 |
Safety and Health Topics: |
|
| Ethylene |
|
General Description
Synonyms: Ethene; Acetene
OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1115
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 74-85-1
NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: KU5340000
Chemical Description and Physical Properties: Colorless compressed gas, with characteristic odor.
molecular formula: C2H4
molecular weight: 28.00
boiling point: -104°C
vapor pressure: 8100 kPa at 15°C
melting point: -169.2°C
Potentially hazardous incompatibilities: Reacts with strong oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard. Reacts violently with aluminum chloride, benzoyl peroxide and carbon tetrachloride, bromotrichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitromethane and aluminum chloride, and ozone.
Exposure Limits
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- Simple Asphyxiants. The limiting factor is the available oxygen which shall be at least 18 percent and be within the requirements addressing explosion in subpart B of part 1915.
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): Simple Asphyxiant; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen
Health Factors
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans
Potential symptoms: Drowsiness; unconsciousness.
Health Effects: Simple asphyxiant (HE17); Explosive (HE18)
Note: Metabolized to ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, which forms 2-hydroxyethyl adducts with hemoglobin and DNA. However, the health effects of long-term or repeated exposure to ethylene are not known.
Date Last Revised: 06/24/2003
Literature Basis:
- (symptoms)
NIOSH International Chemical Safety Cards: Ethylene.
- (review of metabolism and adduct formation)
Csanády, G.A., Denk, B., Pütz, C., Kreuzer, P.E., Kessler, W., Baur, C., Gargas, M.L. and Filser, J.G.: A physiological toxicokinetic model for exogenous and endogenous ethylene and ethylene oxide in rat, mouse, and human: formation of 2-hydroxyethyl adducts with hemoglobin and DNA. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 165(1): 1-26, 2000.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: AUER/MSA
model/type: Ethylene 50, MSA P/N 804428, AUER P/N 5086-833
sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
upper measurement limit: 5000 ppm
detection limit: approx. 25 ppm
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Dräger
model/type: Ethylene 0.1/a, order no. 81 01331
sampling information: 20 strokes
upper measurement limit: 5 ppm
detection limit: approx. 0.2 ppm
overall uncertainty: 49%
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Dräger
model/type: Ethylene 50/a, order no. 67 28051
sampling information: 3 strokes
upper measurement limit: 2500 ppm
detection limit: approx. 50 ppm
overall uncertainty: 32%
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 172L
sampling information: 4 strokes
upper measurement limit: 50 ppm
detection limit: 0.05 ppm
overall uncertainty: 16% for 0.2 to 10 ppm, 8% for 10 to 50 ppm
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 172
sampling information: 1 stroke
upper measurement limit: 800 ppm
detection limit: 5 ppm
overall uncertainty: 16% for 25 to 200 ppm, 8% for 200 to 800 ppm
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 171
sampling information: 1 stroke
upper measurement limit: 2%
detection limit: 0.1%
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Gastec
model/type: 103
sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
upper measurement limit: 16.8%
detection limit: 0.35%
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
model/type: 8014-108SA
sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
upper measurement limit: 1200 ppm
detection limit: approx. 20 ppm
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
device: Detector Tube
manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
model/type: 8014-280S
sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
upper measurement limit: 2000 ppm
detection limit: approx. 20 ppm
overall uncertainty: unknown
method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
* All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
|
| |
| Revised: 14 October 2003 |
| |
| |
|
 |
|
