ETHYL ETHER (DIETHYL ETHER) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

ETHYL ETHER (DIETHYL ETHER)†

Chemical Identification
CAS #	60-29-7
Formula	C₄H₁₀O
Synonyms	diethyl ether; diethyl oxide; ethyl oxide; ether; solvent ether

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless liquid with a pungent, sweetish odor.
Boiling point	94°F	Molecular weight	74.1
Freezing point/melting point	-177°F	Vapor pressure	440 mmHg
Flash point	-49°F	Vapor density	2.6
Specific gravity	0.71	Ionization potential	9.53 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	1.9%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	36%
NFPA health rating	1	NFPA fire rating	4
NFPA reactivity rating	1	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	1210
Sampling group
Sampler/Sampling media	CSC tube (100/50 mg) [SKC 226-01]
Sampling time^*
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	0.25-3 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	0.01-0.2 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Analytical method instruments	GC-FID
Method reference	NIOSH 1610 (partially validated)
Notes
Special requirements

^* All sampling instructions above are recommended guidelines for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), please see the corresponding OSHA method reference for complete details.

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device
Model/Type
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	400 ppm (1200 mg/m³)	REL-TWA		TLV-TWA	400 ppm [1966]	PEL-TWA	400 ppm (1200 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL	500 ppm [1966]	PEL-STEL	500 ppm (1500 mg/m³)
PEL-C		REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-1.		Notes: See Appendix D - Substances with No Established RELs.		Notes:		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	1900 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: Not listed		Notes: 10% of LEL
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3:

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Diethyl ether

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethyl ether

Literature References

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethyl ether. See annual publication for most recent information.
Bell, C.M., Gutowski, S.J., Young, S. and Wells, D.: Diethyl ether interference with infrared breath analysis. J. Anal. Toxicol. 16(3): 166-168, 1992.
Brady, J.F., Lee, M.J., Li, M., Ishizaki, H. and Yang, C.S.: Diethyl ether as a substrate for acetone/ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-450 and as an inducer for cytochrome(s) P-450. Mol. Pharmacol. 33(2): 148-154, 1988.
Eger, E.I., 2^nd, Laster, M.J., Gregory, G.A., Katoh, T. and Sonner, J.M.: Women appear to have the same minimum alveolar concentration as men: a retrospective study. Anesthesiology 99(5): 1059-1061, 2003.
Krenz, S., Zimmermann, G., Kolly, S. and Zullino, D.F.: Ether: a forgotten addiction. Addiction 98(8): 1167-1168, 2003.
Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Ethyl ether. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 1. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 1104-1106.

Last Updated Date : 12/28/2020

ETHYL ETHER (DIETHYL ETHER)†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References