Reproductive toxicity of the industrial solvent 2-ethoxyethanol in rats and interactive effects of ethanol

The solvent, 2-ethoxyethanol, induced complete embryomortality in pregnant rats exposed to three times the current Federal permissible exposure limit (PEL). Following exposure to ethoxyethanol at a concentration only one-half the current PEL, the offspring evidenced behavioral and neurochemical deviations from controls. Subsequent studies found that ingestion of ethanol with concomitant inhalation of ethoxyethanol vapors early in pregnancy appeared to reduce the number of both behavioral and neurochemical deviations found for ethoxyethanol. In contrast, the concomitant exposure to ethanol and ethoxyethanol later in gestation potentiated the behavioral and neurochemical effects of ethoxyethanol. This research indicates that the industrial solvent 2-ethoxyethanol presents an occupational reproductive hazard and raises the issue of the importance of an interaction of social habits with occupational exposure to such hazards. The results would suggest that occupational physicians should advise pregnant workers in the chemical industry of the adverse effects of ethanol during pregnancy and of the possible interactions with other chemicals and should encourage them to be especially cautious with ethanol consumption since they may be at greater risk.