]. It is important to note that although TEG may have some inherent toxicity at large doses and was found as a co-contaminant in medication samples from the Nigeria DEG mass poisoning, the majority of toxicity is most likely due to DEG.…”

Evaluation of pulmonary toxicity of benzalkonium chloride and triethylene glycol mixtures using in vitro and in vivo systems

“…Triethylene glycol (TEG) is a liquid used as a solvent, a humectant, and a chemical intermediate . TEG mist or vapor has been used for disinfection because it shows bactericidal activity against pneumococci, streptococci, and staphylococci .…”