Ethylene glycol material safety data sheet: what it says and what to do with it

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is a material safety data sheet, and why does ethylene glycol have one?

A material safety data sheet, now officially the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) under GHS terminology, tells workers and emergency responders what a chemical is, how it can hurt you, and what to do when something goes wrong. OSHA swapped the old MSDS format for the 16-section GHS-aligned SDS in 2012, with full employer compliance due by June 1, 2016. ^[1]

Ethylene glycol (CAS 107-21-1) gets a required SDS because it meets the threshold for hazard classification under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. ^[2] Any chemical that is flammable, acutely toxic, a skin or eye irritant, or an aspiration hazard gets classified and documented. Ethylene glycol hits several of those boxes.

Here's the practical reason a small business cares. If you stock antifreeze, engine coolant, hydraulic brake fluid, deicing compounds, or certain paint solvents, you almost certainly have ethylene glycol on site. HazCom says you must keep a current SDS for every hazardous chemical, train workers on the hazards, and label containers correctly. Skip any one of those three and it costs you. OSHA cited HazCom violations 2,264 times in fiscal year 2023, the third most-cited standard that year. ^[3]

Want the full picture on hazard communication requirements? That article walks through the written program, labeling, and training obligations side by side.

What are the key health hazards listed on an ethylene glycol SDS?

Ethylene glycol is moderately toxic if you swallow it and low-toxicity by inhalation under normal conditions. The details are where people get it wrong.

Oral toxicity. The rat LD50 is roughly 4,700 mg/kg, which lands it in the low-acute-toxicity tier for a single dose. ^[4] That number gets read as "basically safe." It isn't. In humans, as little as 1.4 mL/kg body weight (roughly 100 mL for an average adult) can kill if untreated, because the body turns ethylene glycol into glycolic acid and oxalic acid. Those metabolites drive severe metabolic acidosis and kidney failure within 24 to 72 hours. ^[4]

Inhalation. At room temperature the vapor pressure is low (0.08 mmHg at 20°C), so harmful vapor concentrations rarely build up outdoors. Heat the liquid, spray it, or work with it in an enclosed space, and the risk climbs fast. The NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) value is 40 mg/m³. ^[5] OSHA has no enforceable PEL for ethylene glycol vapor, but NIOSH recommends a ceiling of 50 ppm (125 mg/m³) for aerosols and mists. ^[5]

Skin and eye contact. Prolonged or repeated skin contact causes mild irritation and dermatitis. Liquid or mist in the eye brings redness and pain. It isn't corrosive, but the SDS classifies it as a serious eye irritant (GHS Category 2).

Reproductive and developmental toxicity. Animal studies show developmental effects at high doses. Section 11 (toxicological information) usually lists this with a note that human evidence is limited. Employers with pregnant workers, or workers who may become pregnant, should read that section closely.

Fire. Ethylene glycol is combustible, not flammable, by OSHA's definition. Its flash point sits around 111°C (232°F), well above the 60°C cutoff for flammable liquids. It burns if heated and ignited, but it won't flash at room temperature the way acetone does.

What are the 16 sections of an ethylene glycol SDS and what does each cover?

GHS locked the SDS format into a single global order in 2012. Every ethylene glycol SDS, no matter the manufacturer, runs these 16 sections in this exact sequence under OSHA's HazCom rule. ^[1]

Section	Title	What to look for on ethylene glycol SDS
1	Identification	Product name, CAS 107-21-1, supplier contact, emergency phone
2	Hazard identification	GHS pictograms, signal word ("Warning"), hazard statements
3	Composition/ingredients	Purity, any glycol ether impurities
4	First-aid measures	Emesis NOT recommended; seek medical attention immediately for ingestion
5	Fire-fighting measures	Flash point 111°C, use CO2 or dry chemical, no water spray on open flames
6	Accidental release measures	Absorb with dry material, do NOT flush to drain without treatment
7	Handling and storage	Keep away from heat sources, store below 52°C, segregate from oxidizers
8	Exposure controls / PPE	Nitrile gloves, splash goggles, ventilation thresholds
9	Physical and chemical properties	Colorless, odorless syrup; boiling point 197°C; density 1.11 g/mL
10	Stability and reactivity	Stable under normal conditions; reacts with strong oxidizers
11	Toxicological information	LD50, IDLH, metabolite toxicity, reproductive effects
12	Ecological information	Biodegradable but toxic to aquatic life at elevated concentrations
13	Disposal considerations	Follow local, state, and federal regulations; used coolant may be hazardous waste
14	Transport information	Usually not regulated as dangerous goods in UN/DOT transport
15	Regulatory information	TSCA, RCRA, SARA 313 reporting thresholds
16	Other information	Revision date, preparer name, disclaimer

Section 8 is where most employers spend their compliance dollars. It lists the engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation if you're heating or spraying), administrative controls, and the minimum PPE. If your SDS says nitrile gloves and splash goggles, that's what your workers wear. Not a lighter option because the chemical "seems fine."

What PPE does the ethylene glycol SDS require?

Section 8 of a well-written ethylene glycol SDS lays out three tiers of protection, keyed to what you're actually doing with the chemical.

Routine handling of the liquid at room temperature: chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or butyl rubber, minimum 6-mil thickness), safety glasses with side shields, and a lab coat or long sleeves. That's the baseline.

Heating ethylene glycol above roughly 60°C, spraying it as a mist (deicing operations, for example), or working in a confined space: swap the safety glasses for splash goggles, add a face shield if splashing is likely, and add respiratory protection. Above the NIOSH ceiling of 50 ppm, a half-face respirator with organic vapor cartridges is appropriate. At the IDLH of 40 mg/m³, cartridge respirators are off the table. You need a supplied-air respirator or SCBA. ^[5]

Large spill cleanup: add a chemical-resistant apron, chemical-resistant boots, and consider a full-face respirator depending on spill size and ventilation.

One detail a lot of shops miss. Used coolant and antifreeze can pick up heavy metals (lead, cadmium) from engine components. The SDS for pure ethylene glycol doesn't cover those added hazards. You may need a separate SDS for the used coolant, or at minimum, treat it as contaminated when you assign PPE.

What first aid steps does the SDS prescribe for ethylene glycol exposure?

Getting first aid wrong here is genuinely dangerous, so copy these steps straight from Section 4 of your actual SDS and post them near any ethylene glycol storage or work area.

Ingestion is the route that kills people. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the US) or go to the emergency room immediately. The standard antidotes are fomepizole (4-MP) or ethanol, which block the enzyme that converts ethylene glycol into its toxic metabolites. Time is the whole game. Kidney damage can start within 24 hours. ^[4]

Inhalation: move the person to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen if you're trained to. If headache, dizziness, or nausea sticks around, get medical attention.

Skin contact: strip off contaminated clothing. Wash the skin with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. See a doctor if irritation persists.

Eye contact: flush with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the upper and lower eyelids now and then. Then seek medical attention.

OSHA's medical access rule, 29 CFR 1910.1020, gives workers the right to review any medical records tied to chemical exposures. ^[6] If an employee gets treated for ethylene glycol poisoning, that record has to stay on file for the duration of employment plus 30 years.

How do OSHA's HazCom rules govern SDS access and training for ethylene glycol?

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, sets three requirements that shape how you handle the ethylene glycol SDS: a written program, SDS access, and worker training. ^[2]

Written program. You need a written HazCom program that lists every hazardous chemical at your workplace and explains how you manage labels and SDSs. It doesn't have to be long. A two-page document that matches your actual operation beats a 20-page binder nobody opens.

SDS access. SDSs must be "readily accessible" to workers during their shift. OSHA accepts electronic SDS systems, but you need a backup for when the computer dies (a paper binder, an off-site phone line). The agency's stance is plain: a worker who needs an SDS should never have to wait or ask a supervisor for permission. ^[2]

Training. Workers get trained before they first handle a hazardous chemical, and again whenever a new chemical hazard shows up. The training covers how to read an SDS, what GHS labels and pictograms mean, and the specific hazards of the chemicals in your workplace. Generic "chemicals are dangerous" training doesn't cut it. ^[2]

If you're building this from scratch, SafetyFolio's safety program generator can produce a HazCom written program matched to your chemical inventory in about 15 minutes, which saves the hours it takes to hack apart a generic template.

One more thing worth flagging: the retention requirement. You have to keep SDSs for any chemical used in your workplace for at least 30 years after that chemical was last used. ^[6] It holds even if you switch suppliers or drop a product. A digital archive is the only sane way to manage that over decades.

How do you read and use the exposure limits on an ethylene glycol SDS?

Section 8 lists three types of exposure limits, and they come from different agencies with different legal weight.

OSHA PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit): OSHA has no PEL for ethylene glycol vapor in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1. ^[12] That means OSHA can't cite you directly for an air concentration, though it can still cite under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), when concentrations are hazardous. ^[7]

NIOSH REL (Recommended Exposure Limit): NIOSH recommends a ceiling of 50 ppm (125 mg/m³) for ethylene glycol aerosols and mists. It isn't enforceable on its own, but OSHA inspectors treat NIOSH values as a benchmark for General Duty Clause enforcement. ^[5]

ACGIH TLV (Threshold Limit Value): The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists sets a ceiling TLV-C around 50 ppm for ethylene glycol vapor. Also not law, also widely used by industrial hygienists.

The IDLH of 40 mg/m³ (NIOSH) is a different animal. It marks the concentration where a worker could be hurt immediately or unable to escape. At or above the IDLH, cartridge respirators won't do. You need supplied-air respirators or an SCBA. ^[5]

For most small shops handling sealed containers of coolant at room temperature, measured air concentrations sit well below any of these numbers. The risk zone is heating, spraying, confined-space work, or a big spill. If you're doing any of that, get an industrial hygiene air sample before you trust engineering controls alone.

What spill response steps does the ethylene glycol SDS outline?

Section 6 covers accidental release, and a few specifics catch people off guard.

Small spills (under a gallon): kill ignition sources (ethylene glycol is combustible when heated), then absorb with vermiculite, dry sand, or a commercial absorbent. Don't use sawdust. Put the absorbed material in a labeled, closed container for disposal, and ventilate the area.

Large spills: keep unnecessary people away. Wear the full PPE from Section 8. Contain the spill with a berm or absorbent sock so it can't reach floor drains. Ethylene glycol is toxic to aquatic organisms and is regulated as a pollutant under the Clean Water Act at high concentrations. ^[8] Send it down a storm drain untreated and you've got an EPA problem, not an OSHA one.

Used coolant (ethylene glycol that's been through a cooling system) can qualify as hazardous waste under RCRA if it carries heavy metals above regulatory thresholds. Check EPA's hazardous waste guidance before disposal. ^[9]

Notification: a spill big enough to reach a navigable waterway may trigger reporting under CERCLA Section 103. Ethylene glycol has no established reportable quantity under CERCLA (it isn't on the hazardous substances list), but if the spill mixes with other chemicals, the math can change. When in doubt, call your state environmental agency.

On the OSHA side, if a worker is hurt during spill cleanup, you may need to file an incident report under 29 CFR 1904.

Does an ethylene glycol SDS differ from an MSDS, and does that matter legally?

Yes and no. The old ANSI-formatted Material Safety Data Sheet had no required section order and no mandatory content beyond what a manufacturer chose to include. OSHA's 2012 HazCom revision aligned the US system with the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), replacing MSDS with the standardized 16-section SDS. ^[1]

Legally, OSHA required chemical manufacturers to update every MSDS to the new SDS format by June 1, 2015, and gave employers until June 1, 2016 to update their written programs and training. ^[1] If you're still holding a pre-2015 MSDS for ethylene glycol, it's technically out of compliance. Ask your supplier for a current SDS.

Practically, the information in a 2024 ethylene glycol SDS is about the same as what an older MSDS carried for the same product. The hazards didn't change. What changed is the format: the new one is easier to cross-reference between manufacturers and easier to use in an emergency, because everyone knows where Section 4 lives.

"MSDS" is still all over web searches and shop talk. If your supplier sends you a document titled "MSDS," verify it's GHS-aligned (16 sections, a GHS signal word, GHS pictograms). If it isn't, ask for an updated version. OSHA puts the primary responsibility for keeping SDSs current on the chemical manufacturer.

What regulatory programs list ethylene glycol beyond the HazCom SDS?

Ethylene glycol shows up in several federal regulatory programs, and some of them create reporting or permitting duties that go past just having the SDS on file.

TSCA. Ethylene glycol is on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, so it's an approved substance for commercial use in the US. Existing uses need no premarket notification. ^[10]

SARA Title III Section 313. Ethylene glycol is a Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemical. Facilities in covered industry codes that manufacture, process, or otherwise use 25,000 pounds (manufacture/process) or 10,000 pounds (otherwise use) per year must file an annual Form R report with the EPA. ^[11] Plenty of automotive service shops, coolant manufacturers, and chemical distributors clear those thresholds.

DOT transport. Pure ethylene glycol is generally not regulated as a hazardous material for surface transport under 49 CFR. Some formulations with additives may carry DOT classifications. Check Section 14 of your specific product's SDS.

State regulations. California's Proposition 65 does not list ethylene glycol as a carcinogen or reproductive toxin at this time, though that can change. Several states run their own right-to-know laws with SDS-equivalent requirements. If you operate in one of the 22 states with an OSHA-approved state plan, check its rules.

For how state plan requirements can differ from federal OSHA rules, see our overview of OSHA compliance.

How should a small business organize and maintain its ethylene glycol SDS?

The compliance obligation is simple. The execution is where people trip. Here's what actually works.

Get the SDS from the chemical manufacturer, not a generic database. Third-party databases are fine for research, but the legally required document is the one from the supplier you bought the product from. Their contact info is in Section 1.

Store it where workers can reach it without asking. A physical binder at the workstation beats a shared drive behind a login. If you go electronic, print and laminate a quick-reference card with the emergency numbers from Section 1 and the first-aid steps from Section 4, then post it at the workstation.

Review for updates once a year. SDSs get revised when new toxicity data show up. Set a calendar reminder to check with your supplier every 12 months.

For the 30-year retention rule: when you stop using a chemical, note the date, archive the SDS in a dedicated folder (paper or cloud), and flag it with the last-use date. This is the piece most small businesses discover only when an old-timer retires and nobody knows what got used in the shop 15 years ago.

Train before first use. Document it with a sign-in sheet, the date, the topics covered, and the trainer's name. OSHA inspectors ask for training records as a matter of routine. The rule at 29 CFR 1910.1200(h) says training happens at the time of initial assignment to a work area where hazardous chemicals are present. Not after. ^[2]

If building a full HazCom written program around your ethylene glycol inventory feels like a multi-day slog, SafetyFolio generates a site-specific written program in about 15 minutes, which is worth knowing before you burn an afternoon on it.

Where can you find a current ethylene glycol SDS for free?

Your chemical supplier is always the best source. Call the number in Section 1 of the SDS you already have, or go straight to the manufacturer's website. Major ethylene glycol producers (Dow, MEGlobal, INEOS) host current SDSs in their product portals.

For a quick reference or research, a few legitimate databases host manufacturer-provided SDSs:

• CAMEO Chemicals, a joint NOAA/EPA database, includes response guidance.
• The National Library of Medicine's chemical databases link to physical and toxicological data.
• The manufacturer's own SDS portal (search "[manufacturer name] SDS portal").

Steer clear of generic "free MSDS" sites that scrape documents from unknown sources and unknown dates. They often serve up outdated pre-GHS files, and they give you zero legal cover if a worker is hurt and you can't show your SDS was current and supplier-specific.

NIH's PubChem entry for ethylene glycol (CID 174) has solid toxicological data for background reading, but it's not an SDS and doesn't replace one. ^[4]

NIOSH's Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards has an ethylene glycol entry that's free, accurate, and handy for training. ^[5] It isn't a compliant SDS, but it's a good second reference for workers.

Frequently asked questions

Is ethylene glycol considered a hazardous chemical under OSHA?

Yes. Ethylene glycol meets OSHA's hazard classification criteria under 29 CFR 1910.1200 as a serious eye irritant, a combustible liquid, and a substance with reproductive and developmental toxicity concerns at high doses. That classification requires a compliant SDS, proper container labels, and worker training before first use. The absence of an OSHA PEL for its vapor does not change the HazCom classification.

What is the IDLH for ethylene glycol?

NIOSH sets the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) value for ethylene glycol at 40 mg/m³. At or above that concentration, workers need supplied-air respirators or SCBAs, not cartridge-type respirators. IDLH concentrations rarely occur at ambient temperature in practice, but they can be reached when the chemical is heated, sprayed, or present in large spills inside enclosed spaces.

Can ethylene glycol be flushed down the drain after a spill?

No, not without treatment. Ethylene glycol is toxic to aquatic life and regulated as a pollutant under the Clean Water Act. Sending it to a storm drain untreated can trigger EPA violations. Used coolant may also qualify as hazardous waste under RCRA if it contains heavy metals above threshold levels. Absorb spills with dry material, containerize them, and dispose through a licensed waste hauler or coolant recycler.

How long must I keep an ethylene glycol SDS after I stop using the product?

OSHA's rule at 29 CFR 1910.1020 requires retaining exposure records, including SDS documents, for the duration of employment plus 30 years. So if an employee was last exposed in 2024, the SDS must be archived until at least 2054. A digital archive with a dated last-use entry is the practical fix. Paper binders vanish over that kind of timeframe.

What is the flash point of ethylene glycol, and does it need to be stored as a flammable?

Ethylene glycol has a flash point of roughly 111°C (232°F), which puts it in the combustible liquid category under OSHA's definition, not flammable. At room temperature it poses minimal fire risk. OSHA's flammable storage requirements under 29 CFR 1910.106 apply mainly to liquids with flash points below 60°C. Keep ethylene glycol away from heat and open flames, but it doesn't need a flammable storage cabinet.

What should I do if a worker swallows ethylene glycol?

Do NOT induce vomiting. Call US Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest emergency room. The antidotes (fomepizole or ethanol) must be given early to block metabolism into toxic byproducts. Kidney damage can start within 24 hours. Bring the SDS and the product label to the hospital. Even a small ingestion in a child warrants emergency care.

Does the SDS for ethylene glycol cover antifreeze, or do I need a separate document?

You need a separate SDS for each formulated product. A commercial antifreeze contains ethylene glycol as its primary ingredient but also corrosion inhibitors, dyes, and additives. Each formula has its own SDS reflecting the full hazard profile. Request the SDS for the specific antifreeze product you stock, rather than one for pure ethylene glycol. The same goes for deicing fluids and hydraulic fluids that contain glycol.

What gloves protect against ethylene glycol?

Nitrile rubber gloves (minimum 6-mil thickness) protect adequately for routine handling of liquid ethylene glycol at room temperature. Butyl rubber offers slightly better resistance for extended contact. Standard latex gloves are not recommended. For work that involves heating, spraying, or immersion, move to thicker nitrile or neoprene. Always check the breakthrough time in Section 8 of your specific product's SDS, since glove performance varies by thickness and brand.

What is the difference between an MSDS and an SDS for ethylene glycol?

The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) was the pre-2012 format with no standardized section order. The SDS (Safety Data Sheet) is the current GHS-aligned format with 16 mandatory sections in a fixed sequence. OSHA required manufacturers to convert to SDS format by June 1, 2015. The hazard information is about the same; the new format is easier to use and consistent across manufacturers. If you have an old MSDS, request a current SDS from your supplier.

Do workers have a legal right to see the ethylene glycol SDS?

Yes. Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(9) and 29 CFR 1910.1020, workers have the right to access SDSs and medical records tied to chemical exposures during their shift and at any time after. Employers cannot make workers surrender this right or make access conditional on a supervisor's approval. SDSs must be 'readily accessible' without barriers during every work shift.

Is ethylene glycol listed under SARA Title III, and does that affect my SDS requirements?

Ethylene glycol is a SARA Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory chemical. Facilities in covered industry codes that use 10,000 pounds per year or more (the otherwise-use category) must file an annual TRI Form R with the EPA. That reporting duty is separate from the OSHA SDS requirement, but it's one more reason to document your ethylene glycol inventory carefully. Section 15 of the SDS summarizes these regulatory listings.

How often should I update my ethylene glycol SDS?

The chemical manufacturer is responsible for updating the SDS when new and significant hazard information surfaces, typically within three months of discovery. As the employer, request an updated SDS from your supplier at least annually and whenever you switch product brands or formulations. OSHA sets no fixed refresh interval for employers, but an SDS more than five years old warrants a verification call to the supplier.

Can I train workers on ethylene glycol hazards using just the SDS?

The SDS is an essential training tool but not a complete program on its own. OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.1200(h) requires training that covers how to read and interpret the SDS, what GHS labels and pictograms mean, how to detect a release, and protective measures. Simply handing someone the SDS does not meet that standard. Document your training with sign-in sheets, topics covered, and the trainer's name and date.

What does OSHA's GHS label on an ethylene glycol container need to include?

A GHS-compliant label for ethylene glycol needs the product identifier (name and CAS number), the signal word ('Warning' for ethylene glycol), hazard statements (for example, 'Causes serious eye irritation'), precautionary statements, GHS pictograms (the exclamation mark for irritation), and the supplier's name and contact information. All six elements are required under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f). Secondary containers filled from a larger stock container also need labels.

Sources

1. OSHA, Hazard Communication Final Rule (2012) Overview: OSHA aligned the US SDS format with GHS in 2012, replacing MSDS with 16-section SDS; full employer compliance required by June 1, 2016
2. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard: Employers must maintain SDSs, provide worker access, and train employees before first handling a hazardous chemical
3. OSHA, Top 10 Most Cited Standards FY2023: Hazard Communication was the third most-cited OSHA standard in fiscal year 2023 with 2,264 citations
4. NIH National Library of Medicine, PubChem Compound Summary: Ethylene Glycol (CID 174): Rat oral LD50 approximately 4,700 mg/kg; human fatal dose as low as 1.4 mL/kg; metabolized to glycolic and oxalic acid causing kidney failure
5. NIOSH, Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ethylene Glycol: NIOSH IDLH for ethylene glycol is 40 mg/m³; NIOSH recommends ceiling of 50 ppm (125 mg/m³) for aerosols and mists
6. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1020 Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records: Employers must retain SDS/exposure records for the duration of employment plus 30 years
7. OSHA, General Duty Clause Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act: OSHA may cite employers under the General Duty Clause for exposures to hazardous chemicals even where no specific PEL exists
8. EPA, Clean Water Act Overview: Ethylene glycol is toxic to aquatic life and regulated as a pollutant; discharging to storm drains without treatment can violate the Clean Water Act
9. EPA, Hazardous Waste (RCRA) Program: Used coolant containing heavy metals above regulatory thresholds may qualify as hazardous waste under RCRA
10. EPA, TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory: Ethylene glycol (CAS 107-21-1) is listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory as an approved commercial substance
11. EPA, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program: Ethylene glycol is a SARA Section 313 TRI chemical; reporting thresholds are 25,000 lb for manufacture/process and 10,000 lb for otherwise use annually
12. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1 Air Contaminants: OSHA has not established an enforceable PEL for ethylene glycol vapor in Table Z-1