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Objective. The two isomers propylene glycol monomethyl ether [PGME-α (1-methoxy-2-propanol, M2P) and PGME-β (2-methoxy-1-propanol)] have different toxicities due to the different ways they are metabolised. The higher toxicity of PGME-β has been attributed to the formation of 2-methoxypropionic acid (2-MPA) as a metabolite of primary alcohol. Six healthy male volunteers were exposed to PGME-α vapour (15, 50 and 95 ppm) with and without respiratory protection for 6 h, including a 30-min break. They were also exposed to PGME-α liquid (10% or 30% in water), via one hand, for 30 min or 1 h. Commercial products of M2P always contain a small quantity of the β isomer, and GC analysis has shown that the product used for this human volunteer exposure contained approximately 0.3% of the β isomer. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of 2-MPA in urine after these exposures to 99.7% PGME-α. Method. An analytical method developed by Laitinen [6] was used for the determination of 2-MPA in the urine of exposed volunteers. Results. End exposure levels of 2-MPA were found to reach from 1.19 to 3.29 mg/l for inhalation and dermal exposure to PGME-α vapour and from under the detection limit to 2.10 mg/l for exposure of one hand in PGME-α liquid. 2-MPA concentrations in urine samples from a non-exposed person or from a person exposed to PGME-α vapour at 15 ppm (inhalation and dermal exposure) and also from a person exposed to PGME-α vapour up to 95 ppm with respiratory protection (dermal-only exposure) all varied from under the detection limit to 0.30 mg/l and are then not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In order to identify users of PGME and potential exposures, a chemical registration database maintained in Switzerland was analysed. Method: The database contains information on the composition of products (qualitative and quantitative), the field of use, the year of registration and the domain of commercial applications (public or professional). Results: Identification of potential exposures in Switzerland was carried out. Out of a total of 150,000 products, 2334 were found to contain PGME and most contained between 1% and 10% PGME. There was a great increase in the number of products declared between 1983 and 1991. The principal fields of use were in inks, varnishes and paints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]