ETHYLENE | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

ETHYLENE

Chemical Identification
Chemical Identification
CAS #	74-85-1
Formula	C₂H₄
Synonyms	ethene; acetene

Physical Properties
Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless gas with a sweet odor.
Boiling point	-154.7°F	Molecular weight	28.05
Freezing point/melting point	-272.4°F	Vapor pressure
Flash point	-213°F (approx)	Vapor density
Specific gravity	0.569 at -154.84°F	Ionization potential
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	2.75%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	28.6%
NFPA health rating	2	NFPA fire rating	4
NFPA reactivity rating	2	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.)
Sampling group
Sampler/Sampling media
Sampling time^*
Sampling volume (TWA)^*
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*
Analytical method instruments
Method reference
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.

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 tubes	Detector tube	Detector tube
Model/Type	Dräger - Ethylene 0.1/a, 8101331	Dräger - Ethylene 50/a, 6728051	Gastec 172L, 172, 171	Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-108SA	Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-280S
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)	20 strokes, approx 0.2-5 ppm range; uncertainty 49%	3 strokes, approx 50-2500 ppm range, uncertainty 32%	172L: 1 stroke, 5-800 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 25-200 ppm, 8% for 200-800 ppm. 172: 1 stroke, 5-800 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 25-200 ppm, 8% for 200-800 ppm. 171: 1 stroke, 0.1-2% range. 103: 0.5-2 strokes, 0.35-16.8% range	follow mfr instructions, approx 20-1200 ppm range	follow mfr instructions, approx 20-2000 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		REL-TWA		TLV-TWA	200 ppm [2001]	PEL-TWA
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL		PEL-STEL
PEL-C		REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	NA	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N
Notes: Ethylene is classified as a simple asphyxiant and exposure is addressed in OSHA Construction and Maritime standards only. For OSHA's construction regulations, see 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1: [E] The limiting factor is the available oxygen which shall be at least 19.5% and be within the requirements addressing explosion in 29 CFR 1926. For OSHA's maritime regulations, see 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards: [E] The limiting factor is the available oxygen which shall be at least 18% and be within the requirements addressing explosion in 29 CFR 1915, Subpart B.		Notes: Not established		Notes:		Notes: See footnote [h]: A number of gases and vapors, when present in high concentrations, act primarily as asphyxiants without other adverse effects. A concentration limit is not included for each material because the limiting factor is the available oxygen. (Several of these materials present fire or explosion hazards.)
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH
Carcinogenic classifications: TLV-A4		Notes:

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 NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Ethylene Literature References ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Ethylene. See annual publication for most recent information.

Last Updated Date : 01/31/2018