Subchronic oral toxicity of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether in male rats

Adult male rats (Crl:COBS CD (SD)BR) were given undiluted ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) by gavage in doses of 222, 443, or 885 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week over a 6-week period. A dose-dependent decrease, which was statistically significant at the high dose, was seen in body weight gain. Feed consumption was also significantly reduced at the 885-mg/kg dose. The most significant toxic effects produced by EGBE were on the red blood cells including a significant dose-dependent decrease in hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell counts, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume were increased at all dose levels. Effects secondary to the red cell effects included increased spleen weights, splenic congestion, and hemosiderin accumulation in the liver and kidneys. Relative liver weights and serum alkaline phosphatase (443- and 885-mg/kg doses) and serum alanine aminotransferase (885-mg/kg dose) levels were increased. Glucose was significantly reduced in the animals given 885 mg/kg/day. EGBE had no adverse effects on the testes, bone marrow, thymus, or white blood cells.