Baby Safety / Compounds / Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE)

Is Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants may be exposed to Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) through residual monomer migration from food-contact plastics, bottles, and packaging. Immature hepatic conjugation and renal clearance prolong internal exposure.

What is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe)?

The IUPAC name is 2-butoxyethanol.

Also known as: 2-butoxyethanol, Butyl glycol, Butyl cellosolve, Butoxyethanol.

IUPAC name: 2-butoxyethanol
CAS number: 111-76-2
Molecular formula: C6H14O2
Molecular weight: 118.17 g/mol
SMILES: CCCCOCCO
PubChem CID: 8133

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Prenatal exposure to residual Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) from food-contact materials is a concern due to potential developmental toxicity. Monomers may leach from plastics at elevated temperatures.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

19 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Agency	Year	Classification
IARC	—	Group 3
OSHA	—	Occupational exposure limit
Multiple	—	Reproductive toxicant
EPA CTX / IRIS	—	Not likely to be carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / IARC	—	Group 3 - Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 20 positive / 20 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox	—	Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 20 positive / 20 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Eye Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Skin Irrit. 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Category 2A (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Sensitization: Not classified (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA): Not likely to be sensitizing (score: low)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	eye irritation: in vivo: Severe Irritation (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye	—	skin irritation: in vivo: Severe Irritation (score: high)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe)

Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE):

Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.

Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe) safe for kids?

What products contain ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe)?

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe)?

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) has been classified by 19 agencies including IARC, OSHA, Multiple, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / IARC, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) in the baby app

Look up products containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (egbe), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (2)

IARC Monographs Volume 88: 2-Butoxyethanol (Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether) — Group 3 Evaluation (Not Classifiable as to Carcinogenicity in Humans) (2006) — regulatory
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: 2-Butoxyethanol — Occupational Exposure Limits and Health Effects Summary (2019) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →