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Appendices 1-18 to: Report on the Health Effects of Selected Pesticide Coformulants

98     Human toxicity

98.1     Single and repeated dose toxicity

In one report, two cases of kidney and liver damage have been attributed to single exposures to DEGBE; two persons who were painting in a closed room and at the same time had ingested alcohol (Schwarzbeck et al. 1974 – quoted from A&H 1995 and DECOS 1996). According to A&H (1995), the association with DEGBE is doubtful, and has been questioned.

98.2     Irritation and sensitisation

A case report has described a woman who experienced irritation of the eyes and upper airways, facial erythema, and swollen eyelids when she was in newly painted buildings (water-based painting). She had a positive patch test reaction to an aqueous (20%) solution of DEGBE. (Berlin et al. 1995).

Another case report has described a worker exposed to DEGBE and DEGBEA (over a 20-year period), who had acute, diffuse, erythematous dermatitis on hands, arms, face and neck. The man had a positive response to DEGBEA in a patch test taking during a dermatitis outbreak. One year later, the dermatitis had healed (upon retirement) and he was patch tested with both undiluted and diluted DEGBE and GEGBEA, with negative results. When test was repeated without occlusion both substances yielded a positive reaction, indicating the possibility of contact urticaria (type I allergy). (Dawson et al. 1989 – quoted from A&H 1995 and from ECETOC 1995b).

When 202 house painters were patch tested with a 20% solution of DEGBE in water, 4 of the painters developed an irritative reaction but no sensitisation was observed (Fischer 1993 - quoted from A&H 1995).

98.3     Toxicity to reproduction

No data have been found.

98.4     Mutagenic and genotoxic effects

No data have been found.

98.5     Carcinogenic effects

No data have been found.

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