X-Message-Number: 17783
Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001 11:27:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: triethylene glycol

Some more recent information claims triethylene glycol to be much less
toxic than ethylene glycol.

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Citations: 1-2
<1>
Title
  Reproductive toxicity of triethylene glycol
  and its diacetate and dimethyl ether derivatives in a continuous breeding
  protocol in Swiss CD-1 mice.
Source
  Fundamental & Applied Toxicology.  18(4):602-8, 1992 May.
Abstract
  Triethylene glycol and two of its
  derivatives were evaluated for reproductive toxicity in a continuous breeding
  protocol with Swiss CD-1 mice. Triethylene
  glycol (TEG: 0, 0.3, 1.5, and 3%),
  triethylene glycol diacetate (TGD: 0, 0.75,
  1.5, and 3%), and triethylene glycol
  dimethyl ether (TGDME: 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1%) were administered in drinking
  water to breeding pairs (20 pairs per treatment group, 40 control pairs)
  during a 98-day cohabitation period. Reproductive function was assessed by
  the number of litters per pair, live pups per litter, proportion of pups born
  alive, and pup weight. There were no apparent effects on reproductive
  function in the animals receiving TEG or TGD at doses up to 3% in the
  drinking water (representing 6.78 or 5.45 g/kg, respectively). However, some
  developmental toxicity was demonstrated for both TEG and TGD. Continuous
  exposure of dams to 1.5 or 3% TEG significantly reduced live pup weight at
  birth compared to control and 0.3% TEG, while exposure to 3% TGD during
  lactation significantly (but reversibly) reduced pup body weights on
  Postnatal Days 14 and 21. In contrast, TGDME was toxic to the reproductive
  system as evidenced by decreases at the highest dose (1% TGDME; 1.47 g/kg) in
  the proportion of pairs that produced at least one litter, live pups per
  litter, and proportion of pups born alive, with dose-related trends seen in
  the latter two parameters. A crossover mating trial showed that TGDME was
  more toxic to the female than the male reproductive system. These data
  indicate that TGDME (1.47 g/kg) is a reproductive toxicant in Swiss mice
  while reproductive toxicity was not demonstrated in mice receiving TEG or TGD
  (at doses up to 6.78 or 5.45 g/kg, respectively).

<2>
Title
  Triethylene glycol poisoning treated with
  intravenous ethanol infusion.
Source
  Journal of Toxicology - Clinical Toxicology.  37(6):773-6, 1999.
Abstract
  INTRODUCTION: Poisoning with triethylene
  glycol has been rarely reported in humans.
  Triethylene glycol is thought to be
  metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to acidic products resulting in the
  production of a metabolic acidemia. Triethylene
  glycol metabolism has previously been shown to be inhibited
  by fomepizole (4-methyl pyrazole) administration. We report a case of
  triethylene glycol ingestion, presenting
  with a metabolic acidemia, treated with intravenous ethanol administration.
  CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old female presented to the emergency department
  approximately 1-1.5 hours following ingestion of a gulp of
  triethylene glycol (99%) brake fluid with
  coma (GCS-3) and metabolic acidemia (pH 7.03, PCO2 44 mm Hg, Bicarbonate 11
  mmol/L, anion gap 30 mmol/L, serum creatinine 90 mumol/L). She was intubated
  and given 100 mmol of intravenous sodium bicarbonate. An ethanol loading dose
  was administered followed by an infusion to maintain serum ethanol at 100
  mg/dL. Acidemia gradually resolved over the next 8 hours and she was
  extubated 12 hours later. The ethanol infusion was continued for a total of
  22 hours. There was no recurrence of acidemia. Serum ethanol, ethylene
  glycol, and methanol levels were nondetectable on
  presentation, as was serum salicylate. Urine drug of abuse screen and
  thin-layer chromatography revealed no other coingested substances. The
  patient was discharged to a psychiatric ward 36 hours postingestion.
  CONCLUSION: Pure triethylene glycol
  poisoning results in coma and metabolic acidemia and may be treated with
  alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors such as ethanol.

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