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Common Name: 2-Butoxyethanol
Chemical Formula: C6H14O2
Synonyms: Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, Butyl cellosolve
Appearance: Clear liquid, slightly sweet odor
Uses: Often found in glass cleaners, paints, surface coatings, and degreasers. Homes and workplaces see it in both commercial and industrial cleaning products, where its ability to lift greasy dirt makes work a lot easier.
Routes of Exposure: Breathing in vapors, skin contact, getting it in the eyes, or swallowing
Acute Health Effects: Can cause throat and eye irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness, or even narcosis with high levels. If skin gets soaked, look for redness, dryness, cracking. Breathing high vapor concentrations sometimes causes shortness of breath.
Chronic Health Effects: Over time, repeated exposure can affect blood, liver, kidneys.
Hazard Classifications: Classified as hazardous under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. Eyes and skin take the brunt if someone uses it without gloves or good ventilation. The risk jumps in small, poorly-ventilated places.
Main Component: 2-Butoxyethanol
Chemical Concentration: Usually 99% purity when bought as a chemical
Impurities: Depending on source, sometimes trace solvents or stabilizers, but reputable sources keep these very low.
Ingredient Relevance: Knowing exactly what is in the container helps users plan what protection they need and helps emergency responders react quickly when mishaps happen.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air. If breathing becomes hard, medical support matters.
Skin Contact: Take off contaminated clothing. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for several minutes. Hold eyelids open and rinse thoroughly.
Ingestion: Don’t induce vomiting. Rinse mouth. Seek medical advice quickly.
Note for Responders: Let medical staff know the chemical’s name so they can look for blood or nervous system effects.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, carbon dioxide
Fire Hazards: Vapors can form explosive mixtures with air if heated or in confined spaces. Fire produces toxic gases, including carbon monoxide.
Special Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing equipment and chemical-resistant gear.
Fire Response: Prevent runoff to sewers and waterways; that runoff can be hazardous down the line.
Spill Containment: Evacuate area. Ventilate if indoors. Use barriers to keep liquid from drains.
Cleanup: Absorb with sand, earth, or inert absorbents. Shovel into containers for disposal. Wash area with plenty of water, avoid splash onto skin or into the eyes.
Personal Protection: Gloves, goggles, chemical-resistant shoes and apron make a difference, especially for those doing cleaning.
Waste Disposal: Collect in airtight containers, clearly marked for hazardous waste pickup.
Handling Guidance: Handle in ventilated spaces. Use personal protective equipment like gloves and goggles—people often underestimate splash risks.
Storage: Store in tightly closed containers. Label containers clearly. Keep away from heat, sparks, or direct sunlight. A well-ventilated, cool place keeps risks in check. Avoid storing beside acids or strong bases, which might lead to unexpected reactions.
Hygiene Practices: Wash hands well after use and before eating or smoking in workplaces where this chemical gets regular handling.
Engineering Controls: Use local ventilation near sources. General room ventilation often isn’t enough.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, lab coat or coveralls. In some jobs, a face shield gives extra protection. For high vapor levels, use a respirator rated for organic vapors.
Exposure Limits: OSHA sets permissible exposure at 50 parts per million (ppm) averaged over 8 hours.
Eye Protection: Use tight-fitting goggles—regular prescription glasses do not give full coverage.
Skin Protection: Nitrile or neoprene gloves hold up better than latex with this solvent.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid, mild sweet smell
Boiling Point: Around 171°C (340°F)
Melting Point: -77°C (-106°F)
Solubility in Water: Mixes completely, so spills spread easily in damp areas
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature, but rises with warmth
Specific Gravity: About 0.9 relative to water
Flash Point: Around 60°C (140°F) – flammable under the right conditions, especially near heat or flame
Odor Threshold: 0.1 ppm for most people, though some may detect it at lower levels
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal conditions of use
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, flames, sparks.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, oxidizers, and bases set off unwanted reactions. Mixing with these can trigger violent reactions or create hazardous decomposition products.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Burning or overheating releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and irritating organic vapors. Heavy smoke signals danger in a fire scenario.
Acute Toxicity: Breathing large amounts in closed areas causes headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. Swallowing even moderate doses may trigger abdominal pain, vomiting, and confusion.
Skin Contact: Prolonged contact extracts oils from the skin, causing dryness and cracking.
Chronic Toxicity: Worker studies suggest long-term exposure can damage red blood cells (causing anemia), lower kidney function, and affect the liver.
Cancer Risk: Evidence in workers and lab animals is limited, and regulatory agencies have not placed it on top cancer watch lists.
Reproductive Toxicity: Some animal tests have shown effects, though there’s less evidence in humans at ordinary workplace levels.
Persistence: Breaks down in air and water over days to weeks, but spills can have short-term effects in drain systems and streams.
Toxicity to Aquatic Life: Fish and aquatic invertebrates may suffer from exposure at high levels, mostly in spill situations. The chemical doesn’t stick much to soil so it can move quickly through water.
Bioaccumulation: Unlikely to build up in animals or plants; doesn’t usually collect in fat tissue.
Environmental Risks: Quick cleanup limits damage to water systems and keeps local wildlife from harm.
Waste Handling: Treat spills, contaminated materials, and unused chemical as hazardous waste.
Recommended Disposal: Send to approved hazardous waste facilities. Small amounts should never go down household drains or storm sewers, since wastewater treatment may not fully break it down.
Precaution: Label all containers clearly so disposal handlers know what they’re dealing with. Recycle or reuse options make sense for some workplaces but require specialized training and equipment.
Shipping: Transport in secure, properly-labeled containers, away from food and feed.
Regulatory Status: Not typically listed as a highly hazardous material, but bulk shipments draw extra scrutiny from shipping authorities.
Precautions: Tightly sealed drums and crates, protected from rough handling or temperature extremes, help avoid leakage or vapor buildup during transport.
Workplace Regulation: Listing under OSHA, which sets mandatory safety practices for employers, means it belongs in safety training for any job using it.
Labeled as Hazardous: Found in the toxic chemical inventories of the EPA, and listed for reporting under community right-to-know acts.
State Regulations: Some states add extra restrictions or reporting steps for bulk users, and these depend on local environment and population density.
International Controls: Transport rules based on international codes can affect shipping and use between countries, especially in industrial settings.
