1,2-Dichloroethane
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
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Notes
| 1,2-Dichloroethane |
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| 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
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