Abstract  An in vitro epidermal slice technique has been developed for identifying chemicals with the potential to cause a corrosive lesion in animal skin in vivo. Skin-corrosive potential has been correlated with the ability to reduce the skin's penetration barrier by lysis of the stratum corneum. This effect was measured as a lowering of the electrical resistance of an epidermal slice following chemical contact in vitro. An initial validation with 68 chemicals showed the technique to have a high sensitivity for corrosive chemicals. The model has potential as a pre-screen for conventional animal tests and, in contrast to in vivo screening methods, has the advantage of providing quantitative and objective data.

Abstract  Dipropylene glycol is used in several industrial products including cosmetics, emulsifiers, solvents, and as a fog solution for dance club special effects. Animal studies have suggested that dipropylene glycol has minimal toxicity. We report a case of a 32-year-old man who ingested more than 500 mL of dipropylene glycol-containing Fantasia fog solution (High Energy Lighting, Houston, TX) and subsequently developed acute renal failure, polyneuropathy, and myopathy.

Abstract  Apparently conflicting guinea pig sensitisation data on diacrylates and dimethacrylates published by 3 groups of authors, are analysed in terms of the RAJ model. This model, correlating sesitisation score with a combination of induction dose, chemical reactivity and lipophilicity, enables the major discrepancies to be rationalised. The data provide a striking example of the overload effect, in that some of the diacrylates have failed to show sensitisation when tested at high induction doses, but are revealed as strong sensitisers when tested by other authors at lower induction doses.

Abstract  Propylene Glycol is an aliphatic alcohol manufactured as a reaction product of propylene oxide and water. Polypropylene Glycol is a polymer formed by adding propylene oxide to dipropylene glycol. Propylene Glycol is reportedly used as a skin-conditioning agent-humectant, solvent, viscosity-decreasing agent, and humectant in thousands of cosmetic formulations. Polypropylene Glycols of various polymer lengths are reportedly used as miscellaneous skin-conditioning agents in far fewer formulations. Acute, subchronic, and short-term animal studies suggested little toxicity beyond slight growth and body weight decreases. Little ocular or skin irritation was observed in animal studies, and no sensitization was seen. Small increases in fetal malformations were seen in mice injected subcutaneously with Propylene Glycol, but a continuous breeding reproduction study in mice showed no reproductive toxicity following oral administration. A wide range of mutagenesis assays were negative, and studies in mice and rats showed no evidence of carcinogenesis. Clinical data showed skin irritation and sensitization reactions in Propylene Glycol in normal subjects at concentrations as low as 10% under occlusive conditions and dermatitis patients at concentrations as low as 2%. A careful evaluation of skin irritation and sensitization data as a function of disease state of the individual, occlusion, and concentration was done. On the basis of that analysis, it is concluded that Propylene Glycol and Polypropylene Glycol are safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 50%.

Abstract  In response to a request from the United Mine Workers of America, Local 1958, an evaluation was made of worker exposure to hydraulic fluid used on the longwall mining operations at Consolidated Coal Company's Humphrey Number 7 Mine (SIC-1111), Pentress, West Virginia. Employees were complaining of headache, eye and throat irritation, congestion, and cough. A particular emulsion oil, Solcenic-3A, was used with water in the mine's hydraulic roof support system. An analysis of the oil indicated the presence of methyl-isobutyl-carbinol (108112) (MIBC), dipropylene-glycol (110985) and paraffin hydrocarbons. Personal breathing zone samples for MIBC were collected from all workers on the longwall mining operation during the two days of the visit. All the analysis indicated concentrations of MIBC below the limit of quantification, which was 0.6 parts per million for an 8 hour sample. These levels were well below the exposure recommendations of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Exposure to MIBC may be occurring through skin contact with oil through hydraulic line leaks, accidents, and maintenance activity on the hydraulic machines. The author concludes that Solcenic-3A oil constituents in air did not pose a health hazard at the time of the survey The author recommends that employee contact with MIBC through skin exposure be limited.

Abstract  The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) program Expert Panel has assessed the safety of almost 1300 cosmetic ingredi-ents since its inception in 1976. These safety assessments were published in the Journal of Environmental Pathology and Toxicology in 1980, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, from 1982 to 1996, and since then in the International Journal of Toxicology. Because information relevant to the safety of ingredients may have become available since early safety assessments were pub-lished, the CIR Expert Panel has initiated a re-review process. If new information is thought to be available or if a long period of time has passed, the CIR Expert Panel may initiate a search for relevant new data. In some cases, newly available data are largely redundant with the data available in the original safety assessment. In other cases, there are new safety data. If the CIR Expert Panel decides to not reopen a safety assessment, this finding is summarized and announced publicly. To assure that the scientific community is aware of any new information and the decision to not reopen, this Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments is prepared. A reference list is provided that updates the available pub-lished literature and includes any unpublished data made avail-able since the original safety assessment. The re-review also captures information on the industry's current practices of ingredient use, updating the data available in the earlier report. Although this material provides the opinion of the CIR Expert Panel regarding the new data described, it does not constitute a full safety review. The ingredients the CIR Expert Panel reconsidered in 2004/2005, and decided not to reopen are: Benzethonium Chloride and Methylbenzethonium Chloride; 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol; Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA); Butylene Glycol; Hexylene Glycol; Ethoxydiglycol, and Dipropylene Glycol; Cetearyl Octanoate (Ceteraryl Ethylhexanoate); Cholesterol; Chloroxylenol; Diisopropanolamine, Isopropanolamine, Triisopropanolamine, and Mixed Isopropanolammes; Dioctyl Adipate and Diisopropyl Adipate Formaldehyde; Hydrolyzed Collagen; p-Hydroxyanisole; Isostearyl Neopentanoate; 2-Nitro-p-Phenylenediamine and 4-Nitro-o-Phenylenediamine Oleic Acid; Lauric Aci; Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, Stearic Acid; Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid: p-Phenylenediamine; Phenyl Trimethicone; Propylene Carbonate; Propyl Gallate;Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Vinyl Acetate Copolymer; Safflower Oil; Sodium Borate and Boric Acid; Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid; Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate; Sodium Sesquicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Sodium Carbonate; Stearyl.Alcohol, Oleyl Alcohol, and Octyl Dodecanol; Toluene; Toluenesulfonamide/Formaldehyde Resin; Tragacanth Gum; Vinyl Acetate/Crotonic Acid Copolymer; Zinc Phenolsulfonate.

Abstract  Exposures to glycols and glycol ethers during indoor application of 20 different water based paints commonly used in Sweden were measured. All exposure measurements were carried out by personal sampling in the breathing zone of the painter. Of the paints studied, seven were wall paints, seven were ceiling paints, three were wood paints, and three were wet room paints. The average room temperature was 19.3 degrees-C (range, 17.5 to 20.5 degrees). The relative humidity ranged from 34% to 83%. Propylene-glycol (57556) (PG) was found in 12 of the paints, glycol ethers in seven, diethylene-glycol-monobutyl-ether (112345) in four, diethylene-glycol-monoethyl-ether (111900) in one, ethylene-glycol-monobutyl-ether (111762) in two and dipropylene-glycol-monomethyl-ether (20324327) in two. The highest concentrations of propylene-glycol were detected during roll painting on ceilings in a stair well, 12.7mg/m3, and during wood painting, 11.2 mg/m3. Mean exposure levels were 2.6mg/m3 for PG and 1.3mg/m3 for glycol ethers. The highest total concentrations of glycol ethers were detected during roll painting. Neither propylene-glycol nor any type of glycol ether was detected during spray wall painting. The authors conclude that the exposures measured were low in comparison with current Swedish permissible occupational exposure limits.

Abstract  Degradability. DiPG is not readily biodegradable in laboratory tests. A more rapid primary degradation of over 90 % could be attained with adapted microorganisms, but under optimized laboratory conditions. In separate tests (likewise under optimal laboratory conditions), the subsequent product propylene glycol is readily biodegraded aerobically as well as anaerobically. A hydrolytic or photochemical degradation is unexpected under environmental conditions. A degradation with a half-life of app. 13 hours occurs in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically formed OH-radicals. Accumulation. The danger of bioaccumulation is considered to be low. In one experimental study, BCF values ranging from 0.3 to 4.6 were found. Because geoaccumulation is not expected on the basis of calculated physicochemical parameters and the substance is considered to be not readily biodegradable, DiPG transport via leachate to the groundwater is expected. Ecotoxicoloeical Effects. For bacteria, there is a 13,5 % inhibition of cell reproduction at a DiPG concentration of 1,000 mg/l. No data are available for plants and invertebrates. The acute toxicity for fish (Carassius auratus) and for tadpoles of Rana brevipoda porosa lies at and gt; 5,000 mg/l and is 3,181 mg/l for the larvae of the frog Xenopus laevis. Toxicoiolgical Aspect. DiPG is rapidly absorbed after oral and i.v. application. DiPG is no longer detectable in blood after 24 hours. No data are available on the mode of action of the substance. The oral LD50 value is 1.5-15 g/kg b.w. for the rat and 17.6 g/kg b.w. for the guinea pig. After intraperitoneal application, the LD50 value for the rat is 10-10.6 g/kg b.w. and for the mouse, 4.5-4.6 g/kg b.w. After intravenous application, LD50 values of 11.5 and 5-8 g/kg b.w. are found for the dog and rabbit, respectively. Dermal applications to the rabbit produced LD50 values of and gt; 5 g/kg b.w. and and gt; 20 g/kg b.w. DiPG acts slightly irritating to the eye and skin. No data are available on the sensitizing effect. Within the framework of older studies on the repeated application of DiPG, individual cases of death occurred at very high dosages as well as degenerations of the tubulus epithelia in the kidney and single cases of degeneration of the parenchyma of the liver. A numerical NOEL cannot be derived according to current criteria; it ought to lie, however, in the gram-range corresponding to the low toxicity. An Ames-test and one mouse-lymphoma test were negative. No data are available on carcinogenicity. There were no indications found of a teratogenic or embryotoxic effect in one teratogenicity study on rats. The NOAEL maternal is 800 mg/kg b.w. and the NOAELfetal 5,000 mg/kg b.w. No data are available on the effects on the immune system. For humans, DiPG showed no photosensitizing properties and no or only low sensitizing effects after repeated dermal application.

Abstract  To the Editor, We agree with the comments by Dr Marraffa that our patient with dipropylene glycol (DPG) toxicity is very similar is presentation to cases of diethylene glycol (DEG) toxicity. We agree that DEG toxicity should be in the differential diagnosis in this patient and others with acute renal failure due to cortical necrosis and demyelinating sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy. We were somewhat surprised as to the toxicity that had arisen from DPG ingestion in our patient. We feel that in animal studies with massive ingestions, DPG presents a similar scenario. We were able to check with the manufacturer and learned that DEG was not a component of the solution of the fog-making solution. Frank LoVecchio MD, DO, MPH

Abstract  When administered intravenously to dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital, Dowanol 5OB in adequate dosage produces auricular fibrillation, but in 4 dogs was found unsuitable for use in repeated experiments on different days, since it caused respiratory depression, prolonged anesthesia, disturbances of gait, intestinal hemorrhages and death. One animal surviving a first experiment required a significantly higher single dose and higher cumulative dose for production of fibrillation during a second experiment and succumbed following the latter.