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    5. The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety
    6. Article
    7. Volume 9 (2024)
    8. Issue 1
    9. Diethylenglykolmonomethylether – Evaluierung eines BAT-Wertes
Cover: The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

German Research Foundation – Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area
(MAK Commission)

ISSN 2509-2383



Diethylenglykolmonomethylether – Evaluierung eines BAT-Wertes

Beurteilungswerte in biologischem Material

Katrin Klotz1
  Hans Drexler2 (Leitung der Arbeitsgruppe „Beurteilungswerte in biologischem Material“ der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  Andrea Hartwig3 (Vorsitz der Ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission4

1 Berufsgenossenschaft Holz und Metall, Weinmarkt 9–11, 90403 Nürnberg, Deutschland
2 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Henkestraße 9–11, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland
3 Institut für Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Abteilung Lebensmittelchemie und Toxikologie, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Geb. 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Deutschland
4 Ständige Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Deutschland

Abstract

In 2023, the German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) derived an occupational exposure limit value (maximum concentration at the workplace, MAK value) of 10 ml/m3 (50 mg/m3) for diethylene glycol monomethyl ether [111-77-3]. In this article, the data for diethylene glycol monomethyl ether are summarized and evaluated to derive a biological tolerance value (BAT value). The toxic effect of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether is related to the metabolite methoxyacetic acid and its metabolic precursor 2-methoxyethanol (ethylene glycol monomethyl ether). Therefore, those metabolites were considered for the evaluation of the BAT value. The BAT value for 2-methoxyethanol of 15 mg methoxyacetic acid/g creatinine was derived from the no observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) for haematotoxicity in humans. The NOAEC of testicular toxicity is in the same order of magnitude. Therefore, a BAT value of 15 mg methoxyacetic acid/g creatinine was derived for diethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Sampling time is at the end of the shift on the last day of the working week after at least 2 weeks of exposure.

Keywords

diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methoxyacetic acid, biological tolerance value, BAT value