Ethylene dichloride, also known as 1,2-dichloroethane, is an organochloride used to produce vinyl chloride, polystyrene, and other chlorinated solvents. It is a probable human carcinogen and can cause respiratory problems, nervous system damage, and harm to organs. It is present in rural air, surface and groundwater, and even in human breast milk. It is toxic to fish and contributes to acid rain.
Ethylene dichloride, now more commonly known as 1,2-dichloroethane, is an organic compound classified as an organochloride. This designation is recognized by several other terms, including chlorocarbon, chlorinated solvent, and chlorinated hydrocarbon, all of which mean the same thing. The chemical structure of ethylene dichloride consists of a covalent bond between its hydrogen atoms and two chlorine atoms, meaning that they share electron pairs with each other.
While ethylene dichloride is considered an obsolete name for 1,2-dichloroethane, it was also once called Dutch oil after the Dutch scientists who first synthesized this compound from ethylene and chlorine gases in the late 18th century. Today the compound is produced in large quantities from the same base materials using chlorinated iron or copper as a catalyst. In fact, commercial production of this solvent in the United States, which began in 1922, eventually earned its place among the top 1922 highest-volume industrial chemicals produced in the country. Additionally, large quantities of this chemical are imported into the United States each year from Japan and several Western European countries.
The primary industrial use of ethylene dichloride is the production of vinyl chloride, which is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also used to make polystyrene, a thermoplastic, and styrene butadiene latex (SBR), an adhesive coating used to bond cement, concrete, and asphalt. Additionally, the chemical is used as an industrial solvent to remove oil and grease, as well as in the manufacture of other chlorinated solvents, such as perchlorethylene, otherwise known as dry cleaning fluid. This chemical was once added to leaded gasoline as an anti-knock agent.
There are several known health risks associated with ethylene dichloride, which is easily absorbed through the skin and lungs. In addition to causing respiratory problems, this chemical can also act on the nervous system and damage the heart, liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. While the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies this substance as a “probable human carcinogen,” it is unclear whether long-term or high exposure concentrations actually increase the risk of cancer due to the simultaneous presence of other chemical contaminants among populations participating in occupational studies. However, studies using animal models indicate that exposure initiated by ingestion or topical application has resulted in the formation of various tumors of the lungs, stomach, colon, and mammary glands. Additionally, decreased fertility was observed in rats and mice.
While exposure to ethylene dichloride was once thought to be primarily an occupational hazard, the EPA has found that this solvent is also present in significant quantities in rural air, as well as surface and groundwater. As you might expect, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports similar findings in Western Europe in the regions where this chemical is produced. Also, according to the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), this substance has been detected in human breast milk. In terms of environmental impact, 1,2-dichloroethane persists in soil, but biodegrades in the air within 300 days. However, this substance is toxic to fish and contributes to acid rain.
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