How Propylene Glycol Affects the Environment

Description

• Propylene glycol is a thick, clear liquid without any taste or smell. It is water soluble and can be dissolved in many organic materials as well.

Uses

• Propylene glycol is primarily used to manufacture polyester resins, as a component of antifreeze and deicing solutions, as an additive in foods, drugs and cosmetics, and as a component of liquid detergents.

Health Effects

• The FDA's classification of propylene glycol is GRAS, or "Generally Recognized as Safe" as a food and drug additive. It breaks down quickly in the body, and few people experience any negative effects from contacting or eating it, except in very large quantities.

Environmental Effects

• Propylene glycol decomposes very rapidly in the natural environment, breaking down within a day or two in air and in up to seven days in soil or water. It does not accumulate in animals' bodies after ingestion or exposure, and except in extremely high doses it is essentially nontoxic to aquatic life. Burning or otherwise heating up propylene glycol excessively can be hazardous, however, as it will produce toxic vapors.