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Posted By GavinR
Hi folks,
Can anyone help with an issue i have? We use Ethylene Glycol as an anti-freeze in equipment used in welding operation. The MSDS states that 100ml is lethal dose. We currently add Ethylene Glycol to distilled water in a ratio of 70% water and 30% Ethylene Glycol. The main contact point is during mixing, replacement of components and possible leaks. Prob used once every 1.5 months.
Now i think the controls we have in place will reduce the risk to low possiblity of ingestion but we have not yet completed the testing to prove if the less toxic Propylene Glycol would be suitable replacment due to time, cost and potential for damage to expensive equipment during testing. I'm wary of continuing without first completing the tests and disproving it as safer alternative.
Would anyone have any advice?
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Posted By Mitch
Yes my advice is don't drink it!!
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Posted By Chris Packham
Gavin
Are you using pure ethylene glycol (ethanediol) or one of the modified forms, e.g. e-g-dimethylethane or e-g-dinitrate?
Chris
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Posted By A Campbell
Gavin,
Apart from someone intentionally attempting to drink/ingest it.. handling issues.. avoidence of splashing when filling/decanting/mixing, use of PPE if required as last resort, training/information of hazards and correct use/handling.... COSHH assessment (in short. If it is not practicable due to constraints of cost, downtime, productivity then you can record this on the assessment.
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Posted By Ian Blenkharn
Do you really need to worry about it to this extent?
Every chemical that you use will have a lethal dose so in that sense there is nothing special about using ethylene glycol.
Nobody is going to drink it, are they? It should be properly stored, kept in original and properly labelled containers until use, and handled with care.
It must not be consumed any more that the gases you use for welding should be inhaled, or the chemicals used as flux should be eaten.
Ian
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Posted By GavinR
Hi Chris,
We are using Ethanediol added to distilled water. (25L drum of 70% water, 30% Anti freeze). We also have a ready mixed solution as well which was recently purchased from USA.
The chance of it being ingested is low i believe but i'm finding it difficult to work out the how dangerous the soultion of the 2 of them together would be. MSDS is not overally helpful in this case.
Much appreciate your help
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Posted By Chris Packham
Gavin
Ethylene glycol is toxic if ingested, but consider how much a person would need to drink at the dilution rate you mention to actually ingest 100 ml of pure ethylene glycol. I would think this highly unlikely.
It is also a skin and eye irritant so appropriate PPE is required if there is any possibility of exposure, which, given the information you have provided, seems possible. Reference to my database on gloves indicates that just about any glove will give you class 6 protection, i.e. >480 minutes permation breakthrough time and no degradation is indicated.
Hope this is of some help, but if you need more get in touch direct.
Chris
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Posted By Brando
Don't motor engineers have to mix this stuff up in a solution to put into our car radiators?
I agree with previous posts - sounds like exposure to anywhere near a lethal or seriously harmful dose is very remote. Keep off the skin and don't drink it.
From a safety point of view I don't think a change to propylene glycol would be justified.
I might be wrong but I got the impression from someone I bumped into that ethylene and propylene were pretty much interchangable in the antifreeze products you can buy over the shelf. The only reason to change one for another was on a cost basis. Methanol antifreeze was always seen as the real nasty ( but cheap ) - high flam I think and more toxic.
Brando
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