ToxFAQs^TM for Ethylbenzene

September 2010

CAS# 100-41-4

PDF Version, 35 KB

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This fact sheet answers the most frequently asked health questions (FAQs) about ethylbenzene. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-800-232-4636. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. It is important you understand this information because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.

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Highlights

Ethylbenzene is a colorless liquid found in a number of products including gasoline and paints. Breathing very high levels can cause dizziness and throat and eye irritation. Breathing lower levels has resulted in hearing effects and kidney damage in animals. Ethylbenzene has been found in at least 829 of 1,699 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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What is ethylbenzene?

Ethylbenzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that smells like gasoline.

It is naturally found in coal tar and petroleum and is also found in manufactured products such as inks, pesticides, and paints.

Ethylbenzene is used primarily to make another chemical, styrene. Other uses include as a solvent, in fuels, and to make other chemicals.

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What happens to ethylbenzene when it enters the environment?

• Ethylbenzene moves easily into the air from water and soil.
• It takes about 3 days for ethylbenzene to be broken down in air into other chemicals.
• In surface water, ethylbenzene breaks down by reacting with other chemicals found naturally in water.
• Ethylbenzene can move through soil into groundwater
• In soil, it is broken down by bacteria.

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How might I be exposed to ethylbenzene?

• If you live in a city or near many factories or heavily traveled highways, you may be exposed to ethylbenzene in air.
• Releases of ethylbenzene into the air occur from burning oil, gas, and coal and from industries using ethylbenzene.
• Ethylbenzene is not often found in drinking water; however, high levels may be found in residential drinking water wells near landfills, waste sites, or leaking underground fuel storage tanks.
• Exposure can occur if you work in an industry where ethylbenzene is used or made.
• Exposure can occur if you use products containing it, such as gasoline, carpet glues, varnishes, and paints.

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How can ethylbenzene affect my health?

Exposure to high levels of ethylbenzene in air for short periods can cause eye and throat irritation. Exposure to higher levels can result in dizziness.

Irreversible damage to the inner ear and hearing has been observed in animals exposed to relatively low concentrations of ethylbenzene for several days to weeks.

Exposure to relatively low concentrations of ethylbenzene in air for several months to years causes kidney damage in animals.

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How likely is ethylbenzene to cause cancer?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that ethylbenzene is a possible human carcinogen.

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How does ethylbenzene affect children?

There are no studies evaluating the effects of ethylbenzene exposure on children or immature animals. It is likely that children would have the same health effects as adults. We do not know whether children would be more sensitive than adults to the effects of ethylbenzene.

We do not know if ethylbenzene will cause birth defects in humans. Minor birth defects and low birth weight have occurred in newborn animals whose mothers were exposed to ethylbenzene in air during pregnancy.

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How can families reduce the risk of exposure to ethylbenzene?

• Use adequate ventilation to reduce exposure to ethylbenzene vapors from consumer products such as gasoline, pesticides, varnishes and paints, and newly installed carpeting.
• Sometimes older children sniff household chemicals, including ethylbenzene, in an attempt to get high. Talk with your children about the dangers of sniffing chemicals.
• Household chemicals should be stored out of reach of children to prevent accidental poisoning. Always store household chemicals in their original containers; never store them in containers that children would find attractive to eat or drink from, such as old soda bottles. Gasoline should be stored in a gasoline can with a locked cap.

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Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to ethylbenzene?

Ethylbenzene is found in the blood, urine, breath, and some body tissues of exposed people. The most common way to test for ethylbenzene is in the urine. This test measures substances formed by the breakdown of ethylbenzene. Because these substances leave the body very quickly, this test needs to be done within a few hours after exposure occurs.

These tests can show you were exposed to ethylbenzene, but cannot predict the kind of health effects that might occur.

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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health?

The EPA has determined that exposure to ethylbenzene in drinking water at concentrations of 30 mg/L for 1 day or 3 mg/L for 10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child.

The EPA has determined that lifetime exposure to 0.7 mg/L ethylbenzene is not expected to cause any adverse effects.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has limited workers' exposure to an average of 100 ppm for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek.

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References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2010. Toxicological Profile for Ethylbenzene. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

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Where can I get more information?

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or environmental quality department or:

For more information, contact:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-57
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO · 888-232-6348 (TTY)
Email: Contact CDC-INFO

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous substances.

Information line and technical assistance:
Phone: 888-422-8737

To order toxicological profiles, contact:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000

Disclaimer
Some PDF files may be electronic conversions from paper copy or other electronic ASCII text files. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors. Users are referred to the original paper copy of the toxicological profile for the official text, figures, and tables. Original paper copies can be obtained via the directions on the toxicological profile home page, which also contains other important information about the profiles.

The information contained here was correct at the time of publication. Please check with the appropriate agency for any changes to the regulations or guidelines cited.