Use
2-Butoxyethanol is present in a variety of consumer products, including cleaning
agents and surface coatings, such as paints, lacquers, and varnishes. 2-Butoxyethanol
is readily absorbed following inhalation, oral, and dermal exposure. 2-Butoxyethanol
is released into air or water by different industrial activities and facilities that manu facture, process, or use the chemical. Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol causes irritating
effects to the eyes and skin, but it has not induced skin sensitization in guinea pigs.
Information on the human health effects associated with exposure to 2-butoxyethanol
is limited. However, case studies of individuals who had attempted suicide by ingest ing 2-butoxyethanol-containing cleaning solutions suffered poisoning with symp toms such as hemoglobinuria, erythropenia, and hypotension, metabolic acidosis,
shock, non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and albuminuria, hepatic disorders and
hematuria.