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September 1995 |
ToxFAQs™ |
for |
1,2-Dibromoethane |
(1,2-Dibromoetano) |
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This fact sheet answers the most frequently
asked health questions about 1,2-dibromoethane. 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 1,2-dibromoethane
can result from drinking groundwater or breathing air
that is contaminated. This is most likely to occur in
the workplace or from living near a hazardous waste site.
1,2-dibromoethane can affect the brain, damage skin, damage
sperm in males, and even cause death if exposure is very
high. This chemical has been found in at least 27 of 1,416
National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental
Protection Agency. |
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What
is 1,2-dibromoethane? |
1,2-Dibromoethane is a manufactured chemical.
It also occurs naturally in small amounts in the ocean where
it is formed, probably by algae and kelp. It is a colorless
liquid with a mild, sweet odor. Other names for 1,2-dibromoethane
are ethylene dibromide, EDB, and glycol bromide. Trade names
include Bromofume and Dowfume.
1,2-Dibromoethane has been used as a
pesticide in soil, and on citrus, vegetable, and grain crops.
Most of these uses have been stopped by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) since 1984. Another major use was
as an additive in leaded gasoline; however, since leaded gasoline
is now banned, it is no longer used for this purpose. Uses
today include treatment of logs for termites and beetles,
control of moths in beehives, and as a preparation for dyes
and waxes.
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What
happens to 1,2-dibromoethane when it enters the environment? |
- It moves into the environment from manufacturing use and
leaks at waste sites.
- When released, it quickly moves to air and will evaporate
from surface water and soil to the air.
- It dissolves in water and will move through soil into
the groundwater.
- Small amounts remain attached to soil particles.
- It breaks down slowly in air (over 4-5 months), more quickly
in surface water (2 months), and hardly at all in groundwater.
- It is not expected to build up in plants or animals.
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How
might I be exposed to 1,2-dibromoethane? |
- Drinking contaminated water, especially well water near
farms or waste sites.
- Breathing contaminated workplace air.
- Touching it while bathing or swimming in contaminated
water.
- Playing in contaminated soils at waste sites.
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How
can 1,2-dibromoethane affect my health? |
Your exposure to 1,2-dibromoethane is
generally much, much lower than levels that can harm you.
We don't know the effects on people of breathing high levels,
but animal studies with short-term exposures to high levels
caused depression and collapse, indicating effects on the
brain.
Redness and inflammation, including skin
blisters and mouth and stomach ulcers, can occur if large
amounts are swallowed. One accidental swallowing caused death
in a woman. It is highly unlikely that there would be a risk
of death to people from low-level exposure.
Although very little is known about the
effects from breathing 1,2-dibromoethane over a long period
of time, some male workers had reproductive effects including
damage to their sperm. No other long-term effects are known
in people.
In rats, death occurred from breathing
high levels for a short time. Lower levels caused liver and
kidney damage. When rats breathed air or ate food containing
1,2-dibromo-ethane for short or long periods of time, they
were less fertile or had abnormal sperm.
Changes in the brain and behavior were
also seen in young rats whose male parents had breathed 1,2-dibromoethane,
and birth defects were observed in the young of animals that
were exposed while pregnant. 1,2-Dibromo-ethane is not known
to cause birth defects in people.
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How
likely is 1,2-dibromoethane to cause cancer? |
The Department of Health and Human Services
has determined that 1,2-dibromoethane may reasonably be anticipated
to be a carcinogen.
There are no reports of cancer in workers
or other people exposed to 1,2-dibromoethane for several years.
However, rats and mice that breathed, swallowed, or touched
it for long periods had cancer in many organs.
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Is there a medical test to show whether I've been exposed to
1,2-dibromoethane? |
There is no reliable medical test to
determine whether you have been exposed to 1,2-dibromoethane.
Experimental methods exist to measure 1,2-dibromoethane or
the bromide ion, a breakdown product of 1,2-dibromoethane,
in blood. These tests cannot be done at your doctor's office,
but your doctor may be able to send samples to a special laboratory.
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Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? |
The EPA has set a limit of 0.05 parts
of 1,2-dibromoethane per billion parts of drinking water (0.05
ppb). EPA requires that spills into the environment of 1,000
pounds or more of 1,2-dibromoethane be reported.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration
(OSHA) has limited workers' exposure to an average of 20 parts
of 1,2-dibromoethane per million parts of air (ppm) for an
8-hour workday over a 40-hour workweek.
The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) has limited workers' exposure to
1,2-dibromoethane in air to an average of 0.045 ppm for up
to a 10-hour workday over a 40-hour workweek.
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Glossary |
Carcinogen: A substance that can cause
cancer.
Long-term: Lasting one year or longer.
ppb: Parts per billion.
ppm: Parts per million.
Short-term: Lasting 14 days or less.
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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: 1,2-Dibromoethane. Atlanta,
GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health
Service.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1992. Toxicological
Profile for 1,2-dibromoethane. 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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