Sector news

OSPA Glycol Ethers Toxicology Group Meeting:
Key Discussions and Decisions

The Oxygenated Solvents Producers Association (OSPA) Glycol Ethers Toxicology (GE Tox) group recently convened to address several critical topics. Here are the key points from their discussions:

Collaboration on Neurotoxicity Studies

The Toxicology Working Group of OSPA GE has reviewed its ongoing collaboration with a Swiss university team on the neurotoxicity of glycol ethers. The focus was on the responsible handling of research results – particularly to avoid misinterpretation of high-dose test data by the public.
To enhance transparency and scientific communication, several measures have been initiated: a follow-up meeting with the research team, a structured collection of relevant publications and feedback, and the evaluation of a dedicated information platform to present research findings in a contextualized and accessible manner.

DEGME Use Survey

Since December 2023 DEGME has been classified as Reprotox 1 with a specific concentration limit of 3%. As this substance is part of the OSPA charter, a digital use survey was set up by Penman. The survey was officially launched in April 2025 and is still ongoing.

iBOL Inclusion in CoRAp List

It was noted that iBOL has been included in the draft CoRAp list due to concerns about “suspected reprotox and wide dispersive use.” The group will review exposure scenarios and refine the dossier to address these concerns.