| To: NIEHS Research Caused by the glycol ethers ...which are PESTICIDES, TERATOGENS, SOLVENTS, POISONS, NEUROTOXINS ANEMIA - Senator Robert Byrd - Assoc. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg doctors need to look more closely at THE ANEMIA they cause http://www.valdezlink.com/re/health/anemia-byrd-ginsburg.htm |
| What are glycol ethers? |
|
Exposure to Glycol Ethers and Subsequent Anemia |
| Margaret, Thank you for your comments about exposure to glycol ethers and subsequent anemia. The scientific literature seems to support your concerns. According to the California Department of Health Services' Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service, overexposure to glycol ethers can cause anemia and intoxication similar to the effects of alcohol. The website address for this document is www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/hesis/Documents/glycols.pdf A hazard summary statement prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that chronic exposure to the glycol ethers in humans may result in neurological and blood effects including fatigue, nausea, tremor, and anemia. The website address for this summary is http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/glycolet.html The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has published a good overview of the hazards associated with exposure to ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. According to this document, human exposures to this compound have been associated with hematological and neurological abnormalities. However, a long-term study of employees exposed to ethylene glycol monomethyl ether during manufacturing and packaging revealed no gross abnormalities or clinically meaningful differences in hematological or fertility indices. The website address is . http://oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/pdf/109864.pdf 7 pages Finally, our National
Toxicology Program has conducted a series of studies on the toxicity
of ethylene glycol ethers in laboratory animals. According to the
study report, treatment with methoxyethanol for 13 weeks resulted in
a progressive anemia associated with a cellular depletion of bone
marrow and fibrosis of the splenic capsule. Anemia was also seen
with 2-ethoxyethanol, but evidence of an adaptive response was
indicated by increased hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, spleen, and
liver. The website address for the technical report is
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=072D03A6-FE70-2A40-A0EF54057840FA83
|