National Pollutant Inventory Substance Profile (original) (raw)

Ethylbenzene

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Substance name	Ethylbenzene
CASR number	100-41-4
Molecular formula	C8H10
Synonyms	EB, ethylbenzol, phenylethane, Ethyl Benzene
Physical and chemical properties **Physical properties:Ethylbenzene is a colourless liquid that smells like petrol.Boiling Point: 136.2 (°C) Melting Point: 94.97 (°C) Vapour Density 3.66 (air = 1)Vapour Pressure 9.53 mm Hg at 25 (°C) Specific Gravity 0.867 at 20 (°C) (water = 1)Chemical properties:**Ethylbenzene is a flammable and combustible liquid. Its vapours are heavier than air and may travel to a source of ignition and flash back. In liquid form, it floats on water and may travel to a source of ignition and spread fire. I ts combustion may produce irritants and toxic gases. Ethylbenzene may accumulate static electricity and will react with oxidising materials. It is miscible with organic solvents and soluble in alcohol and ether. It evaporates at room temperature and burns easily. It moves easily into the air from water and soil and is most commonly found as a vapour in the air.
Common uses Ethylbenzene is used primarily in the production of styrene and synthetic polymers. It is used as a solvent; a constituent of asphalt and naphtha; and in synthetic rubber, fuels, paints, inks, carpet glues, varnishes, tobacco products, and insecticides. It is a component of automotive and aviation fuels. It is also used to make other chemicals, including acetophenone, cellulose acetate, diethyl-benzene, ethyl anthraquinone, ethylbenzene sulfonic acids, propylene oxide, and alpha-methylbenzyl alcohol.
Sources of emissions _Point sourcesPoint sources of ethylbenzene are factories that use ethylbenzene as part of their manufacturing process and from coal tar and petroleum processing facilities. Ethylbenzene is also emitted from some hazardous waste sites.Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions dataEthylbenzene is emitted from a wide range of products and has be widely detected in low concentrations both indoors and outside. Indoor concentrations may be higher due to a greater number of sources. It is present in tobacco smoke.Natural sourcesIt occurs naturally in coal tar and petroleumMobile sourcesEthyl benzene will be released from fuel filling and from vapours from motor vehicle fuel tanks.Consumer products which may contain Ethylbenzene_Gasoline contains about 2% ethylbenzene by weight. Other products that may contain ethylbenzene include; household paints, agricultural chemicals, automotive paints and primers, car body polish and cleaners, bathroom tub and tile cleaners, building and construction plastic foam insulation, floor polish, furniture polish and cleaners, ground/traffic marking coatings, herbicides, insecticides, laundry starch preparations, loose mineral wool fibre, non-structural caulking compounds and sealants, cleaning and sanitation products, oven cleaners, paint and varnish removers, paint thinners, rug and upholstery cleaners, carpets and rugs, sheet vinyl flooring and waterproofing compounds.
Health effects How might I be exposed to Ethylbenzene?In the work place exposure to ethylbenzene occurs in factories that use ethylbenzene to produce other chemicals as well as gas, petroleum and coal tar processes. Other occupational exposure may be associated with varnish workers, spray painters, and persons involved in gluing operations. Exposure to ethylbenzene occurs from the use of certain consumer products, gasoline, pesticides, solvents, carpet glues, varnishes, paints, and tobacco smoke.By what pathways might Ethylbenzene enter my body?When you breathe air containing ethylbenzene vapour, it enters your body rapidly and almost completely through your lungs. Ethylbenzene in food or water can also rapidly and almost completely enter your body through the digestive tract. It may enter through your skin when you come into contact with liquids containing ethylbenzene. Ethylbenzene vapours do not enter through your skin to any large degree. People living in urban areas or in areas near hazardous waste sites may be exposed by breathing air or by drinking water contaminated with ethylbenzene.Relative health hazardOn a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 Ethylbenzene registers 1. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.Health guidelines >Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996): _Health_Maximum of 0.3mb/L (ie 0.0003g/L) _Aesthetic_Maximum of 0.003mb/L (ie 0.000003g/L) _Worksafe Australia_TWA: 100 ppm 434 mg/m3STEL: 125 ppm 543 mg/m3See the Additional Information page for current health information. The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. _What effect might Ethylbenzene have on my health?_Exposure can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. High concentration can cause you to become dizzy, light headed, or to pass out. Very high levels can cause paralysis, trouble breathing and death. Prolonged exposure can cause drying, scaling and even blistering. High exposure may damage the liver. Chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some time after exposure to Ethyl Benzene and can last for months or years. Ethylbenzene in high levels is broken down slower in your body than low levels of ethylbenzene. Similarly, ethylbenzene mixed with other solvents is also broken down more slowly than ethylbenzene alone.
Environmental effects **Environmental Fate**Once in the air, other chemicals help break down ethylbenzene into chemicals found in smog. This breakdown happens in about 3 days with the aid of sunlight. In surface water such as rivers and harbours, ethylbenzene breaks down by reacting with other compounds naturally present in the water. In soil, the major way ethylbenzene is broken down is by soil bacteria._Environmental TransportEthyl benzene is very volatile so is mostly present in air. It can also be transported by water. It can also move very quickly into groundwater, since it does not readily bind to soil . About 99.5% of Ethyl Benzene will eventually end up in air; the rest will end up in the waterRelative hazard to the environment_On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 Ethylbenzene registers 0.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8.Environmental guidelinesSee the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines. _What effect might Ethylbenzene have on the environment?_Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Ethyl Benzene has high acute toxicity to aquatic life. It has caused injury to various agricultural crops. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short-term effects of Ethyl Benzene to birds or land animals. Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behaviour. Ethylbenzene has a slight tendency to bioaccumulate.
Comparative data _NPI Rank_Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. Ethylbenzene was ranked as 87 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 1.7.
Sources of information used in preparing this fact sheet Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (accessed, June 1999) Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) (1992), Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters. Chemfinder (accessed, June 1999) Meagher, D (1991), The Macmillan Dictionary of The Australian Environment, Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd. National Environment Protection Council (1998), National Environment Protection Measure for the National Pollutant Inventory. (accessed, March, 1999) National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) (1996), Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. New Jersey Dept of Health, Right to Know, TRIFacts (accessed, June 1999) Richardson, M (1992), Dictionary of Substances and their Effects, Royal Society of Chemistry, Clays Ltd, England. Sittig, M (1991), Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, 3rd edition, Noyes Publications, USA. Technical Advisory Panel (1999), Final Report to the National Environment Protection Council. US Department of Health and Human Services (1990), NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Publication No. 90-117. US Environmental Defence Fund (accessed, June 1999) US National Safety Council Environmental Health Centre Chemical Backgrounder Index (accessed, June 1999) US National Toxics Program (accessed, June 1999) US Toxic Release Inventory Toxis Chemicals Factsheet (accessed, June 1999) USEPA Technology Transfer network (accessed, June 1999) Worksafe Australia (accessed, June 1999)

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