Predicting human neurotoxicity of propylene glycol methyl ether (PGME) by implementing in vitro neurotoxicity results into toxicokinetic modelling.

Although organic solvents have been associated with CNS toxicity, neurotoxicity testing is rarely a regulatory requirement. We propose a strategy to assess the potential neurotoxicity of organic solvents and predict solvent air concentrations that will not likely produce neurotoxicity in exposed individuals. The strategy integrated an in vitro neurotoxicity, an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB), and an in silico toxicokinetic (TK) model.

Influence of collection and storage materials on glycol ether concentrations in urine and blood.

Glycol ethers, such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) and propylene glycol monobuthyl ether (PGBE) are solvents found in many professional and domestic products. In biomonitoring studies, the type of materials used to collect, store, and transport these samples can greatly influence the analytical results because materials can adsorb the analyte. Plastic tubes generally have a hydrophobic internal surface that can reduce the concentration of certain chemicals and result in an underestimation of workers' exposures.

Human skin permeation rates ex vivo following exposures to mixtures of glycol ethers.

Skin exposure to cleaning products in the general and occupational population are a public health concern. Among the most frequently identified amphiphilic organic solvents in cleaning products are propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) and propylene glycol n-butyl ether (PGBE). Internal dose from skin exposure may be efficiently evaluated using in vitro flow-through diffusion cells with excised human skin.

Tolylfluanid permeates human skin slowly and as dimethylamino sulfotoluidid (DMST).

Tolylfluanid (TF) is a sensitizing biocide used in antifouling products and wood preservatives. Paint application is associated with skin exposure; however, the importance of this exposure route is uncertain as TF skin permeation rates are lacking in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. TF is a lipophilic powder that hydrolyses rapidly in contact with water to dimethylamino sulfotoluidid (DMST).