July 1999 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
Bromodichloromethane |
(Bromodiclorometano) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about bromodichloromethane. For more
information, you may call the ATSDR Information Center at
1-888-422-8737. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries
about hazardous substances and their health effects. This
information is important because this substance may harm you.
The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance depend
on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits
and habits, and whether other chemicals are present.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Most bromodichloromethane
is formed as a by-product when chlorine is added to water-supply
systems. Bromodichloromethane is not known to cause adverse
health effects in people, but animal studies show that
high concentrations can damage the liver and kidneys and
affect the brain. Bromodichloromethane has been found
at 5 of the 1,518 National Priorities List sites identified
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). |
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What
is bromodichloromethane? |
Bromodichloromethane is a colorless,
nonflammable liquid. Small amounts are formed naturally by
algae in the oceans. Some of it will dissolve in water, but
it readily evaporates into air.
Only small quantities of bromodichloromethane
are produced in the United States. The small quantities that
are produced are used in laboratories or to make other chemicals.
However, most bromodichloromethane is formed as a by-product
when chlorine is added to drinking water to kill bacteria.
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What
happens to bromodichloromethane when it enters the environment? |
- Bromodichloromethane released to air is slowly broken
down by reactions with other chemicals and sunlight or it
can be removed by rain.
- In water, it will evaporate to the air and/or be broken
down slowly by bacteria.
- When released to soil, most will evaporate to the air
but some of it will be broken down by bacteria.
- Some bromodichloromethane may filter into the groundwater.
- Bromodichloromethane does not build up in the food chain.
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How
might I be exposed to bromodichloromethane? |
- The most likely way people are exposed to bromodichloromethane
is by drinking chlorinated water.
- You may breathe vapors released from chlorinated water
in a swimming pool or in the home (cooking, washing dishes,
bathing, etc.).
- Some bromodichloromethane may enter your body directly
through your skin when bathing or swimming.
- People who live near a waste site containing bromodichloromethane
could be exposed by drinking contaminated groundwater or
breathing vapors released to the air.
- People who work at or live near a laboratory or factory
that makes or uses this chemical could be exposed by breathing
bromodichloromethane in the air.
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How
can bromodichloromethane affect my health? |
No studies are available regarding health
effects in people exposed to bromodichloromethane.
Animal studies indicate that the liver,
kidney, and central nervous system are affected by exposure
to bromodichloromethane. The effects of high doses on the
central nervous system include sleepiness and incoordination.
Longer exposure to lower doses causes damage to the liver
and kidneys. There is some evidence from animal studies that
bromodichloromethane may cause birth defects at doses high
enough to make the mother sick. It is not known if lower doses
would cause birth defects.
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How
likely is bromodichloromethane to cause cancer? |
There is evidence that eating or drinking
bromodichloromethane causes liver, kidney, and intestinal
cancer in rats and mice. The Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) has determined that bromodichloromethane is
reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to bromodichloromethane? |
Methods are available to measure low
levels of bromodichloromethane in human blood, breath, urine,
and fat, but not enough information is available to use such
tests to predict if any health effects might occur. Because
special equipment is needed, these tests are not usually done
in the doctor's office.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The EPA has set a Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) for the combination
of bromodichloromethane and a group of similar compounds (called
trihalomethanes) that occur in chlorinated water. The EPA
recommends that levels of halomethanes in lakes and streams
should be limited to 0.19 ppm to prevent possible health effects
from drinking water or eating fish contaminated with this
group of chemicals.
Any release to the environment greater
than 5,000 pounds of bromodichloromethane must be reported
to the EPA.
The federal recommendations have been
updated as of July 1999.
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Glossary |
Carcinogen: A substance that can cause
cancer.
CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service.
Evaporate: To change into a vapor or
a gas.
National Priorities List: A list of the
nation's worst hazardous waste sites.
ppm: Parts per million.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1989. Toxicological Profile for bromodichloromethane. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
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Where can I get more information? |
ATSDR can tell you where to find occupational
and environmental health clinics. Their specialists can recognize,
evaluate, and treat illnesses resulting from exposure to hazardous
substances. You can also contact your community or state health
or environmental quality department if you have any more questions
or concerns. For more information, contact:
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Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737)
FAX: (770)-488-4178
Email: ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
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