Skip to main content
PMC home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 2003 Feb;60(2):130–135. doi: 10.1136/oem.60.2.130

Follow up study of haematological effects in workers exposed to 2-methoxyethanol

T Shih 1, A Hsieh 1, Y Chen 1, G Liao 1, C Chen 1, J Chou 1, S Liou 1
PMCID: PMC1740461  PMID: 12554841

Abstract

Aims: To examine the association between 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) exposure and haematological effects, as well as the recovery from these haematological effects with continuous reduction in exposure to 2-ME.

Methods: Twenty nine exposed and 90 non-exposed workers were recruited. Haematological parameters, eight hour full shift personal exposure to 2-ME, and urinary 2-methoxyacetic acid (MAA) were repeatedly measured in three consecutive surveys within six months.

Results: Results of haematological examination in the first exposure survey showed that haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count in the male exposed workers were significantly lower than those in the comparison workers. The frequency of anaemia in the exposed group (42%) was significantly higher than that in the comparison group (3%). The haematological effects were significantly associated with the urinary MAA of exposed workers. The haematological effects had returned to normal in the first follow up survey 2.5 months later, when a reduction in 2-ME exposure was noted. Haematological results of the second follow up examination six months later remained normal. The mean airborne exposure of 2-ME in the three surveys dropped from 35.7 to 2.65, then to 0.55 ppm. The mean urinary MAA of exposed workers in the three surveys was reduced from 57.7 to 24.6, then to 13.5 mg/g creatinine (n = 29). The reduction in exposure through both inhalation and potential dermal contact with 2-ME might account for the haematological recovery.

Conclusion: 2-ME is a haematological toxin which leads to anaemia in exposed workers. However, the toxic haematological effects of 2-ME persist for only a short period of time after cessation or reduction of exposure.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (150.5 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brown N. A., Holt D., Webb M. The teratogenicity of methoxyacetic acid in the rat. Toxicol Lett. 1984 Jul;22(1):93–100. doi: 10.1016/0378-4274(84)90051-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cohen R. Reversible subacute ethylene glycol monomethyl ether toxicity associated with microfilm production: a case report. Am J Ind Med. 1984;6(6):441–446. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700060607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cook R. R., Bodner K. M., Kolesar R. C., Uhlmann C. S., VanPeenen P. F., Dickson G. S., Flanagan K. A cross-sectional study of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether process employees. Arch Environ Health. 1982 Nov-Dec;37(6):346–351. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1982.10667589. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Groeseneken D., Veulemans H., Masschelein R., Van Vlem E. Experimental human exposure to ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1989;61(4):243–247. doi: 10.1007/BF00381421. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kezić S., Mahieu K., Monster A. C., de Wolff F. A. Dermal absorption of vaporous and liquid 2-methoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol in volunteers. Occup Environ Med. 1997 Jan;54(1):38–43. doi: 10.1136/oem.54.1.38. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Larese F., Fiorito A., De Zotti R. The possible haematological effects of glycol monomethyl ether in a frame factory. Br J Ind Med. 1992 Feb;49(2):131–133. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.2.131. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Larese F., Fiorito A., De Zotti R. The possible haematological effects of glycol monomethyl ether in a frame factory. Br J Ind Med. 1992 Feb;49(2):131–133. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.2.131. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Miller R. R., Carreon R. E., Young J. T., McKenna M. J. Toxicity of methoxyacetic acid in rats. Fundam Appl Toxicol. 1982 Jul-Aug;2(4):158–160. doi: 10.1016/s0272-0590(82)80039-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Miller R. R., Hermann E. A., Langvardt P. W., McKenna M. J., Schwetz B. A. Comparative metabolism and disposition of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether in male rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1983 Feb;67(2):229–237. doi: 10.1016/0041-008x(83)90229-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Moss E. J., Thomas L. V., Cook M. W., Walters D. G., Foster P. M., Creasy D. M., Gray T. J. The role of metabolism in 2-methoxyethanol-induced testicular toxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1985 Jul;79(3):480–489. doi: 10.1016/0041-008x(85)90145-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Nagano K., Nakayama E., Oobayashi H., Nishizawa T., Okuda H., Yamazaki K. Experimental studies on toxicity of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers in Japan. Environ Health Perspect. 1984 Aug;57:75–84. doi: 10.1289/ehp.845775. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Nitter-Hauge S. Poisoning with ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Report of two cases. Acta Med Scand. 1970 Oct;188(4):277–280. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1970.tb08037.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ohi G., Wegman D. H. Transcutaneous ethylene glycol monomethyl ether poisoning in the work setting. J Occup Med. 1978 Oct;20(10):675–676. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ritter E. J., Scott W. J., Jr, Randall J. L., Ritter J. M. Teratogenicity of dimethoxyethyl phthalate and its metabolites methoxyethanol and methoxyacetic acid in the rat. Teratology. 1985 Aug;32(1):25–31. doi: 10.1002/tera.1420320105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Shih T. S., Chen C. Y., Cheng R. I., Wu L. J. Field evaluation of a passive sampler for the exposure assessment of 2-methoxyethanol. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Mar;73(2):98–104. doi: 10.1007/s004200050014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Shih T. S., Chou J. S., Chen C. Y., Smith T. J. Improved method to measure urinary alkoxyacetic acids. Occup Environ Med. 1999 Jul;56(7):460–467. doi: 10.1136/oem.56.7.460. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Shih T. S., Hsieh A. T., Liao G. D., Chen Y. H., Liou S. H. Haematological and spermatotoxic effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether in copper clad laminate factories. Occup Environ Med. 2000 May;57(5):348–352. doi: 10.1136/oem.57.5.348. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Shih T. S., Liou S. H., Chen C. Y., Chou J. S. Correlation between urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid and exposure of 2-methoxy ethanol. Occup Environ Med. 1999 Oct;56(10):674–678. doi: 10.1136/oem.56.10.674. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Shih T. S., Wang P. Y., Chen C. Y., Smith T. J., Hu Y. P. Measurement of percutaneous uptake of 2-methoxy ethanol vapor in humans. J Occup Environ Med. 2000 May;42(5):475–482. doi: 10.1097/00043764-200005000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sleet R. B., Greene J. A., Welsch F. The relationship of embryotoxicity to disposition of 2-methoxyethanol in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1988 Apr;93(2):195–207. doi: 10.1016/0041-008x(88)90120-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Welch L. S., Cullen M. R. Effect of exposure to ethylene glycol ethers on shipyard painters: III. Hematologic effects. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(5):527–536. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Welch L. S., Schrader S. M., Turner T. W., Cullen M. R. Effects of exposure to ethylene glycol ethers on shipyard painters: II. Male reproduction. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(5):509–526. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140503. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Wickramaratne G. A. The teratogenic potential and dose-response of dermally administered ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) estimated in rats with the Chernoff-Kavlock assay. J Appl Toxicol. 1986 Jun;6(3):165–166. doi: 10.1002/jat.2550060305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Yonemoto J., Brown N. A., Webb M. Effects of dimethoxyethyl phthalate, monomethoxyethyl phthalate, 2-methoxyethanol and methoxyacetic acid on post implantation rat embryos in culture. Toxicol Lett. 1984 Apr;21(1):97–102. doi: 10.1016/0378-4274(84)90229-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. ZAVON M. R. Methyl Cellosolve intoxication. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1963 Jan-Feb;24:36–41. doi: 10.1080/00028896309342921. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES