Toxicology Letters 156 (2005) 117–126 Biomonitoring of 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols by analysing urinary 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids J. Laitinen a,∗ , J. Pulkkinen b a Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 93, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland b University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland Available online 13 December 2004 Abstract 2-Methoxyacetic and 2-ethoxyacetic acids are well known toxic metabolites of 2-alkoxyethanols. The use of 2-alkoxyethanols is now restricted, and the regulations have forced manufacturers to find substitutive solvents, 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols. 2- (2-Alkoxyethoxy)ethanols resemble 2-alkoxyethanols, and their most hazardous similarity is their ability to metabolize to the 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids. In the present study, floor lacquerers’ (n = 22) inhalation and total exposure to 2-(2-alkoxy)ethoxyethanols was measured. The measurements of inhalation exposure were done with charcoal tubes, and total exposure was biomonitored by urinalysis of 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids. The 8 h inhalation exposures of floor lacquerers to 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGME), 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGEE) and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGBE) were in average 0.23 ± 0.07 ppm (average ± S.D., n = 3), 0.08 ± 0.07 ppm (n = 16), and 0.05 ± 0.03 ppm (n =16), respectively. The excretions of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)acetic acid (MEAA), 2-(2- ethoxyethoxy)acetic acid (EEAA) and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)acetic acid (BEAA) were in average 4.9 ± 4.3 mmol/mol creatinine, 9.3 ± 8.0 mmol/mol creatinine and 9.2 ± 7.4 mmol/mol creatinine, respectively. A linear relationship was found between the uri- nary 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)acetic acid concentrations and the preceding 8-h occupational exposure to 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanol. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: 2-(2-Alkoxyethoxy)ethanols; 2-(2-Alkoxyethoxy)acetic acids; Biomonitoring; Parquet lacquerer 1. Introduction The use of 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)ethanols has in- creased rapidly in the past decade, when the consump- ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 17 162211; fax: +358 17 201265. E-mail address: juha.laitinen@ttl.fi (J. Laitinen). tion of hazardous 2-methoxy- and 2-ethoxyethanols has decreased. 2-(2-Alkoxyethoxy)ethanols are mostly used as solvents, but the substances are also used as ingredients in paints, lacquers, cleaners, inks, jet fuel and hydraulic fluids (Johanson and Rick, 1996). 2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol known also as Transcutol, is used in skin medications and chemical air freshen- ers (Cooper et al., 1995; Levi-Schaffer et al., 1996). 0378-4274/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2003.09.022