Acute inhalation toxicity assessment of 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1- ol in Sprague-Dawley rats

• Published in: Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 235 - 239
• Main Authors: Eun-Sang Cho, Ja-Young Jang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 충북대학교 동물의학연구소 30.12.2022
• Subjects: actual concentration; inhalation toxicity study; nose-only inhalation; 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol; acute inhalation toxicity
• ISSN: 2508-1357; 2508-139X

The surfactant, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol, is used in detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, and disinfectants. Since it is found in products that can be inhaled, we evaluated its toxicity to humans upon exposure. A total of 18 rats were exposed to nasal inhalation for 4 hr to determine the acute inhalation toxicity of 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy) ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol; the exposure concentrations were 5.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mg/L, with three males and three females at each concentration. After the end of the exposure, mortality, general symptoms, and weight changes were observed for 14 days, and autopsy findings were confirmed. The actual concentrations of the test substance in the chamber during the exposure were measured as 3.29, 1.03, and 0.52 mg/L, respectively. The delivered dose was 552.72, 173.04, and 87.36 mg/kg/day for males, and 829.08, 259.56, and 131.04 mg/kg/day for females. As a result of the test in the OECD Test Guideline 436, all animals exposed to a concentration of 3.29 mg/L died; three males and one female died out of six exposed to the 1.0 mg/L concentration. In addition, one died out of six males exposed to a 0.5 mg/L concentration. As a result, 2-{2-[2-(4-nonylphenoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethan-1-ol was considered to be Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Category 2 (> 0.5–1 mg/L).