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BREAKAWAY
Page 4 of 6
Revision date
08/08/2008
11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
No data is available for this material. The information shown is for 2-butoxyethanol which is
present at less than 5%.
Toxicity Data
Oral LD50 Rat: 470mg/Kg. Skin LD50 Rabbit: 220mg/Kg. Inhaled LC50 Rat: 2211mg/m
3
(4hr).
Skin Irritation Rabbit: Slight irritation. Eye Irritation: Irritation.
Note: No studies are available on the effects of long term exposure in humans. Studies indicate
that repeated exposure causes blood, liver and kidney disorders in animals. Deaths in acute
studies were generally caused by narcosis or respiratory failure, with kidney failure seen as a
secondary cause.
The main toxic effect observed in acute and repeated dose animal studies is haemolysis. The
effect varies between species with rats and mice the most susceptible, rabbits less susceptible and
guinea-pigs and humans least susceptible. Changes in kidney, liver, spleen and lungs were found
in animals exposed by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. Deaths usually result from CNS
depression, lung damage and kidney injury.
Health Effects – Acute
Swallowed
May be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion may cause irritation of mucous membranes in mouth,
pharynx, oesophagus and gastro-intestinal tracts. Symptoms include nausea, headache, vomiting,
ataxia (impaired locomotor co-ordination), acidosis, drowsiness,
Agitation, insomnia, changes in the blood picture, pulmonary oedema and damage to the liver and
kidneys.
Eye
Causes eye irritation.
Skin
Irritating to skin. Danger of skin absorption.
Inhaled
Inhalation may causes irritation to the mucus membranes, coughing and dyspnoea. Chronic
exposure causes damage to blood cells and blood in urine.