Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bbncca!sdyer
From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: RE: Antifreeze in Soda?
Message-ID: <268@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 5-Nov-83 14:21:30 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncca.268
Posted: Sat Nov  5 14:21:30 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 8-Nov-83 04:48:53 EST
References: <1220@mhuxh.UUCP>
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
Lines: 11

Propylene glycol is chemically related to glycerin and ethylene glycol, but
its toxicity is more similar to glycerin, which is to say, not very high.
Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) is particularly toxic because of its
metabolites, which cause severe kidney damage, even in small doses.
Glycerin and propylene glycol's toxic effects come from their affinity for
water, and to some extent in the case of propylene glycol, an alcohol-like
depressant effect.  Both of these would only occur when administered in
high, concentrated doses, and not in the amounts seen added to foods.

/Steve
decvax!bbncca!sdyer