2025/03/31 by Hartwig, Andrea, MAK Commission
#2-Methoxyethanol #571.95 Toxicology #571.95 Toxikologie #616.9803 Betriebs- und Arbeitsmedizin #616.9803 Industrial and occupational medicine #Entwicklungstoxizität #Ethylene glycol methyl ether #Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether #Ethylenglykolmonomethylether #Fertilität #Glycol methyl ether #Glycol monomethyl ether #Hämatotoxizität #Luft #MAK value #MAK-Wert #Methoxyhydroxyethane #Methyl cellosolve #Methyl ethoxol #Methyl glycol #Methylcellosolve #Methylglykol #Methyloxitol #Schwangerschaftsgruppe #Voraussetzung Schwangerschaftsgruppe C #air #developmental toxicity #fertility #haematotoxicity #maximale Arbeitsplatzkonzentration #maximum workplace concentration #pregnancy risk group #prerequisite pregnancy risk group C
paper · doi:10.34865/mb10986d10_1ad
The German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) re-evaluated the data for developmental toxicity and the derivation of the occupational exposure limit value (maximum concentration at the workplace, MAK value) for 2-methoxyethanol [109-86-4]. The MAK value was derived in analogy to the BAT value (biological tolerance value) for the metabolite methoxyacetic acid of 15 mg methoxyacetic acid/g creatinine. This concentration was extrapolated to a 2-methoxyethanol concentration in air using the findings of a volunteer study and toxicokinetic considerations. The MAK value of 1 ml/m3 was retained based on these results. The substance remains classified in Pregnancy Risk Group B because a risk for the developing foetus cannot be ruled out at exposure to the MAK value of 1 ml/m3. This was concluded based on embryo-/foetotoxic and teratogenic effects induced by the metabolite methoxyacetic acid in rats, mice, rabbits and monkeys. A 2-methoxyethanol concentration of 0.15 ml/m3 was derived for the workplace from the lowest NOAEC (no observed adverse effect concentration) of 3 ml/m3 for developmental toxicity induced in rabbits by 2-methoxyethanol; damage to the embryo or foetus is unlikely at this concentration (the prerequisite for assignment to Pregnancy Risk Group C).