Division of Catalytic Industrial Group, Inc.
20th and Sycamore • P.O. Box 827
Independence, KS 67301
800.835.0557 • 620.331.0750 • Fax: 620.331.3402
E-Mail: ken@cat-group.com

If you’re faced with this decision,
consider the information referenced here

Glycol Heaters use ethylene glycol, a chemical which has become more problematic as awareness
of this substance, and its inherent risks, becomes better understood by industry, by the public,
by environmentalists, and by health professionals.

All glycol heaters use ethylene glycol, mixed with water. The glycol used in glycol heaters is clear
and colorless. It may exist in air in the form of vapor. When released into the soil, it can be expected
to leach into groundwater, according to MSDS sheets published for this chemical.

Exposure to ethylene glycol from any source, including glycol heaters, can damage the
central nervous system, heart and kidneys. Female animals that consumed significant amounts of
ethylene glycol had offspring with birth defects; male animals had diminished sperm counts.
Ethylene glycol also affects the body's chemistry by increasing the amount of acid, resulting in
metabolic problems. It can also damage red blood cells or damage the bone marrow,
where blood cells are formed, causing anemia.

Ethylene glycol has been found in at least 34 of the 1,416 National Priorities List sites
identified by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to the US Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry, Division of Toxicology. (see statement in yellow box, below)

Those who work with glycol heaters know they can be exposed to ethylene glycol by
breathing or touching the substance. Vapor inhalation is usually not an issue unless the chemical is
heated or misted. Exposure to vapors may cause nausea and vomiting. Pulmonary edema and
central nervous system depression can also occur. Exposure to ethylene glycol in heated or mist
form has produced rapid, involuntary eye movement and coma.

Tests are available to determine if a worker has been exposed to ethylene glycol.
These tests are generally used only where there are symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning.

• EPA has set a drinking water guideline for ethylene glycol of
  7,000 micrograms (7,000 µg/L) in a liter of water for an adult.

• The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
  recommends a maximum level of 127 milligrams of ethylene glycol per
  cubic meter of air (127 mg/m3) for a 15-minute exposure.

The Label Warning for the Ethylene Glycol Used in
Glycol Heaters Reads as Follows: