The acute toxicity of ethylene glycol monopropyl ether (EGPE) and ethylene glycol monopropyl ether acetate (EGPEA) was determined in a series of standardized tests. The oral LD50 in rats was 3089 and 9456 mg/kg EGPE and EGPEA, respectively. Skin irritation was slight following an occluded single dose application of either compound to the guinea pig abdomen. The dermal LD50 for guinea pigs was 1 to 5 mL/kg and greater than 20 mL/kg EGPE and EGPEA, respectively. EGPE produced a very weak positive sensitization response in one of five guinea pigs. No positive response was elicited when 10 guinea pigs were similarly challenged with EGPEA. EGPE produced transient moderate to severe eye irritation in rabbits while EGPEA produced slight eye irritation. Subchronic toxicity was determined in a series of oral and inhalation studies. Groups of 10 male rats were dosed with 15, 7.5, 3.75 or 1.88 mmole/kg EGPE and 30, 15 or 7.5 mmole/kg EGPEA by gavage 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Hemoglobinuria was seen at least once at all dose levels of both compounds. EGPE had little effect on feed consumption or body weight gain, while body weight gain was reduced in the two high dose groups exposed to EGPEA and feed consumption was reduced at all dose levels. Hematologic changes were seen at all dose levels of both compounds. Absolute and/or relative spleen weights were increased at all but the lowest EGPE dose level and at all EGPEA dose levels. Gross and histopathologic examinations revealed significant effects on the spleen of animals exposed to EGPE and on the spleen, liver, kidney and testes of animals exposed to EGPEA. The no-observed effect level (NOEL) for splenic changes was 1.88 mmole/kg EGPE. A NOEL for hematology was not established. The NOEL for liver and testicular changes were 15 and 7.5 mmole/kg EGPEA, respectively while a NOEL for hematologic, splenic and renal changes was not established. Groups of 10 rats (5M, 5F) were exposed to 800, 400, 200 or 100 ppm EGPE or EGPEA 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for a total of 11 exposures. Body weight gains in all exposure groups were comparable to controls. Hemoglobinuria was seen only after the first or second exposure in males and females exposed to 800 ppm EGPE and in males exposed to 400 ppm EGPE. Males and females exposed to 800 ppm EGPEA and females exposed to 400 and 200 ppm EGPEA also exhibited hemoglobinuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)