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What Is Butyl Cellosolve And Why You Should Avoid It.

Butyl Cellosolve is a chemical that is found in a wide variety of household cleaning agents – glass cleaners, oven cleaners, general degreasers, spot removers, air fresheners, and carpet cleaners, among other things. It is a colorless liquid with a sweet, ether-like odour and is manufactured by the Eastman Kodak company. But why should you look out for it?

It is also known as butyl glycol, Dowanol, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE), which has made it on to the list of California’s toxic air substances, and some animal studies indicate that it produces reproductive problems, such as testicular damage, reduced fertility, death of embryos and birth defects. In humans, it can irritate mucous membranes and cause liver and kidney damage. Butyl cellosolve is also a neurotoxin that can depress the nervous system and cause a variety of associated problems. Sounds like something we should be using around our house, no?

butoxyethanol.jpg

So let this serve as yet another example of a dangerous toxic chemical that is prevalent on our grocery store shelves. Before you buy a cleaning product, be sure to read the label and look for this ingredient under one of its “pseudonyms” above. Ideally, you want to avoid toxic cleaners at all, but if you cannot, be cautious when using anything with this ingredient in it!

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Comments (27)

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  1. Women’s Voices for the Earth recently released a report called Household Hazards: Potential Hazards of Home Cleaning Products which includes a section o n butyl cellosolve (also know as 2-butoxyethanol).
    The report includes an appendix with a list of common cleaning products which contain this chemical. (Its usually not listed on the label!)
    You can download this report and appendix at:
    http://www.womenandenvironment.org

    You can also take action at this site, and sign a petition asking cleaning product manufacturers to remove this and other toxic chemicals from their products!
    http://www.womenandenvironment.org

  2. viva verde » 2008 » June » 06 says:

    [...] only those great things but there are also reports that it may also lead to “reproductive problems, such as testicular damage, reduced fertility, [...]

  3. Inhabitat » GREEN HOME 101 - Guide to Green Cleaning says:

    [...] the labels and witty names.  For example, look for products that have grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve.  Use borax instead of bleach.  Also, look for products that are “petroleum free” and [...]

  4. When I was growing up… « Green Living says:

    [...] the marketing by looking for a few obvious things: products that have grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve. Use borax instead of bleach. Also, look for products that are “petroleum free” and avoid [...]

  5. DIY Household Cleaner Concoctions | 1-800-Recycling says:

    [...] grocery store reading dozens of ingredients on labels, trying to decipher the threat of words like butyl cellosolve, or you can take matters into your own hands and concoct your own earth-friendly cleaning products [...]

  6. [...] window cleaners contain many toxic ingredients such as ammonia and butyl cellosolve (a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the labels). Also, by buying commercial glass cleaners, you are going through [...]

  7. Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Using Simple Homemade Cleaning Solutions | World of Mom's says:

    [...] window cleaners contain many toxic ingredients such as ammonia and butyl cellosolve (a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the labels). Also, by buying commercial glass cleaners, you are going through [...]

  8. Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Using Simple Homemade Cleaning Solutions | World of Mom's says:

    [...] window cleaners contain many toxic ingredients such as ammonia and butyl cellosolve (a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the labels). Also, by buying commercial glass cleaners, you are going through [...]

  9. Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Using Simple Homemade Cleaning Solutions | World of Mom's says:

    [...] window cleaners contain many toxic ingredients such as ammonia and butyl cellosolve (a toxic ingredient that is not listed on the labels). Also, by buying commercial glass cleaners, you are going through [...]

  10. [...] Re: Amazing Roll-Off question… You guys ever read the MSDS sheets on the chemicals you use? You might want to… http://www.chemistrystore.com/butyl_cellosolve.pdf What Is Butyl Cellosolve And Why You Should Avoid It. | The Good Human [...]

  11. [...] the chemicals you use? You might want to… http://www.chemistrystore.com/butyl_cellosolve.pdf What Is Butyl Cellosolve And Why You Should Avoid It. | The Good Human Is Butyl bad only if you inhale it? I wear a professional 3M respirator when woeking wit [...]

  12. [...] our second ingrediant. Another fairly common chemical found in cleaning products, but with a definitively shady record, so much so that California has listed it as a hazardous substance. Studies show that butyl [...]

  13. [...] petroleum distillates, which are known toxicants of the blood, neurological, respiratory systems. Butyl cellosolve, another chemical commonly found in cleaners, can be absorbed through the skin and cause nerve [...]

  14. [...] 10, 2011 Commercial glass cleaners usually contain ammonia, alcohol, butyl cellosolve, detergents, silicone, waxes, formaldehyde, and lots of water. More so than any other cleaner, when [...]

  15. [...] and distributors. Terms and ingredients you may want to keep an eye out for include: BAD: Toxic Butyl Cellosolve: Glass and oven cleaners, as well as degreasers harbor this not-so-fun chemical that, in pets, not [...]

  16. [...] into the labels and witty names. For example, look for products that have grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve. Use borax instead of bleach. Also, look for products that are “petroleum free” and avoid [...]

  17. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  18. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  19. Beware: Most Green Cleaning Products Contain This says:

    [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  20. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  21. Beware: Most Green Cleaning Products Contain This, Cure It NaturallyCure It Naturally - Live Life naturally says:

    [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  22. Beware: Most Green Cleaning Products Contain This | We Want To Be Free says:

    [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  23. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  24. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  25. Beware: Most Green Cleaning Products Contain This | Chiropractor in Northwest Tucson Marana Oro Valey says:

    [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]

  26. [...] Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners. May damage kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system. [...]