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September 1995 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
1,3-Butadiene |
(1,3-Butadieno) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about 1,3-butadiene. 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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SUMMARY: Exposure to 1,3-butadiene
occurs mainly from breathing contaminated air. Effects
on the nervous system and irritations of the eyes, nose,
and throat have been seen in people who breathed contaminated
air. This chemical has been found in at least 7 of 1,416
National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental
Protection Agency. |
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What
is 1,3-butadiene? |
1,3-Butadiene is a chemical made from
the processing of petroleum. It is the 36th highest volume
chemical produced in the United States. It is a colorless
gas with a mild gasoline-like odor.
About 75% of the manufactured 1,3-butadiene
is used to make synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber is widely
used for tires on cars and trucks.
1,3-Butadiene is also used to make plastics
including acrylics. Small amounts are found in gasoline.
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What
happens to 1,3-butadiene when it enters the environment? |
- It quickly evaporates to the air as a gas from leaks during
production, use, storage, transport, or disposal.
- It breaks down quickly in air by sunlight; in sunny weather,
half of it breaks down in about 2 hours.
- When not sunny, it takes a few days for about half of
it to break down in the air.
- It evaporates very quickly from water and soil.
- Since it evaporates so easily, it is not expected to be
found in water or soil, but adequate tests are not available
to measure the amounts.
- 1,3-Butadiene may be broken down by microorganisms in
the soil.
- It is not expected to accumulate in fish.
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How
might I be exposed to 1,3-butadiene? |
- Breathing urban and suburban air, but these levels are
generally very low except in polluted cities or near chemical,
plastic, and rubber facilities that use it.
- Breathing contaminated workplace air where it is manufactured
or used.
- Breathing contaminated air from car and truck exhaust,
waste incineration, or wood fires.
- Breathing cigarette smoke.
- Drinking contaminated water near production or waste sites.
- Ingesting foods contained in plastic or rubber food containers,
but levels are generally very low or not present at all.
- Skin contact with gasoline, but levels are low.
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How
can 1,3-butadiene affect my health? |
Most of the information on the health
effects of 1,3-butadiene comes from studies where the exposure
was from breathing contaminated air.
Breathing very high levels of 1,3-butadiene
for a short time can cause central nervous system damage,
blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, headache, decreased blood
pressure and pulse rate, and unconsciousness. There are no
recorded cases of accidental exposures at high levels that
caused death in humans, but this could occur.
Breathing lower levels may cause irritation
of the eyes, nose, and throat. Studies on workers who had
longer exposures with lower levels have shown an increase
in heart and lung damage, but these workers were also exposed
to other chemicals. We don't know for sure which chemical
(or chemicals) caused the effects. We also do not know what
levels in the air will cause these effects in people when
breathed over many years.
Animal studies show that breathing 1,3-butadiene
during pregnancy can increase the number of birth defects.
Other effects seen in animals that breathed low levels of
1,3-butadiene for one year include kidney and liver disease,
and damaged lungs. Some of the animals died. There is no information
on the effects of eating or drinking 1,3-butadiene. Skin contact
with liquid 1,3-butadiene can cause irritation and frostbite.
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How
likely is 1,3-butadiene to cause cancer? |
The Department of Health and Human Services
has determined that 1,3-butadiene may reasonably be anticipated
to be a carcinogen. This is based on animal studies that found
increases in a variety of tumor types from exposure to 1,3-butadiene.
Studies on workers are inconclusive because
the workers were exposed to other chemicals in addition to
1,3-butadiene.
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Is
there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to 1,3-butadiene? |
There is currently no reliable medical
test to determine whether you have been exposed to 1,3-butadiene.
However, scientists are working on methods to measure it in
the blood.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
requires that discharges or spills into the environment of
1 pound or more of 1,3-butadiene be reported.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has set an occupational exposure limit of 1,000 parts
of 1,3-butadiene per million parts of air (1,000 ppm).
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that 1,3-butadiene be
kept to the lowest feasible concentration because of its potential
to cause cancer.
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Glossary |
Carcinogen: A substance that can cause
cancer.
Ingesting: Taking food or drink into
your body.
ppm: Parts per million.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.
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References |
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1995. Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents.
Volume III Medical Management Guidelines for Acute
Chemical Exposures: 1,3-Butadiene. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1993. Toxicological
Profile for 1,3-butadiene. 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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