The Safety Data Sheet for Glycol Ether EB covers 2-butoxyethanol, a colorless, skin-absorbing solvent that is toxic if inhaled, harmful if swallowed, and irritating to skin and eyes. If you handle it, the numbers that matter most are an OSHA permissible exposure limit of 50 ppm (8-hour TWA), an ACGIH recommendation of 20 ppm, a skin notation, a flash point around 74°C, and a requirement that your employer keep the SDS accessible to you on every shift.
What Glycol Ether EB Is
Glycol Ether EB is 2-butoxyethanol, CAS number 111-76-2.1National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ethanol, 2-butoxy- Confirm that CAS number on any SDS before you rely on it, because trade names vary. The liquid is colorless with a mild, ether-like odor, dissolves in both water and organic solvents, and shows up in paints, coatings, degreasers, and household cleaners.
For day-to-day handling, three physical numbers matter: relative density around 0.90, boiling point 171°C (340°F), and closed-cup flash point about 74°C (165°F).2National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether – Cautionary Response Information That flash point makes it combustible rather than highly flammable. Room-temperature storage is safe from an ignition standpoint, but heat sources, steam lines, and process heat that push temperatures near or above 74°C create ignitable vapors.
Hazard Classifications on the Label
The GHS classifications on a pure 2-butoxyethanol SDS drive the label and your PPE choices:
- Acute Toxicity Category 4, oral — Harmful if swallowed (H302).
- Acute Toxicity Category 3, inhalation — Toxic if inhaled (H331). This is the most severe classification the substance carries.
- Skin Irritation Category 2 — Causes skin irritation (H315).
- Eye Irritation Category 2 — Causes serious eye irritation (H319).
The Category 3 inhalation hazard means pure product typically carries the signal word “Danger” and the skull-and-crossbones pictogram. The exclamation mark pictogram appears alongside for the lower-severity hazards. Diluted formulations may drop to “Warning,” so read the SDS for the specific product you have rather than assuming.
OSHA assigns 2-butoxyethanol a skin notation, meaning intact skin absorbs enough of it to add meaningfully to your total exposure.3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2-Butoxyethanol – IDLH Air monitoring alone will not protect you if your hands and forearms are getting wet.
Exposure Limits and Personal Protection
Two airborne limits govern this substance, and they are not the same number.
- OSHA PEL: 50 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a skin notation. Legally enforceable.3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2-Butoxyethanol – IDLH
- ACGIH TLV: 20 ppm as an 8-hour TWA. A recommended guideline based on more recent health data.4ACGIH. 2-Butoxyethanol
A workplace can be legally compliant with the 50 ppm PEL while still exceeding the level occupational health experts consider protective. If controls can hold airborne levels below 20 ppm, that is the better target.
Controls come in an order. Local exhaust ventilation at the point of use is the first line, followed by enclosed systems where feasible and general dilution ventilation as backup. When engineering controls cannot keep concentrations below the target, add a respirator fitted with organic vapor cartridges. Nitrile gloves are the standard hand protection because of their solvent resistance. Chemical splash goggles or safety glasses with side shields handle eye protection. Employers supply the equipment and pay for respirator fit-testing.
First Aid for Exposure
Skin absorption makes speed matter. Every minute of contact adds to the dose.
- Inhalation: move the person to fresh air and let them rest comfortably. Get medical attention if breathing is difficult.
- Skin contact: flush with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Don’t put the clothing back on until it has been washed.
- Eye contact: rinse gently with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. Get medical evaluation.5IPCS INCHEM. Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether
- Ingestion: rinse the mouth. Do not induce vomiting unless a medical professional tells you to. Get medical help.
Log the incident. OSHA recordkeeping applies once treatment goes beyond basic first aid.
Spill Response
Anyone cleaning up a spill needs, at a minimum, an organic vapor respirator and chemical-resistant gloves, because the substance is toxic by inhalation and absorbs through skin. Larger spills warrant full protective equipment. Collect the liquid in sealable containers and keep it out of floor drains, storm drains, and waterways.6IPCS INCHEM. Butoxyethanol, 2- (CICADS) Vermiculite or dry sand can contain smaller releases. Ventilate the area during and after cleanup. Contaminated absorbent is hazardous waste and goes to a licensed contractor, not a general dumpster.
Storage and Incompatibilities
Keep containers tightly closed when not dispensing, and work in well-ventilated areas. Store in a cool, dark, climate-controlled space away from direct sunlight, steam lines, and process heat.5IPCS INCHEM. Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether Segregate from strong oxidizers and strong bases, which can trigger dangerous reactions. Spill pallets under drums catch leaks before they reach the floor or a drain.
Shipping Identifiers
For transport, 2-butoxyethanol is UN 2369, Hazard Class 6.1 (toxic substances), Packing Group III.6IPCS INCHEM. Butoxyethanol, 2- (CICADS) Packing Group III signals relatively lower danger within Class 6.1, but the full shipping requirements still apply. Containers must display the proper shipping name, UN number, and Class 6.1 label. If you send or receive drums, confirm the paperwork matches these identifiers.
Cancer and Long-Term Health
The International Agency for Research on Cancer evaluated 2-butoxyethanol in Monographs Volume 88 and placed it in Group 3, “not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans,” citing inadequate evidence in humans and limited evidence in animals.7National Center for Biotechnology Information. Meeting Report: Summary of IARC Monographs on Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol, and 1-tert-Butoxy-2-Propanol That is not a clean bill of health. Repeated overexposure can damage red blood cells and affect the liver and kidneys. Current evidence simply does not support a carcinogen classification.
Employer Duties: Access, Training, Penalties
An SDS on file is worthless if workers cannot reach it. OSHA requires employers to keep each hazardous chemical’s SDS in the workplace and readily accessible during every shift. Electronic access counts only if it creates no barrier to immediate access in an emergency.8eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication A binder locked in a supervisor’s office fails the standard. So does a website workers cannot log into.
Training is the other half. Employers must train workers on chemical hazards at the time of initial assignment and again whenever a new hazardous chemical enters the work area. Training covers how to read labels and SDSs, what protective measures are available, and how to detect releases, and it must be delivered in a language the employees actually understand.9Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR 1910.1200 – Hazard Communication
Noncompliance draws OSHA citations. For 2026, a serious violation carries a maximum penalty of $16,550, and willful or repeat violations can reach $165,514 per violation.10Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 2026 Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties The amounts adjust for inflation each year.
TRI Reporting for Larger Users
Facilities that use significant quantities may trigger federal environmental reporting. Under EPCRA Section 313, the glycol ethers category is on the Toxics Release Inventory. If your facility manufactures or processes 25,000 pounds or more of chemicals in that category in a calendar year, or otherwise uses 10,000 pounds or more, you file an annual release report with EPA. Facilities with fewer than 10 full-time employees are exempt.11Environmental Protection Agency. Toxics Release Inventory: List of Toxic Chemicals within the Glycol Ethers Category Thresholds are calculated across all glycol ethers combined, not 2-butoxyethanol alone, so multi-solvent operations add their totals.