ASSESSMENT OF THE TOXIC AND POTENTIAL TERATOGENIC EFFECTS OF 4 GLYCOLETHERS AND 2 DERIVATIVES USING THE HYDRA REGENERATION ASSAY AND RAT WHOLE-EMBRYO CULTURE

The widespread use of the glycol ethers as solvents in manufacturing i ndustries presents a vast potential for occupational exposure. In the present study the potential hazards of four glycol ethers and two deri vatives were assessed using two in vitro tests, rat whole embryo cultu re and the hydra regeneration assay. Concentrations used ranged from 0 .3 to 1.0 mg/ml in embryo culture and from 0.03 to 80.0 mg/ml in the h ydra assay. The embryotoxic potential of the ethylene glycol mono-alky l ethers was shown to increase with the length of the alkyl chain. Thi s is in contrast;to in vivo data but can be explained by the lack of m aternal metabolism in the in vitro systems. However, the teratogenic h azard ratings obtained in the hydra assay and the types of malformatio ns observed in embryo culture support in vitro data. Results obtained for diethylene glycol monoethyl ether are in agreement with in vivo da ta. Results of both assays suggest that ethylene glycol monosalicylate presents a significant potential teratogenic hazard and that ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid presents toxic and teratogenic potentials. W hen the effects of maternal toxicity and metabolism are considered, th e overall picture presented by the present results is one of general a greement with in vitro data.