United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-004g-T
October 1995
&EPA
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
1,2-Dichloroethane
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 107-06-2
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR: Colorless, oily liquid
with a pleasant, sweet, chloroform-like
odor
M.P.: N/A B.P.: N/A
VAPOR PRESSURE: N/A; highly volatile
DENSITY/SPEC. GRAV.: 1.235 at 20° C
OCTANOL/WATER PARTITION (Kow):
Log Kow = 1.48
SOLUBILITIES: 8.7 g/L of water at 20° C;
SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT: Koc measured
at 33 for silt/loam; high to very high
mobility in soil
ODOR/TASTE THRESHOLDS: Taste threshold
in water is 29 mg/L
BIOCONCENTRATION FACTOR: Log BCF is 0.30
in fish; not expected to bioconcentrate
in fish.
HENRY'S LAW COEFFICIENT: N/A
TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS: 1,2-Ethylene
dichloride; Glycol dichloride; Freon 150;
Borer sol; Brocide; Destruxol borer-sol;
Dichlor-mulsion; Dutch oil; Granosan
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
MCLG: zero mg/L
MCL: 0.005 mg/L
HAL(child): 1- to 10-day: 0.7 mg/L
Longer-term: 0.7 mg/L
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
Acute: EPA has found acute oral exposures to 1,2-
dichloroethane to potentially cause central nervous sys-
tem disorders, and adverse lung, kidney, liver circulatory
and gastrointestinal effects.
Drinking water levels which are considered "safe" for
short-term exposures: For a 10-kg (22 Ib.) child consum-
ing 1 liter of water per day: upto a 7-year exposure to 0.7
mg/L.
Chronic: No reliable data are available concerning
toxic effects from chronic exposures to 1,2-dichloroethane
at levels above the MCL.
Cancer; There is some evidence that 1,2-
Dichloroethane may have the potential to cause cancer
from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
Production of 1,2-dichloroethane has increased
steadily: from about 14 billion Ibs. in 1990 to 18 billion Ibs.
•n 1993. In 1985 it was estimated that industries con-
sumed 1,2-dichloroethane as follows: Vinyl chloride
monomer, 97%; chlorinated solvents, 2%; miscellaneous,
1%.
The greatest use of 1,2-dichloroethane is in chemical
manufacture, including: vinyl chloride, tri- & tetra-
chloroethylene, vinylidene chloride & trichloroethane,
ethylene glycol, diaminoethylene, polyvinyl chloride, ny-
lon, viscose rayon, styrene-butadiene rubber, and vari-
ous plastics; as a lead scavenger in gasoline.
1,2-dichloroethane has a variety of uses as a solvent
uses: for resins, asphalt, bitumen, rubber; for fats, oils,
waxes, gums resins; used as pickling agent and a dry
7bx/c RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water
TOTALS (in pounds) 433,056
Top Six States*
NJ 192,700
LA 136,508
TX 36,459
MO 6,786
NY 11,330
KY 10,309
Major Industries
Industrial organics 211,146
Alkalies, chlorine 120,283
Cyclic crudes, intermed. 32,945
Agricultural chemicals 11,918
Industrial gases 15,497
Plastics materials, resins 6,908
Photographic equip. 11,566
Other Chemicals 8,179
Pharmaceuticals 7,525
Land
22,616
231
2,292
7,028
8,730
0
0
363
3,254
119
8,980
0
6,895
0
0
521
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases
greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 Ibs
October 1995
Technical Version
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clean agent; in photography, xerography, water soften-
ing & in production of cosmetics; for processing pharma-
ceutical products; in leather cleaning, degreaser com-
pounds, rubber cement, and acrylic adhesives. It is also
used in extracting spices such as annatto, paprika &
turmeric.
Other uses include as a fumigant for harvested grain,
in orchards, in mushroom houses; fumigant for uphol-
stery and carpets.
RELEASE PATTERNS
Major atmospheric releases of 1,2-dichloroethane are
due to its production and use as a chemical intermediate,
lead scavenger, extraction and cleaning solvent, diluent
for pesticides, grain fumigant and in paint, coatings and
adhesives. Other releases are from waste water, spills,
and/or improper disposal primarily from its use as a
cleaning solvent and chemical intermediates. Land re-
lease is primarily from its production and use as a
cleaning solvent and diluent for pesticides. Chlorination
of water does not appear to contribute to 1,2-
dichloroethane in drinking water.
From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release
Inventory, releases to water totalled over 433,000 Ibs.
Release to land totalled over 22,000 Ibs. These releases
were primarily from facilities classified as producing
industrial organic chemicals, alkalies and chlorine. The
largest releases occurred in New Jersey and Louisiana.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Releases to water will primarily be removed by evapo-
ration (half-life several hours to 10 days). Although firm
experimental data are lacking, the photooxidation of 1,2-
dichloroethane in water is expected to be slow. The rate
of hydrolysis is not significant, being much slower than
other pertinent environmental processes such as volatil-
ization and photooxidation.
Releases on land will dissipate by volatilization to air
and by percolation into groundwater where it is likely to
persist for a very long time. Little adsorption to soil is
expected based upon an experimental Koc of 33 for silt
loam which in agreement with values calculated from the
water solubility. 1,2-Dichloroethane rapidly percolates
through sandy soil.
Once in the atmosphere, it may be transported long
distances and is primarily removed by photooxidation
(half-life apprbx 1 month). The direct photolysis of 1,2-
dichloroethane is not a significant loss process. It is
primarily degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with
hydroxyl radicals, having a half-life of a little over a month
with a 1.9% loss for a 12 hour sunlit day. Indirect evidence
for photooxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane comes from the
observation that monitoring levels are highest during the
night and early morning. The products of photooxidation
are CO2 and HCI.
Biodegradability tests with 1,2-dichloroethane resulted
in little or no biodegradation in aerobic systems using
sewage seed or activated sludge. The one river die-away
test reported no degradation. The percent BOD pro-
duced in 5-10 days was 0-7%. Another investigator
reported slow to moderate biodegradation activity. The
extent of biodegradation is difficult to assess due to
compounds' susceptibility to volatilization. No degrada-
tion occurred in an acclimated anaerobic system after 4
months incubation.
1,2-Dichloroethane is not expected to bioconcentrate
in fish due to its low octanol/water partition function
(1.48). The measured log BCF in bluegill sunfish is 0.30.
Its presence in some food products is probably due to its
use as an extractant.
Major human exposure is from urban air, drinking
water from contaminated aquifers and occupational at-
mospheres.
OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
MONITORING:
FOR GROUND/SURFACE WATER SOURCES:
INITIAL FREQUENCY- 4 quarterly samples every 3 years
REPEAT FREQUENCY- Annually after 1 year of no detection
TRIGGERS - Return to Initial Freq. if detect at > 0.0005 mg/L
ANALYSIS:
REFERENCE SOURCE
EPA 600/4-88-039
METHOD NUMBERS
502.2; 524.2
TREATMENT:
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Granular Activated Charcoal and Packed Tower Aeration
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 800/426-4791
* Other sources of toxicological and environmental fate data include:
Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
October 1995
Technical Version
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