1. OSHA Occupational Chemical Database
  2. ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE (1,2-DIBROMOETHANE)
Label abbreviations descriptions

ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE (1,2-DIBROMOETHANE)†

Chemical Identification
Chemical Identification
CAS # 106-93-4
Formula

C₂H₄Br₂
Synonyms

1,2-dibromoethane; ethylene bromide; glycol dibromide
Physical Properties
Physical Properties
Physical description Colorless liquid or solid (below 50°F) with a sweet odor.
Boiling point 268°F Molecular weight 187.9
Freezing point/melting point 50°F Vapor pressure 12 mmHg
Flash point Vapor density 6.48
Specific gravity 2.17 Ionization potential 9.45 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL) Upper explosive limit (UEL)
NFPA health rating 3 NFPA fire rating 0
NFPA reactivity rating 0 NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs
Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.) 1140
Sampling group
Sampler/Sampling media
Sampling time*

5 min minimum 
Sampling volume (TWA)*
 

10 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)*
 

0.2 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)*
 

 
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)*
 

 
Analytical method instruments
Method reference OSHA 2 (fully validated)
Notes
 

Sample must be refrigerated and analyzed as soon as possible.
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.

Wipe Method
Wipe Method
Sampler/Sampling media
 

 
Bulk Method
Bulk Method
 

 
On-Site Screening Techniques
On-Site Screening Techniques
Device Detector tube Detector tube Detector tube
Model/Type Gastec 136L Gastec 136H Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-166S
Sampling information
(see manufacturer instructions) 		1 stroke; approx 4-80 ppm range 1 stroke; approx 7-210 ppm range follow mfr instructions; approx 1-50 ppm range
Exposure Limits
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
 

20 ppm

 REL-TWA
 

0.045 ppm

 TLV-TWA
 

 

 PEL-TWA
 

 
PEL-STEL
 

 

 REL-STEL
 

 

 TLV-STEL
 

 

 PEL-STEL
 

 
PEL-C
 

30 ppm [5 minutes]; 50 ppm (Peak) [5 minutes for 8 hr shift]

 REL-C
 

0.13 ppm [15 minutes]

 TLV-C
 

 

 PEL-C
 

0.13 ppm (1 mg/m³)
Skin notation
 

Y

 Skin notation
 

N

 Skin notation
 

Y

 Skin notation
 

Y
Notes:

OSHA Construction and Maritime Industry PEL is 25 ppm (190 mg/m³) as a Ceiling concentration (C). See 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 and 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards. Skin designation does not apply for General Industry. See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-2.

 Notes:
 

CARCINOGEN (Ca): REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LOWEST FEASIBLE CONCENTRATION. See Appendix A, NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens.

 Notes:
 

See TLV Documentation on Ethylene dibromide

 Notes:
 

See California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 5219. Section 5219. Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)..
Health factors:  See NIH-NLM PubChem. IDLH
Carcinogenic classifications: IARC-2A, NIOSH-Ca, NTP-R, TLV-A3, EPA-L Notes:
 

Ca
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3:
 

 
Additional Resources and Literature References
Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Ethylene dibromide

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethylene dibromide

Literature References

 
  • ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethylene dibromide. See annual publication for most recent information.
  • Letz, G.A., Pond, S.M., Osterloh, J.D., Wade, R.L. and Becker, C.E.: Two fatalities after acute occupational exposure to ethylene dibromide. JAMA 252(17): 2428-2431, 1984 (symptoms of fatal exposure).
  • Ratcliffe, J.M., Schrader, S.M., Steenland, K., Clapp, D.E., Turner, T. and Hornung, R.W.: Semen quality in papaya workers with long term exposure to ethylene dibromide. Br. J. Ind. Med. 44(5): 317-326, 1987 (sperm toxicity).
  • Wormhoudt, L.W., Ploemen, J.H., de Waziers, I., Commandeur, J.N., Beaune, P.H., van Bladeren, P.J. and Vermeulen, N.P.: Inter-individual variability in the oxidation of 1,2-dibromoethane: use of heterologously expressed human cytochrome P450 and human liver microsomes. Chem. Biol. Interact. 101(3): 175-192, 1996 (metabolism).
  • Stein, H.P., Bahlman, L.J., Leidel, N.A., Parker, J.C., Thomas, A.W. and Millar, J.D.: Ethylene dibromide and disulfiram toxic interaction. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 39(7): A35-37, 1978 (interaction with disulfiram).

Last Updated Date : 06/06/2022