diethylene glycol

[dahy-eth-uh-leen glahy-kawl, ‐kol]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a syrupy colorless liquid, C 4 H 10 O 3 , used as a solvent for nitrocellulose and as a fabric softener.

diethylene glycol

/ daɪˈɛθɪˌliːn ˈɡlaɪkɒl /

noun

1. a colourless soluble, poisonous liquid used as a solvent. Formula: (C 2 H 4 OH) 2 O

Word History and Origins

Origin of diethylene glycol¹

First recorded in 1925–30; di- ¹ + ethylene

Example Sentences

The syrup in question contained 48.6% diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent that should never be found in medicine.

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Over the years, diethylene glycol in Indian-made cough syrups has claimed dozens of young lives.

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In 2023, Indian syrups tainted with diethylene glycol were linked to the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia and 18 in Uzbekistan.

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Privately held Swiss drugmaker Similasan has previously been asked by the agency to meet relevant safety limits for levels of diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol, two common contaminants in some medicines, as they could lead to lethal poisoning at higher levels.

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Since then, there have been "mass poisoning events" in several Indian states, they say, adding that the death tolls may be much higher as diethylene glycol poisoning is hard to diagnose.

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