European Union Risk Assessment Report : Volume 1: 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol : CAS-No. : 111-77-3 EINECS-No. : 203-906-6 : final report, July 1999, The Netherlands

This report provides the comprehensive risk assessment of the substance 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol. It has been prepared by the Netherlands in the frame of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 793/93 on the evaluation and control of the risks of existing substances, following the principles for the assessment of risks to man and the environment, laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1488/94. The evaluation considers the emissions and the resulting exposure to the environment and the human population in all life cycle steps. Following the exposure assessment, the environmental risk characterisation for each protection target in the aquatic, terrestrial and soil compartment has been determined. For human health the scenarios for occupational exposure, consumer exposure and humans exposed indirectly via the environment have been examined and the possible risks have been identified. The risk assessment for 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol concludes with no concern for the environment, but there is a potential health risk for workers during production and use, and for the consumer which occurs due to the use of paint and paint strippers containing the substance. The conclusions of this report will lead to risk reduction measures to be decided by the risk management committee of the Commission.