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    7. Volume 9 (2024)
    8. Issue 1
    9. 2-Methoxyethanol and 2-methoxyethyl acetate – Addendum: re-evaluation of the BAT value
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



2-Methoxyethanol and 2-methoxyethyl acetate – Addendum: re-evaluation of the BAT value

Assessment Values in Biological Material – Translation of the German version from 2024

Thomas Göen1
  Hans Drexler1 (Head of the working group “Assessment Values in Biological Material” of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  Andrea Hartwig2 (Chair of the Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
  MAK Commission3

1 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Henkestraße 9–11, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
2 Institute of Applied Biosciences, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Adenauerring 20a, Building 50.41, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
3 Permanent Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Kennedyallee 40, 53175 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

The German Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission) summarized and evaluated the data for 2-methoxyethanol [109-86-4] and 2-methoxyethyl acetate [110-49-6] to derive a biological tolerance value (BAT value) considering all toxicological end points. In 2008, the Commission derived a BAT value of 15 mg methoxyacetic acid/g creatinine for 2-methoxyethanol and 2-methoxyethyl acetate based on the haematotoxic effects in humans occupationally exposed to 2-methoxyethanol. In this article, new data on toxicity and toxicological mechanisms mainly regarding testicular toxicity are evaluated. The data are compliant with the former assessment that testicular toxicity is in the same order of magnitude as haematotoxicity. As a result, the BAT value of 15 mg methoxyacetic acid/g creatinine is confirmed. 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

2-methoxyethanol, 2-methoxyethyl acetate, methoxyacetic acid, biological tolerance value, BAT value