neh@mhuxh.UUCP (henderson) (11/04/83)
All I know about propylene glycol is that we used it when I was at Bell Labs in Atlanta to strip the coating off of optical fibers. It was also the preservative used in almost everything in the vending machines. I admit, however, to being an addicted diet cola drinker- saccharin, caffeine, propylene glycol and all. Norma Laborde (AT&T Bell Laboratories- Merrimack Valley) ...mhuxh!mvuxb!nhl
sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) (11/05/83)
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