1,2-Dichloroethane Safety Data Sheets

Flammable liquids, Category 2

Acute toxicity - Category 4, Oral

Skin irritation, Category 2

Eye irritation, Category 2

Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure, Category 3

Carcinogenicity, Category 1B

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

Inhalation of vapors causes nausea, drunkenness, depression. Contact of liquid with eyes may produce corneal injury. Prolonged contact with skin may cause a burn. (USCG, 1999)

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic and irritating gases (hydrogen chloride, phosgene) are generated. Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)

Use water spray, foam, powder, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Ventilation. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Ventilation. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Environmental considerations: land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. /SRP: If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. Absorb bulk liquid with fly ash, cement powder, or commercial sorbents. Apply "universal" gelling agent to immobilize spill. Apply appropriate foam to diminish vapor and fire hazard.

NO open flames, NO sparks and NO smoking. Closed system, ventilation, explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting. Prevent build-up of electrostatic charges (e.g., by grounding). Do NOT use compressed air for filling, discharging, or handling. Handling in a well ventilated place. Wear suitable protective clothing. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Use non-sparking tools. Prevent fire caused by electrostatic discharge steam.

Fireproof. Separated from food and feedstuffs and incompatible materials. See Chemical Dangers. Cool. Dry. Well closed. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.Store in a clean, cool, well ventilated area away from heat, sparks, or flames. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Small quantities can be stored in brown bottles or opaque containers due to solvent's light sensitivity. Ground and bond metal containers for liquid transfers to prevent static sparks.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

NIOSH has recommended that 1,2-dichloroethane be treated as a potential human carcinogen.

Decomposes on heating and on burning. This produces toxic and corrosive fumes including hydrogen chloride (see ICSC 0163) and phosgene (see ICSC 0007). Reacts with alkali metals, powdered metals, ammonia, bases and strong oxidants. This generates fire and explosion hazard. Attacks many metals in the presence of water.

Stable in presence of alkali, acids.

Flammable liquid ...The vapour is heavier than air and may travel along the ground; distant ignition possible. As a result of flow, agitation, etc., electrostatic charges can be generated.Liquid ammonia and ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE can cause an explosion when mixed, NFPA 491M, 1991. A tank of dimethyl amino propyl amine exploded violently when it reacted with wet ethylene dichloride which had been the tank's previous contents [Doyle 1973]. Halogenated aliphatic compounds, such as ethylene dichloride, are moderately or very reactive. Halogenated organics generally become less reactive as more of their hydrogen atoms are replaced with halogen atoms. Materials in this group are incompatible with strong oxidizing and reducing agents. Also, they are incompatible with many amines, nitrides, azo/diazo compounds, alkali metals, epoxides, aluminum

no data available

Explosion can result when ethylene dichloride, is mixed with liquid ammonia, dimethylaminopropylamine, nitrogen tetroxide, metal powders, organic peroxides reducing agents, & alkali & alkali earth metals. Mixtures with nitric acid are easily detonated by heat, impact, or friction. Mixtures with mercaptans form thioethers & generate heat while mixtures with nitrides generate heat & ammonia forming toxic fumes.

Ethylene dichloride decomposes slowly becoming acidic and darkening in color.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 Mouse oral 870-950 mg/kg
• Inhalation: LC50 Rat inhalation 12000 ppm/31.8 min, 3000 ppm/165 min, 1000 ppm/432 min
• Dermal: LD50 Rabbit percutaneous 3400-4460 mg/kg

Skin corrosion/irritation

Serious eye damage/irritation

Respiratory or skin sensitization

Germ cell mutagenicity

Carcinogenicity

Reproductive toxicity

STOT-single exposure

STOT-repeated exposure

Aspiration hazard

• Toxicity to fish: LC50 - Pimephales promelas - 136 mg/L - 96 h.
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50 - Daphnia magna - 160 mg/L - 48 h. Remarks:(unfed).
• Toxicity to algae: EC50 - Desmodesmus subspicatus (previous name: Scenedesmus subspicatus) - 213 mg/L - 72 h.
• Toxicity to microorganisms: TT (toxicity thresholds) - Pseudomonas putida - 135 mg/L - 16 h.

AEROBIC: Biodegradability tests with 1,2-dichloroethane resulted in little or no biodegradation in aerobic systems using sewage seed or activated sludge(1-5). The one river die-away test reported no degradation(1). The percent BOD produced in 5-10 days was 0-7%(2-4). Another investigator reported slow to moderate biodegradation activity(5). In a bioreactor study using microbial consortia enriched from subsurface sediments contaminated with chlororinated hydrocarbons, a mixed-organic waste containing 21 ug/l of 1,2-dichloroethane was degraded to <5 ug/l after a 21 day run(6).

A BCF of 2 was measured for 1,2-dichloroethane in bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this BCF suggests bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Koc for 1,2-dichloroethane is 33(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that 1,2-dichloroethane is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). 1,2-Dichloroethane rapidly percolates through sandy soil(3).

no data available

Product

Contaminated packaging

no data available

no data available

Information on revision

Abbreviations and acronyms

• CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• RID: Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail
• IMDG: International Maritime Dangerous Goods
• IATA: International Air Transportation Association
• TWA: Time Weighted Average
• STEL: Short term exposure limit
• LC50: Lethal Concentration 50%
• LD50: Lethal Dose 50%
• EC50: Effective Concentration 50%

References

• IPCS - The International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC), website: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.home
• HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank, website: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm
• IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer, website: http://www.iarc.fr/
• eChemPortal - The Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances by OECD, website: http://www.echemportal.org/echemportal/index?pageID=0&request_locale=en
• CAMEO Chemicals, website: http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/search/simple
• ChemIDplus, website: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp
• ERG - Emergency Response Guidebook by U.S. Department of Transportation, website: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/library/erg
• Germany GESTIS-database on hazard substance, website: http://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gestis-stoffdatenbank/index-2.jsp
• ECHA - European Chemicals Agency, website: https://echa.europa.eu/

Other Information

Depending on the degree of exposure, periodic medical examination is suggested.The symptoms of lung oedema often do not become manifest until a few hours have passed and they are aggravated by physical effort. Rest and medical observation are therefore essential.