United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-004k-T
October 1 995
&EFA
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
1,2-Dichloropropane
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 78-87-5
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR:
Colorless liquid with a chloroform-like
odor
M.P.: -100.4° C B.P.: 96.4" C
OCTANOL/WATER PARTITION (Kow):
Log Kow = 2.28
VAPOR PRESSURE: 50 mm Hg at 25° C BIOCONCENTRATION FACTOR:
Log BCF is less than 1 in fish; not
DENSITY/SPEC. GRAV.: 1.16 at 25° C expected to bioconcentrate in aquatic
SOLUBILITY: 26 percent by weight in water organisms.
at 25° C; moderately soluble in water HENRY'S Uw COEFFICIENT:
SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT: °-0021 atm-cu m/mole: h'9hly volatile
Koc = 47 in silt loam; very high TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS:
mobility in soil Propylene dichloride; major component
ODOR/TASTE THRESHOLDS: Odor in air not of Nematox, Vidden D, and Dowfume
noticeable at 15 to 23 ppm
EB-5
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
Standards:
MCLG: zero mg/L
MCL: 0.005 mg/L
HAL(child): 10-day: 0.09 mg/L
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
Acute: EPA has found short-term exposures to 1,2-
dichloropropane at levels above the MCL to potentially
impairthe functions of the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands,
bladder, and the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.
Drinking water levels which are considered "safe" for
short-term exposures: Fora 10-kg (22 Ib.) child consum-
ing 1 liter of water per day: a ten-day exposure to 0.09 mg/
L.
Chronic: Long-term exposures to 1,2-dichloropropane
at levels above the MCL have been found to potentially
affect the liver, kidneys, bladder, gastrointestinal tract
and the respiratory tract.
Cancer: There is some evidence that 1,2-
dichloropropane may have the potential to cause cancer
from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
Production of 1,2- dichloropropane has decreased
/eatly since a 1980 report of 77 million Ibs. Dow Chemi-
cal, the only listed producer, discontinued its production
in 1991.
The greatest use of 1,2-dichloropropane is as a chemi-
cal intermediate in the production of carbon tetrachloride
and perchloroethylene, lead scavenger for antiknock
fluids, solvent.
Other uses have included: ion exchange resin manu-
facture, paper coating, scouring, spotting, metal de-
greasing agent, soil fumigant for nematodes, and insec-
ticide for stored grain.
RELEASE PATTERNS
1,2-Dichloropropane may be released into the atmo-
sphere or in wastewater during its production or use as an
Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water
TOTALS (in pounds) 98,504
Top Five States
NY 30,000
LA 25,586
VA 14,629
TX 12,290
NJ 10,463
Major Industries
Alkalies, chlorine 37,297
Photographic equip. 30,000
Gum, wood chemicals 14,629
Plastics, resins 10,463
Misc. Indust. Organics 4,793
Land
5,470
3,205
260
250
1,206
0
1,216
3,205
250
0
250
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases
greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 Ibs.
October 1995
Technical Version
-------
intermediate in chemical manufacture. There were also
significant releases during its former use as a soil fumi-
gant. It may also be released as leachate from municipal
landfills.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemi-
cal Release Inventory, 1,2-dichloropropane releases to
land and water totalled nearly 104,000 IDS., of which over
98,000 Ibs was released to water. These releases were
primarily from chemical industries which use it as an
intermediate in producing other chlorinated compounds.
The largest releases occurred in New York.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
If injected into soil 1,2-dichloropropane will be primarily
lost by volatilization. 1,2-Dichloropropane has been de-
tected in groundwater where its fate is unknown.
If released to surface water, 1,2-dichloropropane will
be lost by volatilization with half-lives ranging from ap-
proximately 6 hr for a river to 10 days for a lake.
Adsorption to soil and bioconcentration in fish will not
be significant.
In air it will react with photochernically generated
hydroxyl radicals (half-life >23 days) and be washed out
by rain. Therefore, there will be ample time for dispersal
as is evidenced by its presence in ambient air.
Human exposure is primarily due to inhalation. Occu-
pation exposure, both dermal and via inhalation, will
occur during and after its application as a soil fumigant as
well as during its production and other uses.
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 lexicological 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 7995
Technical Version
Page 2
------- |