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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
11:32
Characteristics of Precipitation-formed Polyethylene Glycol Microgels Are Controlled by Molecular Weight of Reactants
Published on: December 23, 2013
Triethylene glycol HO(CH2CH2O)3H
Bryan Ballantyne1, William M Snellings
1Consultant in Clinical and Occupational Toxicology, 871 Chappell Road, Charleston, WV 25304, USA.
Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT
|February 15, 2007
Summary
Triethylene glycol (TEG) exhibits low acute toxicity and is not a skin irritant. While aerosol exposure may cause respiratory irritation, TEG shows minimal risk for systemic toxicity, reproductive issues, or environmental harm.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Hygiene
Background:
- Triethylene glycol (TEG) is a higher glycol with industrial applications and very low vapor pressure.
- Understanding its toxicological profile and environmental impact is crucial for occupational safety and risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate the toxicological properties of TEG via various exposure routes.
- To assess the potential for skin irritation, sensitization, and systemic toxicity.
- To determine the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of TEG.
Main Methods:
- Acute toxicity testing (i.v., i.p., peroral, percutaneous, inhalation).
- Skin and eye irritation studies, sensitization tests (maximization and human volunteer studies).
- Subchronic and chronic toxicity studies (oral and inhalation), developmental and reproductive toxicity studies, genotoxicity assays.
- Environmental fate studies (hydrolysis, photolysis, soil mobility) and ecotoxicity testing (aquatic organisms).
Main Results:
- TEG demonstrated low acute toxicity across all tested routes and did not cause primary skin irritation or sensitization.
- Aerosol exposure showed peripheral chemosensory irritant effects and potential respiratory irritation with repeated exposure; NOAEL for diet was 20,000 ppm.
- Developmental toxicity studies indicated maternal toxicity at high doses but no teratogenicity; no reproductive toxicity was observed.
- TEG is essentially non-toxic to aquatic organisms, has low bioconcentration potential, and is degraded in the atmosphere, indicating low ecotoxicological risk.
Conclusions:
- TEG possesses a favorable toxicological profile with low acute and chronic toxicity, minimal skin/eye irritation, and no genotoxic, teratogenic, or reproductive effects.
- Occupational exposure, primarily via skin/eye contact, poses minimal risk, with appropriate protective measures recommended.
- Environmental assessments indicate a low potential for ecotoxicological effects, supporting its safe industrial use.
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