Authors: Amanda Nandkissore, Epidemiologist for Health Canada, PhD in Epidemiology
Navraj Dosanjh, Epidemiologist at BARS Research Center, PhD in Epidemiology
The composition of ethylene glycol consists of 80-90% glycol and 10-20% of contaminants and additives. While ethylene glycol does exhibit some sufficient advantages, it also poses potential and devastating effects to human health. 1,2-Dioxane also known as dioxane, rust inhibitors and acetaldehyde are all materials found in ethylene glycol as additives (Macdonald, Cuthbert, Outridge, 1992). Dioxane is a suspected carcinogen and its carcinogenic effects have been demonstrated in rats who have developed tumors when exposed to dioxane in water (Derosa et al., 1996). Acetaldehyde is a known respiratory carcinogen that is correlated to carcinogenesis (Grafström et al., 1994). Furthermore, in aquatic fauna damage to the gills, kidneys and skin was observed in response to water that has been contaminated with ethylene glycol run off from airports. Essentially, the materials responsible for toxicity are the additives rather than the glycols in ethylene glycol (Hartwell et al., 1995).
References
MacDonald, D.D., Cuthbert, I.D., Outridge, P.M. 1992. Canadian environmental quality guidelines for three glycols used in aircraft de-icing/anti-icing fluids. EcoHealth Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Derosa, C. T., Wilbur, S., Holler, J., Richter, P., & Stevens, Y. W. (1996). Health evaluation of 1, 4-dioxane. Toxicology and industrial health, 12(1), 1-43.
Grafström, R., Dypbukt, J., Sundqvist, K., Atzori, L., Nielsen, I., Curren, R. and Harris, C. (1994). Pathobiological effects of acetaldehyde in cultured human epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Carcinogenesis, [online] 15(5), pp.985-990. Available at: https://journals-scholarsportal-info.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/details/01433334/v15i0005/985_peoaichecaf.xml [Accessed 2 Mar. 2018].
Hartwell, S., Jordahl, D., Evans, J. and May, E. (1995). TOXICITY OF AIRCRAFT DE-ICER AND ANTI-ICER SOLUTIONS TO AQUATIC ORGANISMS. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, [online] 14(8), p.1375. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5620140813/abstract [Accessed 1 Mar. 2018].
@LisaSmyth I'm glad you brought this up! Human health is impacted by virtually everything in the environment, whether a substance is considered carcinogenic, teratogenic, toxic or the contrary. What is important to consider in this case is that while many concerned community members argue about the additives in ethylene glycol such as 1,4 dioxane, as you mentioned, it is present in very minute quantities. Furthermore, 1,4-dioxane naturally occurs in food products like vine-ripened tomatoes and tomato products, fresh shrimp, brewed coffee and fried chicken [1]. Again, this substance is found in minute quantities in these products but is present nonetheless. So with regard to human health, we plan to use a 60% glycol, 40% water mixture of ethylene glycol so…
@BobVanderwaltz – Just a quick reply to your concern regarding how we plan to control and prevent direct exposure with citizens and animals. We have emphasized that it will have restricted and limited use at entry and exit ramps on the days that the city experiences extreme weather conditions, which would render rock salt less effective. It would be a pilot program to see if there is an alternative to rock salt for these colder days since increasing safety on the roads in these temperatures is ultimately everyone’s greatest concern and goal. Run off will be drained, contained, collected and disposed of according to federal, provincial and municipal regulations. Also, to control the spread of ethylene glycol, the fixed automated…
The impacts on human health are minute even in highly exposed populations http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=4B7409ED-1&offset=1
Ethylene glycol seems to be potentially dangerous. What measures are to be taken to prevent its direct exposure with citizens or wildlife?