2-butoxyethyl acetate

Direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Administrative data

Endpoint:

direct observations: clinical cases, poisoning incidents and other

Type of information:

other: case history

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

1988

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Publication contained sufficient detail to be able to judge it reliable as supporting data.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Severe ethylene glycol butyl ether poisoning. Kinetic and metabolic pattern.

Author:

Rambourg-Schepens MO, Buffet M, Bertault R, Jaussaud M, Journe B, Fay R and Lamiable D,

Year:

1988

Bibliographic source:

Human Toxicol., 7, 187-189.

Materials and methods

Study type:

poisoning incident

Endpoint addressed:

acute toxicity: oral

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline required

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Not applicable - poisoning incident.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2-butoxyethanol

EC Number:

203-905-0

EC Name:

2-butoxyethanol

Cas Number:

111-76-2

Molecular formula:

C6H14O2

IUPAC Name:

2-butoxyethanol

Details on test material:

Substance contained in a window cleaner preparation containing 12% 2-butoxyethanol

Method

Subjects:

- Number of subjects exposed: 1
- Sex: female
- Age: 50 years

Route of exposure:

oral

Reason of exposure:

intentional

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Details on exposure:

Estimated intake 0.5 to 1.0g/kg in a single acute exposure

Medical treatment:

Artificial respiration. Frusemide administered on day 2.

Results and discussion

Clinical signs:

On admission to the intensive care unit, the patient was comatose.

Results of examinations:

Biochemically the subject presented with metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia, a rise in serum creatinine level and a markedly increased urinary excretion of oxalate crystals. Heart rate and blood pressure normal. Moderate haemoglobinuria between days 3-6 and progressive erythropenia (RBC 3.12x10E12/l, Hc 28.6%, Hg 9.7g/l on day 10)

Outcome of incidence:

Patient discharged on day 10.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Overload of the normal metabolic pathway may have lead to cleavage of the ether linkage as an alternative pathway, leading to ethylene glycol and subsequently oxalic acid metabolites.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Acute exposure of a human to 0.5-1g/kg of 2-butoxyethanol cause marked but fully reversible effects.

Executive summary:

In a suicide attempt, a 50-year woman ingested 250-500 ml of a window cleaner containing 12 % of 2 -butoxyethanol, corresponding to about 0.5 to 1 g/kg bw. On admission to the intensive care unit, the patient was comatose. Biochemically she presented with metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia, a rise in serum creatinine level and a markedly increased urinary excretion of oxalate crystals. The patient made a full recovery after 7 days