Stronger effect / evidence




Weaker effect / evidence
Ethylene glycol
CAS: 107-21-1
How can this chemical affect my health?
Acute (Short Term) EffectsData sources

Toxic to Humans & Animals – Can be fatal on contact, ingestion or inhalation for humans and other mammals.

Irritates the Eyes – Can cause irritation or serious damage to the eye.

Irritates the Skin – Can cause irritation or serious damage to the skin.
Data sources
Direct Hazard » Toxic to Humans & Animals
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- FIFRA Registered PesticideUS EPA - OPP - Registered PesticidesUS Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- H302 - Harmful if swallowed [Acute toxicity (oral) - Category 4]EU - GHS (H-Statements) Annex 6 Table 3-1European Union / European Commission (EU EC)
- Class D1B - Toxic material causing immediate and serious toxic effectsQuébec CSST - WHMIS 1988Québec Workplace Health and Safety Commission (Commission de la santé et de la securite du travail (CSST))
- H332 - Harmful if inhaled [Acute toxicity (inhalation: dust, mist) - Category 4]GHS - JapanGovernment of Japan
- H302 - Harmful if swallowed [Acute toxicity (oral) - Category 4]GHS - AustraliaSafe Work Australia
- H302 - Harmful if swallowed (unverified) [Acute toxicity (oral) - Category 4]EU - Manufacturer REACH hazard submissionsEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
- Acute oral toxicity category 4GHS - New ZealandNew Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (NZ EPA)
Direct Hazard » Irritates the Eyes
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- Eye irritation category 2GHS - New ZealandNew Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (NZ EPA)
- H319 - Causes serious eye irritation [Serious eye damage / eye irritation - Category 2B]GHS - JapanGovernment of Japan
Direct Hazard » Irritates the Skin
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- H315 - Causes skin irritation [Skin corrosion / irritation - Category 2]GHS - JapanGovernment of Japan
- H315 - Causes skin irritation (unverified) [Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2]EU - Manufacturer REACH hazard submissionsEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
Chronic (Long Term) EffectsData sources

Brain/Nervous System Harm – Can cause damage to the nervous system including the brain.

Birth Defects – Can cause harm to the developing child including birth defects, low birth weight and biological or behavioral problems that appear as the child grows.

Reproductive Harm – Can disrupt the male or female reproductive systems, changing sexual development, behavior or functions, decreasing fertility, or resulting in loss of the fetus during pregnancy.

Endocrine Disruption – Can interfere with hormone communication between cells which controls metabolism, development, growth, reproduction and behavior (the endocrine system).

Other Health Effects – Can cause serious damage on contact or ingestion.
Data sources
Direct Hazard » Brain/Nervous System Harm
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- NeurotoxicG&L - Neurotoxic ChemicalsLancet: authors Philippe Grandjean & Phil Landrigan
- NeurotoxicBoyes - NeurotoxicantsPattys Toxicology: author William K Boyes
- H336 - May cause drowsiness or dizziness (unverified) [Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure; Narcotic effects - Category 3]EU - Manufacturer REACH hazard submissionsEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
Direct Hazard » Birth Defects
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- Developmental toxicityCA EPA - Prop 65California Environmental Protection Agency (CA EPA)
- Clear Evidence of Adverse Effects - Developmental ToxicityUS NIH - Reproductive & Developmental MonographsUS Department of Health & Human Services - National Institutes of Health (US NIH)
- Pregnancy Risk Group CMAKMAK Commission of Germany (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)
Direct Hazard » Reproductive Harm
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- Some Evidence of no Adverse Effects - Reproductive ToxicityUS NIH - Reproductive & Developmental MonographsUS Department of Health & Human Services - National Institutes of Health (US NIH)
Direct Hazard » Endocrine Disruption
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- Potential Endocrine DisruptorTEDX - Potential Endocrine DisruptorsThe Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX)
Direct Hazard » Other Health Effects
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- H370 - Causes damage to organs [Specific target organs/systemic toxicity following single exposure - Category 1]GHS - JapanGovernment of Japan
- H335 - May cause respiratory irritation [Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation - Category 3]GHS - AustraliaSafe Work Australia
- H373 - May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (unverified) [Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure - Category 2]EU - Manufacturer REACH hazard submissionsEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
- H372 - Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (unverified) [Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure - Category 1]EU - Manufacturer REACH hazard submissionsEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
- Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure category 1GHS - New ZealandNew Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (NZ EPA)
Inherent HazardsData sources

Restricted List – This chemical is on a list from an authoritative body recommending that its use be avoided.
Data sources
Direct Hazard » Restricted List
These sources refer directly to this chemical:
- HAPs subject to the Clean Air ActUS EPA - Hazardous Air PollutantsUS Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- Candidate Chemical ListCA SCP - Candidate ChemicalsCalifornia Department of Toxic Substance Control (CA DTSC)
- Substances selected for RMOA or hazard assessmentEU - PACT-RMOA SubstancesEuropean Union / European Commission (EU EC)
- Some SolventsGSPI - Six Classes of Problematic ChemicalsGreen Science Policy Institute (GSPI)
- Chemicals of High ConcernMDH - Chemicals of High Concern and Priority ChemicalsMinnesota Department of Public Health
- Chemicals of High Concern to ChildrenWA DoE - Chemicals of High Concern to ChildrenWashington State Department of Ecology (WA DOE)
- CoHC List (non SVHC)CPA - Chemical FootprintClean Production Action (CPA)
- 2019 Substance of Concern ListBIFMA - e3/level Annex B list of chemicalsBusiness and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA)
- Tier 1 “Do Not Use Chemicals” for EveryoneCampaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Red List of Chemicals of ConcernCampaign for Safe Cosmetics
- Chemicals of High Concern to ChildrenVermont Chemicals of High Concern to ChildrenVermont Environmental Health Division
- Reportable ChemicalsMA Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) listed substancesMassachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Food Contact Chemicals Database Version 5.0Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCdb)Food Packaging Forum
- Food Contact Chemicals of Concern List (FCCoCL) - TIER 2Food Contact Chemicals of Concern (FCCoCL)Food Packaging Forum
- Target Priority Chemicals List (TPCL)Target Corp - Target Priority Chemicals List (TPCL)Target Corporation
- FSAP Food Packaging Product Stewardship ConsiderationsFSAP Food Packaging Product Stewardship ConsiderationsFood Safety Alliance for Packaging (FSAP)
- FPF Priority Substance List from FCCdbFPF Priority Substance List from FCCdbFood Packaging Forum
- Food Packaging Forum Priority Substances ListGreenScreen Certified Standard for Food Service Ware RSLClean Production Action (CPA)
- TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory - ActiveTSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (Active-Inactive)US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
- GADSL Declarable Substances - Information is being collected for a non-regulatory purpose (D/FI)Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL)Global Automotive Stakeholder Group (GASG)
- GreenScreen List Translator LT-1GreenScreen Certified Standard for Medical Supplies & Devices Silver-Gold RSLClean Production Action (CPA)
What safer alternatives are available for this chemical?
Find case studies related to substitutions for this chemical in SubsPORT, the substitution support portal.
How am I likely to be exposed to this chemical?

Ingestion