Evaluating the Performance of the 2-Butoxyethanol Regulations: Summary Report and Key Results

Environment and Climate Change Canada has evaluated the performance of the 2-Butoxyethanol Regulations (the Regulations) to determine if they are effective in protecting human health from products containing 2-butoxyethanol (2-BE). This evaluation was done specifically in relation to the product categories identified in Schedule 1 of the Regulations.

A study was commissioned in 2020 to develop an inventory of consumer products containing 2-BE covered by the Regulations and to analyze the concentration in these products. This data was compared to a similar inventory from 2004. The intent of the study was to determine if the amount of products exceeding regulatory limits decreased since 2004. This would indicate that the Regulations were working as intended.

The study was carried out in 4 steps:

1. A Canadian inventory of the concentration of 2-BE in regulated products was compiled
2. An analysis was completed for each regulated product category to determine if the number of products containing 2-BE has decreased since 2004
3. The overall performance of the Regulations was evaluated by comparing the Canadian market in 2020 to the existing data from 2004
4. An examination was completed to determine if there were any new product categories using 2-BE that should be regulated in the future

The products identified in the 2004 inventory were directly compared to:

• current safety data sheet databases
• technical data sheets
• related materials such as product labels and instructions found online.

This information was used to determine if these products:

• are still in the Canadian market
• contain 2-BE
  • and, if so, at what concentration

Follow-up discussions with the relevant product manufacturers, importers and industry associations were also undertaken, where necessary, to provide additional information and to verify their online data.

This study did not include product testing to verify the 2-BE concentration in products.

Key results of the study

The results of the study indicate a large reduction in the total number of products that contain 2-BE in Canada across every regulated category. Therefore, the Regulations have been effective in reducing the number of 2-BE containing products in Canada. All remaining products on the market are compliant with the regulatory limits. There were also no new or increased uses of 2-BE found in non-regulated product categories.

Figure 1: Total products containing 2-BE on the Canadian market (2004 vs 2020)

The total number of products containing 2-BE in Canada covered by the Regulations dropped by 87%: from 444 products in 2004 to 56 products in 2020.

The paints and coatings category, which had the highest amount of products containing 2-BE, fell to 5 products in 2020 compared to 229 products in 2004. Of these 5 products, 4 of them were aerosol paints and coatings, and the other was a non-aerosol product. The “any other cleaner” product category went from 122 products containing 2-BE in 2004 to 34 products in 2020. Stripping and paint thinning products reduced their number of products containing 2-BE from 37 in 2004 to 3 in 2020, all 3 products were floor baseboard strippers. The above-mentioned categories held the largest market share of regulated products, and were responsible for most of the products exceeding regulatory limits in 2004.

There was only 1 rug and carpet cleaning product found containing 2-BE in 2020, compared to 29 in 2004. Lastly, there were 13 automobile cleaners that contained 2-BE in 2020 compared to 27 in 2004. As for laundry stain removers, no consumer laundry spot or stain removers containing 2-BE were identified in both the 2004 and 2020 inventories.

The reduction in total number of products resulted mostly from the reformulation of paints, coatings, cleaners, and stripping products to replace 2-BE with safer alternative substances. The alternative glycol ethers being used as replacements for 2-BE, notably propylene-series and other ethylene-series glycols, are shown to have more favourable human health and environmental profiles. The remaining uses of 2-BE in these product categories exist in cleaning products predominantly used in workplace settings.

The amount of products exceeding regulatory limits went down to zero in 2020 in every single product category. All of the remaining products are estimated to be compliant with the Regulations.

The study investigated the possibility of new products using 2-BE, apart from those currently covered by the Regulations, and did not find any new types of uses.

* No further breakdown is available in the 2004 data to differentiate between aerosol and non-aerosol products, nor floor baseboard strippers and paint strippers/thinners.

Conclusion

The study indicates that the amount of products containing 2-BE under the Regulations has drastically been reduced in every product category. There are no products covered by the Regulations that exceed the regulatory limits.

As of the time this study was conducted, Canada has the most stringent national regulations aimed at controlling consumer exposure to 2-BE through use in consumer products. The study indicates that the Regulations are able to protect the health of Canadians from these products.

If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact us.

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Products Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Telephone: 819-938-4483 / 1-888-391-3426 (information)
E-mail: Produits-Products@ec.gc.ca