The possible haematological effects of glycol monomethyl ether in a frame factory.

Abstract

Haemopoietic effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) are described in three young women employed in a frame factory where the substance was applied under apparently safe hygienic conditions. In a ventilated room they used a mixture of acetone (70%) and EGME (30%) to glue together cellulose acetate frame components. During a periodic medical examination their white blood cell count was found to be abnormally low, with a relative lymphocytosis, macrocytosis with red blood cells, and haemoglobin at borderline normal values. These findings persisted over the exposure period but the haematological parameters returned to normal on stopping exposure. The subjects remained clinically healthy during the exposure period. This exposure to EGME occurred in an industry where such toxicity had not been previously reported and describes a situation in which the risk did not come from the exposure to vapour but most likely from an insufficient skin protection.Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME; meticellosolve) is a volatile and almost odourless solvent used primarily as an industrial solvent for resins, paints, dyes, and lacquers.'The first report describing acute effects of short term exosure concerns its use as a cleaning solvent in the production of fused shirt collars.23 Later reports have determined its toxicity for several animal species: the main actions are on the brain, blood, and kidney.45 Some cases of acute or subacute poisoning have been described in human subjects, due to ingestion or to high environmental exposure,"' but recently some authors have suggested that cutaneous absorption may play a significant part in poisoning in humans. '3 14 We describe haemopoietic effects of EGME in three workers employed in a glasses frame factory where the substance was used under apparently hygienic safe conditions. Work environment and exposure The affected workers were employed by a factory where celluloid glasses frames were made. They dipped the pieces to be fixed together in a kettle containing a mixture of acetone (70%) and EGME (30%); then glued them by cold pressing the two melted edges. They worked in a ventilated room standing directly over an aspirated table. Thin rubber gloves were worn but sometimes they handled the smallest pieces with bare hands, getting the solvent on their fingertips.Unfortunately the EGME was replaced before we could measure the concentration the workers were exposed to, but the environmental concentrations of acetone, which is much more volatile than EGME and which was the main component (70%) of the solvent mixture, were unremarkable.As the amount of the substance used was 1 1/day and we did not find excessive acetone in the environment, we assumed that EGME concentrations in the air were also negligible.Case reports Three young women employed in assembling glasses frames had their first periodic medical examination in 1987, two years after beginning their jobs.The clinical histories of the patients were negative; they did not suffer from virus infections, did not ...

Involvement of Caspase 3 Mediated Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Cytotoxicity of Metabolites of Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.

“…In the case of EGME, methoxy acetoaldehyde (MALD) and methoxy acetic acid (MAA) are formed, and are eliminated predominantly in the urine 2) . In hematopoiesis, there have been a limited number of case reports 3) showing mild macrocytic anemia and leukopenia, and laboratory animals exposed with these metabolites showed bone marrow hypocellularity resulting in pancytopenia 4) . However, the data on human bone marrow cells remain insufficient, and the mechanism of their toxicity has not been studied extensively 5) .…”

Hematological Follow‐up of an Intervention Program Adding Rubber Glove‐Wearing to Local Ventilation for 2‐Ethoxyethanol Acetate‐Exposed Workers

“…As far as we could determine, there are no reports on recovery from the hematological effects of 2-EE or 2-EEA in humans. Human case reports state that the hematological effect of 2-methoxy ethanol (2-ME), a structurally similar ethylene glycol ether to 2-EEA, quickly dissipates to normal, within 4 wk to 3 months after cessation of exposure [29][30][31][32][33][34] . Our recent paper also showed that subjects recovered very quickly from the 2-ME-induced hematological effects as the airborne concentrations of 2-ME and its major toxic metabolite, MAA (2-methoxy acetic acid), were reduced 35,36) .…”

Quantitative Assessment of Bone Marrow Cellularity by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Workers with Long-Term Exposure to Solvents.

“…In this disorder, severe cases of bone marrow disorders presenting as severe pancytopenia are very rare. However, mild cases of bone marrow disorders are hard to be detected because peripheral blood findings are not helpful in predicting the bone marrow damage in these cases 6,11) . Examination of the peripheral blood is a routine method for the screening of hematologic disorders, but it does not reflect the cellularity of the bone marrow directly.…”