United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-004I-T
October 1 995
&EB-X
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Epichlorohydrin
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 106-89-8
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR:
A colorless liquid with a pungent,
garlic-like odor.
M.P.: -48° C B.P.: 116.5°C
VAPOR PRESSURE: 10 mm Hg at 16.6° C
DENSITY/SPEC. GRAV.: 1.18 at 20° C
OCTANOL/WATER PARTITION (Kow):
Log Kow = 0.26
SOLUBILITY: 6.5% miscible in water at 10°
C; Moderately soluble in water
SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT:
Koc estimated at 123; high mobility in
soil
ODOR/TASTE THRESHOLDS: Odor thresh-
old in water is 0.5 to 1.0 mg/L.
EtlOCONCENTRATION FACTOR*.
log BCF of 0.66 (species not reported);
not expected to bioconcentrate in
aquatic organisms.
HENRY'S LAW COEFFICIENT: N/A
TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS:
(Chloromethyl)ethylene oxide, 1,2-
Epoxy-3-chloropropane,
Chloromethyloxirane, Glycerol
epichlorhydrin, Glycidyl chloride
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
MCLG: zero mg/L
MCL: Treatment technique
HAL(child): 1 - to 10-day: 0.1 mg/L
Longer-term: 0.07 mg/L
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
Acute: EPA has found epichlorohydrin to potentially
cause the following health effects from acute exposures
at levels above the MCL: skin irritation; detrimental ef-
fects on liver, kidneys, central nervous system.
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 one- or ten-day exposure to
0.1 mg/L; upto a 7-year exposure to 0.07 mg/L.
Chronic: Epichlorohydrin has the potential to cause
the following health effects from long-term exposures at
levels above the MCL: stomach, eye and skin irritation;
chromosome aberrations; adverse changes in blood.
Cancer: There is some evidence that epichlorohydrin
may have the potential to cause cancer from a lifetime
exposure at levels above the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
Production and imports of epichlorohydrin increased
vom the late 1970s to the mid-1980s: from 294 million Ibs.
to 511 million Ibs. In 1984 it was estimated that industries
consumed epichlorohydrin as follows: Epoxy resins, 65%;
glycerine, 25%; epichlorohydrin elastomers, 5%; miscel-
laneous, 5%
The greatest use of epichlorohydrin is as a monomer
for epoxy resins, elastomers and other polymers.
Other uses include: a polymer coating material in water
supply systems; an intermediate in organic synthesis,
particularly glycerine; solvent for cellulose esters and
ethers; high wet-strength resins for paper industry; in
preparation of ion exchange resins; in the manufacture of
Pharmaceuticals; an insect fumigant.
Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND:
1987 TO 1993
Water
TOTALS (in pounds) 42,705
Top Five States
AL 29,385
LA 6,924
NJ 2,164
TX 200
AR 1,594
Major Industries
Industrial organics 25,137
Plastics and resins 6,392
Industrial inorganics 4,200
Agricultural chemicals 2,207
Alkalis, chlorine 2,100
Land
22,849
18,476
2,663
16
1,396
0
14,941
2,509
1,600
1,532
1,033
October 1995
Technical Version
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RELEASE PATTERNS
Epichlorohydrin may be released to the atmosphere
and in wastewater during its production and use in epoxy
resins, glycerin manufacture, as a chemical intermediate
in the manufacture of other chemicals, and other uses.
Other uses which may lead to its release include textile
treatment, coatings, solvent, surface active agent, stabi-
lizer in insecticide, and elastomer manufacture.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemi-
cal Release Inventory, epichlorohydrin releases to land
and water totalled over 65,000 Ibs., of which about two-
thirds was to water. These releases were primarily from
industrial organic chemical industries. The largest re-
leases occurred in Alabama.
ENVIRONMENTAL. FATE
Epichlorohydrin is relatively volatile and would there-
fore readily evaporate from near-surface soils and other
solid surfaces. If released into water it will be lost primarily
by evaporation (half-life 29 hr in a typical river) and
hydrolysis (half-life 8.2 days). It will not adsorb apprecia-
bly to sediment. If spilled on land, it will evaporate and
leach into the groundwater where it will hydrolyze. The
Koc for epichlorohydrin, calculated from its water solubil-
ity, is 123 which indicates that it is not appreciably
adsorbed. After a spill of 20,000 gal following a train
accident, water in wells closest to the spill were highly
contaminated.
Biodegradation and chemical reactions with ions and
reactive species may accelerate its loss in soil and water
but data from field studies are lacking. In the atmosphere,
epichlorohydrin will degrade by reaction with photo-
chemically produced hydroxyl radicals (est half-life 4
days).
It will not bioconcentrate appreciably in aquatic organ-
isms. The log BCF has been estimated to be 0.66.
There is a lack of monitoring data for epichlorohydrin in
all but occupational settings. Humans will primarily be
exposed to epichlorohydrin in occupational settings.
OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
MONITORING AND ANALYSIS:
No analytical methods are available so monitoring is not required. This
contaminant is being regulated by requiring use of a treatment technique
to limit its use by drinking water systems.
TREATMENT
Treatment technique: When acrylamide is used in drinking water systems,
the combination of dose and monomer level may not exceed the following
level:
0.01 % dosed at 20 mg/L
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
Page 2
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