Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

Neither skin nor eye irritation was observed within respective in vivo studies.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Additional information

There is one reliable study available on the skin irritancy potential. Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether was tested for its skin irritant properties in 6 Himalayan rabbits. The study was performed according to OECD Guideline 404. Deviation was a prolonged exposure period (24 hours). These conditions made the study design more rigid compared to the regarded OECD Guideline. Effects on skin (mean erythema score 0.89 and mean edema score 0.5) were observed in the animals 24-72 hours after application. These signs were fully reversible within the 72 hours observation period.


 


There is one reliable study available on the eye irritancy potential. Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether was tested for its eye irritant properties in 6 Himalyan rabbits. The study was performed according to OECD Guideline 405. Effects on conjunctivae (mean score (redness) 0.78 and mean score (chemosis) 0.28) were observed in the animals after application. These signs were fully reversible within 72 and 48 hours, respectively.

Justification for classification or non-classification

With reference the reported scores and the full reversibility of the observed effects to the skin and eye, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether does not need to be classified as irritant to the skin or eye according to the criteria laid down in the EU Classification Labelling and Packaging Regulation (1272/2008/EC).


It can reasonably be deduced that diethylene glycol dimethyl ether does not cause respiratory tract irritation and thus does not need to be classified, because the substance did cause only slight, fully reversible irritative effects in the eyes and the skin. It does not need to be classified as either skin or eye irritating. Therefore, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, in the unlikely event of being inhaled as an aerosol, is not considered to cause severe effects, due to its not-irritating properties on skin and eye. A harmful interaction with living cells and tissues is very unlikely (as demonstrated by the in vivo skin and eye irritation studies).