From Fast Company and EPA:
The EPA announced last month that it plans to start cracking down on the use of glymes, which are often used as solvents and found in brake fluid, paints, lithium batteries, inkjet cartridges, and paint and carpet cleaners. The chemicals are, according to one company that manufactures them, “amongst the strongest solvents available anywhere.”
Under the EPA’s new proposed rule, any company that plans to manufacture, import, or process glymes for use in a consumer product (and in some cases, any use at all) has to notify the agency, which will evaluate the situation and potentially eliminate or limit the use of the dreaded glymes.
So why should we be worried about glymes? Scientific American explains that two types of glymes (monoglyme and diglyme) have triggered developmental and reproductive damage in studies performed on rodents. Another type of glyme (ethylglyme) exhibited the potential for gene mutation in addition to developmental toxicity. And you’re already at risk for exposure.
Diglyme and ethylglyme can be found in drinking water, and humans are exposed to monoglyme when handling printed paper, polishing clothes, and breathing in emissions from factories, vehicle exhaust, and paint cans. The other 11 glymes have not been shown to cause adverse health effects, but the EPA still plans to restrict them because they have a similar chemical structure compared to the dangerous glymes.
The EU already regulates products that contain diglyme and monoglyme with labels that say “may cause harm to the unborn child,” or “may impair fertility.” The EPA, on the hand, doesn’t have plans for any labeling–and the glymes regulations still have to go through a final review. But if the rules pass, the phrase “glymes-free” may become a popular label.
For more information on glymes, click the links above.