Atmospheric oxidation of poly(oxyethylene) alcohols. Identification of ethoxylated formates as oxidation products and study of their contact allergenic activity

Ethoxylated alcohols are widely used as surfactants. In the present study w e have continued our investigations on the degradation with time upon air e xposure of the ethoxylated alcohols at normal storage and handling. As a re sult, a new group of ethoxylated formates with the general formula C12H25(O CH2CH2)(n)OCHO (n = 0-4) was identified in C12H25(OCH2CH2)(5)OH stored and handled at room temperature. To facilitate the identification work, referen ce compounds were synthesized. The formates showed no allergenic activity i n the sensitization studies performed. In previous investigations on the sa me ethoxylated alcohol, we have identified formaldehyde and ethoxylated ald ehydes among the oxidation products formed. Formaldehyde is a common contac t allergen, and the ethoxylated aldehydes were shown to have a sensitizing capacity of the same magnitude as formaldehyde. The instability of the etho xylated alcohols and formation of oxidation products may give an allergenic contribution to hand eczema caused by work with water and surfactants. To investigate the clinical significance in man an appropriate diagnostic patc h testing in exposed humans is required.