In News:

Recent laboratory findings in Tamil Nadu detected ethylene glycol adulteration in a batch of Almond Kit syrup, prompting a public health alert. Such incidents highlight the serious risks posed by contamination of pharmaceutical or food products with industrial chemicals like ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG).

About Ethylene Glycol (EG)

Ethylene glycol is the simplest member of the glycol family of organic compounds.

Key Properties

• Colourless, odourless, slightly viscous liquid
• Faintly sweet taste
• Miscible with water and alcohol
• Low volatility (does not evaporate quickly)
• Stable over a wide temperature range
• Inexpensive to manufacture

Because of these properties, it is widely used in industry but is highly toxic if ingested.

Uses of Ethylene Glycol

Ethylene glycol has multiple industrial applications:

• Antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, aircraft and boats
• Component of hydraulic brake fluids
• Used in printing inks (stamp pads, ballpoint pens, print shops)
• Industrial reagent in the manufacture of:
  • Polyesters
  • Alkyd resins
  • Explosives
  • Synthetic waxes

Its chemical stability and freezing-point depression properties make it suitable for coolant systems.

Health Impact and Toxicity

Though industrially valuable, ethylene glycol is highly toxic when consumed. It is not inherently dangerous in small dermal exposures but becomes lethal when ingested.

Mechanism of Toxicity

After ingestion, ethylene glycol is metabolised in the liver into toxic compounds such as:

• Glycolic acid
• Oxalic acid

These metabolites cause:

• Severe metabolic acidosis
• Acute kidney injury
• Nervous system depression
• Multi-organ failure

If untreated, poisoning can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Early medical intervention using antidotes such as fomepizole or ethanol can block toxic metabolism.

Diethylene Glycol (DEG): A Related Public Health Hazard

Diethylene glycol, chemically similar to ethylene glycol, has been implicated in multiple drug adulteration incidents globally. Like ethylene glycol, it is:

• Used as an industrial solvent
• Sweet-tasting and colourless
• Toxic when ingested

DEG contamination in medicines, especially cough syrups, has historically led to mass poisoning incidents due to renal failure and metabolic acidosis. These cases underline the importance of strict pharmaceutical quality control and regulatory vigilance.

Public Health and Regulatory Significance

The recent detection of ethylene glycol in a medicinal syrup underscores:

• The need for stringent drug testing and quality assurance
• Strong enforcement of pharmaceutical manufacturing standards
• Rapid public communication in case of contamination

Such incidents highlight the role of regulatory authorities in preventing industrial chemicals from entering consumable products.