1,2-Dichloroethane

From Coastal Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Definition of 1,2-dichloroethane:
1,2-Dichloroethane is a clear, chemically manufactured liquid. It evaporates quickly at room temperature and has a pleasant smell and a sweet taste. The most common use of 1,2-dichloroethane is the formation of vinyl chloride, used in the production of a variety of plastic and vinyl products. These include important construction materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, but also packaging materials, furniture, auto mobile parts, wall coverings and housewares[1].
This is the common definition for 1,2-dichloroethane, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

1,2-Dichloroethane
Dichloroethane
Formula
C2H4Cl2

US annual production of 1,2-dichloroethane averaged around 7 million tonnes in the 1990s. It can enter the environment during manufacture, transport or use. 1,2-dichloroethane is mostly released to the air, although some is released to rivers or lakes[1].

1,2-Dichloroethane can evaporate rapidly from water or soils to the atmosphere where it is slowly degraded. It can persist in the atmosphere, with a half-life of 5 months, and during which it can be transported over large distances. It has a moderate water solubility of 8,69 g/l and is not expected to adsorb to particles or sediments. In water it is slowly degraded, almost not biodegraded and removal mainly occurs by evaporation: The half-life of 1,2-dichloroethane in water is 10 days.

1,2-Dichloroethane doesn't have a tendency to bioaccumulate and is therefore not expected to biomagnify through food chains[1] Concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane above 118 mg/l cause acute toxicity to marine fish, concentrations above 30 mg/l, 36 mg/l and 100 mg/l cause acute toxicity to respectively fresh water fish, marine invertebrates and marine algae[2]. It is suspected that 1,2-dichloroethane in heavily polluted coastal areas of the North Sea might reach concentrations up to 6,4 µg/l. Typical concentrations in polluted estuaries range around 0,5 µg/l and those in open seas around 0.005 µg/l[2].


Environmental standards and legislation

Included in the water framework list of priority substances


The main author of this article is Daphnis De Pooter
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Daphnis De Pooter (2020): 1,2-Dichloroethane. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/1,2-Dichloroethane [accessed on 19-03-2024]


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 2001 TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE
  2. 2.0 2.1 De Rooij, C., Boutonnet, J., Garny, V. et al. Euro Chlor Risk Assessment for the Marine Environment Osparcom Region: North Sea - 1,2-Dichloroethane. Environ Monit Assess 53, 425–445 (1998)