Ethylene dibromide

CAS number: 106–93–4

NIOSH REL: 0.045 ppm TWA, 0.13 ppm 15-minute CEILING; NIOSH considers ethylene dibromide to be a potential occupational carcinogen as defined by the OSHA carcinogen policy [29 CFR 1990].

Current OSHA PEL: 20 ppm TWA, 30 ppm CEILING,

50 ppm 5-minute MAXIMUM PEAK

1989 OSHA PEL: Same as current PEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: A2 [skin]

Description of Substance: Colorless liquid or solid (below 50 F) with a sweet odor.

LEL:. . Noncombustible Liquid

Original (SCP) IDLH: 400 ppm

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the maximum survival exposure for rats of 400 ppm for 36 minutes [Rowe et al. 1952] cited by Patty [1963].

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA

Lethal concentration data:

Species	Reference	LC50 (ppm)	LCLo (ppm)	Time	Adjusted 0.5-hr LC (CF*)	Derived value
Rat Rat G. pig Rat	Bakhishev 1973 McCollister et al. 1956 Rowe et al. 1952 Rowe et al. 1952	1,831 ----- ----- 691	----- 200 400 -----	30 min 8 hr 3 hr 1 hr	1,831 ppm (1.0) 2,020 ppm (10.1) 1,780 ppm (4.45) 1,230 ppm (1.78)	183 ppm 202 ppm 178 ppm 123 ppm

*Note: Conversion factor (CF) was determined with "n" = 1.2 [ten Berge et al. 1986].

Lethal dose data:

Species	Reference	Route	LD50 (mg/kg)	LDLo (mg/kg)	Adjusted LD	Derived value
Rat Rabbit G. pig Rat Mouse Rat	Kenaga and Morgan 1978 Rowe et al. 1952 Rowe et al. 1952 Rowe et al. 1952 Rowe et al. 1952 Rowe et al. 1952	oral oral oral oral oral oral	108 55 110 146 420 117	----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----	97 ppm 49 ppm 99 ppm 131 ppm 376 ppm 105 ppm	9.7 ppm 4.9 ppm 9.9 ppm 13 ppm 38 ppm 11 ppm

Other animal data: It has been stated that ethylene dibromide is more toxic than carbon tetrachloride in inhalation exposures less than 7 hours [McCollister et al. 1956]. It has been reported that rats have survived a 36-minute exposure to 400 ppm [Rowe et al. 1952].

Human data: It has been stated that a concentration of 50 ppm (for an unstated time period) could be dangerous to exposed humans [Kochmann 1928]. Exposures above 100 ppm for an hour or less or by longer exposures at lower concentrations (e.g., 75 ppm) have resulted in gastrointestinal discomfort, vomiting, and respiratory involvement [Ott et al. 1980].

Revised IDLH: 100 ppm Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for ethylene dibromide is 100 ppm based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Ott et al. 1980] and animals [Rowe et al. 1952]. [Note: NIOSH recommends as part of its carcinogen policy that the "most protective" respirators be worn for ethylene dibromide at concentrations above 0.045 ppm.]

REFERENCES:

1. Bakhishev GN [1973]. Relative toxicity of aliphatic halohydrocarbons to rats. Farmakol Toksikol 8:140-143 (in Russian).

2. Kenaga EE, Morgan RW [1978]. Commercial and experimental organic insecticides. Entomological Society of America Special Publication 78-1:17.

3. Kochmann M [1928]. Possible industrial poisonings with ethylene dibromide. Muench Med Wochschr 75:1334-1336. [From ACGIH [1991]. Ethylene dibromide. In: Documentation of the threshold limit values and biological exposure indices. 6th ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 606-608.]

4. McCollister DD, Hollingsworth RL, Oyen F, Rowe VK [1956]. Comparative inhalation toxicity of fumigant mixtures. AMA Arch Ind Health 13:1-7.

5. Ott MG, Scharnweber HC, Langer RR [1980]. Mortality experience of 161 employees exposed to ethylene dibromide in two production units. Br J Ind Med 37:163-168.

6. Patty FA, ed. [1963]. Industrial hygiene and toxicology. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. II. Toxicology. New York, NY: Interscience Publishers, Inc., p. 1285.

7. Rowe VK, Spencer HC, McCollister DD, Hollingsworth RL, Adams EM [1952]. Toxicity of ethylene dibromide determined on experimental animals. AMA Arch Ind Hyg Occup Med 6:158-173.

8. ten Berge WF, Zwart A, Appelman LM [1986]. Concentration-time mortality response relationship of irritant and systematically acting vapours and gases. J Haz Mat 13:301-309.