cis-V-DICHLOROETHYLENE

FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Synonym*
•	1.2-DCE; cis-l.2-DCE. 1,2-DichIoroethene;
Acetylene Dichloride; sym-Dichioroethylene
Chemical Description:
•	A volatile synthetic compound with no known
natural sources
•	Usually found in the form of a mixture of both
the cis- and trans- isomers (cis-l ,2-DCE and
trans-1,2-DCE)
Properties:
•	a clear, colorless, flammable liquid
» Relatively high vapor pressure
•	Moderately soluble in water
Production and Uie:
« Used primarily as a captive intermediate in the
production of other chlorinated solvents, and
as an extraction solvent for meat and fish oils
and fats
ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE
Occurrence:
•	Major source of exposure is from
contaminated water except in areas near
production sites where atr exposures may
dominate
•	Monitoring studies have found that both the
cis- and trans- isomers occur as widespread
low level contaminants of ground wafer, and
occur in surface wafers at even lower amounts
•	The cis- isomer is reported to occur in drinking
water at higher levels than the trans- isomer
» Co-occurs with trichloroethylene
•	Both isomers (especially the cis- isomer) have
been identified as degradation products of
trichloroethylene and tefrachloroethylene
Releaser
•	Releases to the environment are expected to
be small, with the majority of releases
emanating from manufacturing plants in the
Gulf Region of the U.S
Environmental Fate:
•	Little direct information, but the behavior c-f
the compounds has been extrapolated from
information on similar chlorinated compounds:
•	Released to the atmosphere: expected 'o
chemically degrade in a matter of hours
•	Released to surface waters: slightly ds's s-e<--*
in water; expected to volatilize rapidly to air
(major route of removal); chemically stable
in water, but may biodegrade to vinyl
chloride in some ground waters; not likely
adsorb to suspended solids or sediment
•	Released to soil: will not adsorb strongly to
soils {moderately mobile in soi(s) with
moderate potential to migrate to ground
waters; will volatilize to the atmosphere from
soil surface
•	Low potential for bioaccumulation
HEALTH EFFECTS
Humans:
•	At high concentrations, the dichtoroethyienes.
like other chlorinated ethylenes, possess
anesthetic properties
•	The trans- isomer is approximately twice as
potent as the cis- isomer in its ability to depress
the central nervous system (CNS)
•	cis-l,2-DCE was once used as a surgical
anesthetic
Experimental Animals:
•	Short-term, high doses have general anestnetic
and narcotic effects, and detrimental effects
upon liver functions
« Long-term, high doses cause deceased :r~-
consumption, alterations in hematccf" e.es
and detrimental effects upon functions c* '-e
liver and circulatory system
» Non-mutagenic
•	No information found in the available iite'c*---
on the teratogenic, fefotoxic, or carcmcge- ;
potential of cts-1.2-DCE

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REGULATORY PROFILE
Health Aavsones
Existing Standards:
~ Clean Air Act (CAA): Not regulated
•Clean Water Act CWA):
No criteria established
•Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA);
Not regulated
•Superfund (CERCLA):
•Hazardous substance
•SARA; Hazardous substance
•Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (F1FRA):
Not registered
•foxlc Substance* Control Acf (TSCA):
Not regulated
HEALTH INFORMATION
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG):
•	Non-enforceable levels based solely on an
evaluation of possible health risks and
exposure, and taking into consideration a
margin for public safety
•	Set at 0.7 mg/L to protect against damage to
the liver, and circulatory and nervous systems
MCLG for clt-l,2-DCE = 0.07 mg/L
(effective July 1992)
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL):
•	Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in
public drinking water supplies
•	Based on health risks associated with the
contaminants, analytical methods for fheir
assay, and water treatment feasibility and
practicality aspects
•	Exceedance of the MCL in drinking water may
result in adverse effects which will depend
upon the contaminant concentration in water,
amount of water/contaminant ingested,
length of exposure, and other biological
parameters
MCL for ct«-l,2-DCE » §,0? mg/L
{effective July 19§2)
EPA Hearth Advisories (HA):
•	Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable
concentrations of contaminants in wafer for
up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate
the public health risk resulting from art-
accidental spill or an emergency
contamination situation
•	Longer-term HA*: Provide guidance for
persistent water contamination situations to
cover a period of up to 7 years
•	Lifetime HAs: Derived in the same way as an
MCLG
Short-term HA for a child = 3.2 mg/L
Longer-term HA for a child = 3.2 mg/L
Longer-term HA for an adult = 11.2 mg/L
Lifetime HA = 0.07 mg/L
ANALYTICAL METHODS
•	Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography;
EPA Method 502.1
EPA Method 503.1
•	Purge and Trap Column Gas Chromatography
with Phofoionization and Electrolytic
Conductivity Detectors in Series:
EPA Method 502.2
•	Purged Column Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry:
EPA Method 524.1
•	Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/ Mass
Spectrometry;
EPA Method 524.2
WATER HE ATM INT
Permanent Treatment:
•	lest Available Technology (BAT);
•	Granular Activated Carbon
•	Packed Tower Aeration
SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION
•	If the drinking water standards are exceeded,
install BAT or use an alternative drinking water
supply such as bottled water
ADDITIONAL HELP
•	State or county health officials can indicate a
certified laboratory for testing
•	Experts in the state Department of.
Environmental Protection or Natural Resources
may also be of help
•	The EPA has toll-free numbers for further
information on drinking water quality,
treatment technologies, for obtaining Health
Advisories, and for other regulatory information
•	EPA Hotlines are available Monday through
Friday
•	Safe Drinking Water	800-426-4791
•National Pesticides: 800-858-7378
•	Superfund/ RCRA:	800-424-9346
•	For information on the Clean Wafer .Act, call
(202) 260-7301
•	For information on the Toxic Substances
Control Acf, call (202) 554-1404
•	For information on the Clean Air Act, call
(919) 541-2777

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