Health and Safety: Cellosolves Cause Miscarriages (2/93)

Women workers exposed to chemicals called cellosolves had a 40 percent higher rate of miscarriages than other female employees, according to a recent study of the semiconductor industry in California. This is of special concern to UE members, since cellosolves, also known as glycol ethers, are used by many U.S. industries.

The California study was conducted by medical scientists from the University of California at Davis, and was funded by the semiconductor industry. These results were similar to those of two other industry-funded studies: a 1988 study of workers at a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) plant, and a 1992 IBM study. When so many industry-funded studies find that workers are being harmed, then we’d better take these results quite seriously.

Let’s look now at these cellosolve chemicals — how to identify them and what we can do to protect ourselves.

First you need to find out whether or not cellosolves (also known as glycol ethers) are used in your department or in your plant.

In the semiconductor industry, and throughout the electronics industry, cellosolves are widely used in epoxies, lacquers, paints, enamels and other coating materials. Also, they are commonly used in paint removers and paint thinners. So plants which produce and finish metal and wood products may use cellosolves as well as construction, maintenance and home repair companies.

Printing operations use these chemicals in inks, and the textile industry uses them in dyes and pigments. Anti-icing additives in truck and auto brake fluids contain cellosolves. Glycol ethers are even used in some cosmetics. So whatever kind of plant you work in, you need to check for these chemicals, especially in department where paints, epoxies and other coatings are used or removed.

Unfortunately cellosolves often have long, complicated chemical names. In some cases there are several different chemical names for the same compound. For example, one chemical name for methyl cellosolve is Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, or simply EGME. Another is -Methoxyethanol, or 2-ME. So any one of these names describes exactly the same toxic compound.

This complicates the task of searching Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) to find out if these chemicals are used in your plant. But don’t let it hold you back — these compounds can be a serious threat to health. Below is a table of chemical and trade names for these compounds, which can help you in your search:

Common Name	Chemical Names	Registered Trade Names
Methyl cellosolve	Ethylene glycol methyl ether (EGME) 2-Methoexyethanol (2-ME) Glycol methyl ether Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether ME	Dowanol EM Ektasolve Polysolve EM Methyl Oxitol
Cellosolve	Ethylene glycol ethyl ether (EGEE) 2-Ethoxyethanol (2-EE) Glycol ethyl ether Ethylene glycolmonoethyl ether EE	Dowanol EE Polysolve EE Oxitol
Butyl	2-Butoxyethanol (2-BE) BE
Methyl cellosolve acetate	2-Methoxyethyl acetate
Cellosolve acetate	2-Ethoxyethyl acetate

If any cellosolve or glycol ether chemical is used in your plant, the union health and safety committee should bring this to the attention of management and ask that a substitute material be sought. Often a substitute coating without cellosolves or glycol ethers can be found.

If these toxic chemicals must be used, make sure that adequate ventilation is provided and that the ventilation system is properly maintained. Also, since all cellosolve compounds can enter the body through the skin, proper protective clothing, including gloves, should be provided by management. Neoprene and nitrile rubber gloves are often used when these chemicals are being handled.