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Chemical Name: Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
Common Names: Methyl carbitol, DEGME
CAS Number: 111-77-3
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with a mild odor
Odor: Slightly ether-like scent
Uses: Shows up as a solvent for printing inks, paints, dyes, cleaners, hydraulic fluids, and some coatings for electronics
Health Hazards: Skin and eye irritant, may cause headaches, dizziness and nausea upon inhalation, absorption and long exposure can lead to effects on kidneys and liver, prolonged or repeated skin contact increases risk of systemic toxicity
Hazard Classification: Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin, can irritate respiratory tract
Symptoms: Redness or pain in eyes, coughing, weakness, signs of central nervous system depression like drowsiness or confusion
Component: Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether
Concentration: Usually at or near 100 percent in pure form
Impurities: Commercial grades can contain traces of other glycols or glycol ethers
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, seek medical attention if symptoms linger
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing, monitor for lasting irritation
Eye Contact: Rinse with plenty of water for at least fifteen minutes, do not rub eyes, medical attention needed for persistent pain or redness
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, call for emergency help, do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide
Fire Hazards: Decomposes to create toxic fumes like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, vapors can form explosive mixtures with air at higher temperatures
Advice for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective equipment
Personal Precautions: Avoid contact with skin and eyes, ventilate the area, use personal protective gear
Spill Clean-Up: Contain and absorb with non-combustible material, scoop into containers for disposal, flush area with water once clean-up is done
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into drains, waterways, or soil
Handling: Use in well-ventilated spaces, avoid breathing vapors and all unnecessary skin contact, keep containers closed when not in use
Storage: Keep away from heat, sparks or open flames, store in tightly sealed containers in cool, dry places, avoid incompatible materials like acids and oxidizing agents
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation or general dilution ventilation to keep exposure levels down
Personal Protection: Chemical resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, impervious clothing as necessary, respiratory protection in case ventilation cannot reduce vapors sufficiently
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands before breaks and after work, avoid eating, drinking or smoking during use
Physical State: Liquid
Boiling Point: Around 194°C
Melting Point: Near -70°C
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
Solubility: Completely soluble in water and many common organic solvents
Flash Point: Approximately 96°C (open cup)
Stability: Stable under typical storage and handling conditions, but prolonged exposure to air or heat accelerates degradation
Materials to Avoid: Strong acids, strong oxidizers, alkali metals
Decomposition Products: Breakdown can produce hazardous gases including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin absorption, eye contact, ingestion
Acute Toxicity: Noted for central nervous system effects and kidney and liver toxicity with high or repeated exposure, single high dose may depress breathing and heart function
Chronic Effects: Cases of liver and kidney damage have been seen in animal studies with prolonged contact, some reports of blood effects in repeat high exposures
Environmental Impact: Readily biodegradable, but releases can be toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations, spills into water may create oxygen demand and lower water quality
Bioaccumulation: Unlikely to persist or bioaccumulate due to rapid breakdown in natural environments
Mobility: Moves easily through soil and water due to high solubility
Waste Disposal: Gather small amounts with absorbent material and dispose through licensed chemical waste handler, do not pour into drains or normal trash
Container Disposal: Rinse containers well before recycling or discarding, follow local regulations for solvent waste
Shipping Precautions: Most carriers do not treat it as a highly flammable liquid, but containers must still be secured and protected from temperature extremes, leaks or spills during transportation
Hazard Labels: Ensure labeling matches requirements for solvents and minor health hazards
Chemical Regulations: Appears on chemical inventories in many countries, flagged for monitoring in some worker safety and environmental programs
Workplace Exposure Limits: Some countries set limits for air concentration on job sites, with recommendations to minimize any unnecessary exposure
Community Right-to-Know: Employers must inform at-risk workers and maintain access to safety literature for all who use or handle the compound
