Criteria Document for Swedish Occupational Standards. Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate

The labour market, occupational safety and health, and work organisation are our main fields of activity. The creation and use of knowledge through learning, information and documentation are important to the Institute, as is international cooperation. The Institute is collaborating with interested parties in various development projects. The areas in which the Institute is active include: • labour market and labour law, • work organisation, • musculoskeletal disorders, • chemical substances and allergens, noise and electromagnetic fields, • the psychosocial problems and strain-related disorders in modern working life. to write this criteria document concerning ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate. Based on this document the Criteria Group will present a report to be used as the scientific background material by the National Board of Occupational Safety and Health in their proposal for an occupational exposure limit. Abbreviations of glycol ethers and their metabolites DEGDME diethylene glycol dimethyl ether EAA ethoxyacetic acid EGEE ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 2-ethoxyethanol EGEEA ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, 2-ethoxyethyl acetate EGME ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-methoxyethanol EGMEA ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, 2-methoxyethyl acetate MAA methoxyacetic acid MALD methoxyacetaldehyde PGME propylene glycol monomethyl ether PGMEA propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate Contents Abbreviations 1. Introduction 1 2. Physical and Chemical Properties 1 2.1. Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) 1 2.2. Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (EGMEA) 2 2.