Environnement, Risques & Santé
MENUEthylene glycol ether (EGME) and propylene glycol methyl ether (PGME) isomers: Mechanisms of their toxic effects on reproduction and development Volume 2, issue 2, Mars 2003
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- Key words: fetal development, reproduction, animal, ethylene glycols, propylene glycols.
- Page(s) : 89-96
- Published in: 2003
Glycol ethers are amphiphilic solvents widely used in industrial and domestic applications. Their toxicological effects on mammal reproduction and development have been widely studied and warnings about their use, and even bans, have been issued. This family of products varies widely in structure, differences that lead to diverse patterns of metabolism and toxicity. We review here the disruptive effects on reproduction and development of two glycol ethers of different generations : ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), a member of the older ethylenic series of glycol ethers, and α isomer of propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), one of the newer propylenic series. The alteration in spermatogenesis and teratogenic effects of EGME are well established, but the effects of PGME require additional study, particularly the differences between α and β isomers.