Fw: Diethlyene glycol / Ethylene glycol / PEG

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from 2010----- Forwarded Message ----To: "miralax " <miralax >Sent: Thu, May 20, 2010 7:51:41 AMSubject: Diethlyene glycol / Ethylene glycol / PEG

What is PEG

Production

Polyethylene glycol is produced by the interaction of ethylene oxide with water, ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol oligomers.[5] The reaction is catalyzed by acidic or basic catalysts. Ethylene glycol and its oligomers are preferable as a starting material instead of water, because it allows the creation of polymers with a low polydispersity (narrow molecular

weight distribution) . Polymer chain length depends on the ratio of reactants.

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is an organic compound with the formula (HOCH2CH2)2O. It is a colorless, practically odorless, poisonous, viscous, and hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste. It is miscible in water, alcohol, ether, acetone and ethylene glycol.[1] DEG is a widely used solvent.[2]

Preparation

DEG is produced by the partial hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. Depending on the conditions, varying amounts of DEG and related glycols are produced. The resulting product is two ethylene glycol molecules joined by an ether bond.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylene_glycol

Because of its adverse effects on humans, diethylene glycol is not allowed for use in food and drugs. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations allows no more than 0.2% of diethylene glycol in polyethylene glycol when the latter is used as a food additive.[6]

Diethylene glycol has moderate acute toxicity in animal experiments. The LD50 for small mammals has been tested at between 2 and 25 g/kg, less toxic than its relative ethylene glycol but still capable of causing toxicity in humans. It appears diethylene glycol is more hazardous to humans than implied by oral toxicity data in laboratory animals.

Drug oversight meeting FDA, June 18, 2009

http://www.fda. gov/AboutFDA/ CentersOffices/ CDER/ucm171059. htm

PEG is a long-chain polymer of ethylene oxide commercially available =n molecular weights of 300 g/mole to 10,000,000 g/mole. Many products conta=n an average molecular weight of 3350 g/mole and thus are given the name PEG-3=50. PEG-3350 products exist in a stable powder form. Approved products instru=t patients to dissolve the PEG-3350 powder in a liquid and use immediately. =The approved products have been tested under these conditions and are stable.=It is unknown if prolonged duration in solution would change the chemical properties of PEG-3350, and what the actual content of ethylene glycol or=20 diethylene glycol or other low molecular weight PEG would be under such conditions.

PEG products that are available over-the-counter can be used without=20 medical oversight.

There is a perception that PEG is safe because it is minimally absorb=d from the stomach and intestines. However, little is known about whether absorption in children differs from adults, especially in children who ar= constipated, have underlying intestinal disease, or are very young.

Children are receiving adult doses of PEG in some cases.

Children may be more susceptible to variations in PEG product quality.

Effects of large doses of PEG given over a long duration (e.g weeks o= longer) is not known.