MUTAGENICITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF 2-BUTOXYETHANOL AND ITS METABOLITE, 2-BUTOXYACETALDEHYDE, IN CHINESE-HAMSTER OVARY (CHO-AS52) CELLS

2-Methoxyethanol (2-ME) is being substituted by 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE) as a solvent for the preparation of industrial and consumer products. Since we have shown that a metabolite of 2-methoxyethanol, methoxyace taldehyde (MALD), is mutagenic in a subline of Chinese hamster ovary c ells (CHO-AS52), we have conducted a similar study using 2-BE and its metabolite, butoxyacetaldehyde (BALD). The results indicate that 2-BE and BALD are not mutagenic to CHO-AS52 cells. However, 2-BE is more cy totoxic than 2-ME. In comparison of our study with others on glycol et hers, the data indicate that, for glycol ethers, cytotoxicity increase d with chain length of the alkyl groups. For their metabolites, mutage nicity increases with reduced chain length. Therefore, we suggest that safer solvents should be developed for use in preparation of products .