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Ethylene Dichloride Safety and Health Topics:
Ethylene Dichloride

General Description
    Synonyms: Ethylene chloride; 1,2-Dichloroethane; Glycol dichloride

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 0874

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 107-06-2

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: KI0525000

    Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1184 129

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Ethylene Dichloride: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-2 Table -- 50 ppm TWA; 100 ppm Ceiling for 5 min in any 3 hours; 200 ppm Peak

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 50 ppm, 200 mg/m3 TWA

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 50 ppm, 200 mg/m3 TWA

    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 10 ppm, 40 mg/m3 TWA; Appendix A4 - Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 1 ppm, 4 mg/m3 TWA; 2 ppm, 8 mg/m3 STEL; Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens; Appendix C - Supplementary Exposure Limits (Chloroethanes)
Health Factors
    National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Reasonably Anticipated to be Human Carcinogen

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans

    U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carcinogenic classification: Group B2, probable human carcinogen

    NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 50 ppm

    Potential symptoms: CNS depression (dizziness, drowsiness, trembling, unconsciousness); nausea; vomiting, abdominal pain, skin irritation, dermatitis; eye irritation, corneal opacity, blurred vision; headache; sore throat; cough, bronchitis, pulmonary edema (may be delayed); liver, kidney, cardiovascular system damage, cardiac arrhythmia; INGES ACUTE: Abdominal cramps, diarrhea; internal bleeding (hemorrhagic gastritis and colitis); respiratory failure [potential occupational carcinogen]

    Health Effects: : Cumulative liver and kidney damage (HE3); CNS effects (HE7); Irritation-Eyes, Nose, Throat, Skin---Moderate (HE15)

    Affected organs: Kidneys, liver, eyes, skin, CNS, cardiovascular system

    Notes: 1) A study of 221 litigant hazardous clean-up workers exposed to ethylene dichloride (mean, 28 months; median 13 months) without PPE indicated a number of neuropsychological deficits, such as processing speed, attention, cognitive flexibility, motor coordination and speed, verbal memory, verbal fluency, and visuo-spacial abilities, as well as disturbed mood, impaired color vision, contrast sensitivity and dry eye syndrome. 2) Metabolized by cytochrome P-450 2E1, a liver enzyme induced by ethanol consumption.

    Date Last Revised: 06/04/2004

    Literature Basis:
    • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Ethylene Dichloride.
    • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): 1,2-Dichloroethane.
    • EPA Air Toxics Website: Ethylene Dichloride (1,2-Dichloroethane). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network
    • Bowler, R.M., Gysens, S. and Hartney, C.: Neuropsychological effects of ethylene dichloride exposure. Neurotoxicology 24(4-5): 553-562, 2003.
    • Guengerich, F.P., Kim, D.H. and Iwasaki, M.: Role of human cytochrome P-450 IIE1 in the oxidation of many low molecular weight cancer suspects. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 4(2): 168-179, 1991.
    • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethylene Dichloride. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp.1085-1087.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
      analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide (NIOSH): o-Xylene (OSHA)
      maximum volume: 10 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (TWA)
      maximum volume: 3 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL)
      minimum time: 5 Minutes   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (Ceiling)
      minimum time: 5 Minutes   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (Peak)
      current analytical method: Gas chromatography; GC/FID - NIOSH Gas chromatography; GC/ECD - OSHA
      method reference: NIOSH Analytical Method (NIOSH 1003) & OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 3)
      method classification: Fully Validated

    On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:

    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: AUER/MSA
      model/type: Dichloromethane-50, MSA P/N 804416, AUER P/N 5085-823
      sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
      upper measurement limit: 720 ppm
      detection limit: approximately 15 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Gastec
      model/type: 135L
      sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 1040 ppm
      detection limit: 16 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 16% for 100 to 300 ppm, 8% for 300 to 1040 ppm
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
      model/type: 8014-235S
      sampling information: 1 stroke
      upper measurement limit: 160 ppm
      detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
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  Ethylene Dichloride
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Page last updated: 11/12/2004