Which statement correctly describes ethylene glycol?

• A. Ethylene glycol is metabolized to calcium
• B. Ethylene glycol is a carcinogen
• C. Ethylene glycol bioaccumulates in the body
• D. Ethylene glycol is a neurotoxin

Answer: (A)

Ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed and converted by liver enzymes through a sequence of steps that end in oxalic acid. The oxalate that forms readily binds calcium to create calcium oxalate crystals, which can precipitate in the kidneys and cause serious toxicity. Because the calcium-containing crystals are a key danger in ethylene glycol poisoning, describing it as being metabolized to calcium captures the essential link between its metabolic products and calcium-related toxicity.

The other statements don’t fit as well: it’s not known as a carcinogen, it doesn’t broadly bioaccumulate in the body, and while it can depress the central nervous system, its major toxic mechanism is due to the formation of calcium oxalate and resulting metabolic and kidney effects rather than acting primarily as a neurotoxin.