ETHYLBENZENE
ETHYLBENZENE
CASRN: 100-41-4
Human Health Effects:
Toxicity Summary:
The acute toxicity of ethylbenzene
to algae, aquatic invertebrates and fish is moderate. ... No information is
available regarding chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to ethylbenzene.
There is limited information regarding the toxicity of ethylbenzene
to bacteria ... There are no data for terrestrial plants, birds, or wild
mammals. Human exposure to ethylbenzene occurs mainly
by inhalation; 40-60% of inhaled ethylbenzene is
retained in the lung. Ethylbenzene is extensively
metabolized, mainly to mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids. These urinary
metabolites can be used to monitor human exposures. Ethylbenzene
has low acute and chronic toxicity for both animals and humans. It is toxic to
the central nervous system and is an irritant of mucous membranes and the eyes.
... Ethylbenzene is an inducer of liver microsomal
enzymes. It is not mutagenic or teratogenic ... No information is available on
reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene.
A guidance value of 22 mg/ cu m (5 ppm) has been calculated from animal studies.
/This value would correspond to a weekly absorbed dose (daily ventilation of 20
cu m with 60% retention) of about 2000 mg./ The estimated exposure of the
general population (even in the worst case situation) is below this guidance
value. Long term occupational exposure to ethylbenzene
concentrations estimated to be of this order of magnitude did not cause adverse
health effects in workers.
Evidence for Carcinogenicity:
CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to
human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: nonclassifiable due to lack of
animal bioassays and human studies. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. ANIMAL
CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None.
A3; Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown
relevance to humans.
Human Toxicity Excerpts:
PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ... VAPORS MAY RESULT IN
FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS, INCREASE IN DEEP REFLEXES, IRRITATION OF UPPER RESPIRATORY
TRACT, HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS (LEUKOPENIA AND LYMPHOCYTOSIS, IN PARTICULAR) AND
... HEPATOBILIARY COMPLAINTS.
... ASPIRATION OF EVEN A SMALL AMT OF ETHYLBENZENE
MAY CAUSE SEVERE INJURY, SINCE ITS LOW VISCOSITY AND SURFACE TENSION WILL CAUSE
IT TO SPREAD OVER A LARGE SURFACE OF PULMONARY TISSUE. ...
Produces an irritant effect from chronic
inhalation at 100 ppm (0.492 mg/L)/8 hr. /From table/
... /IT HAS BEEN/ SHOWN THAT CONCN OF 1 MG/L
& EVEN 0.1 MG/L MAY BE DANGEROUS & MAY PRODUCE FUNCTIONAL & ORGANIC
DISTURBANCES (NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS, TOXIC HEPATITIS & UPPER RESP TRACT
COMPLAINTS). CONCN AS LOW AS 0.01 MG/L MAY LEAD TO ... INFLAMMATION OF UPPER
RESP TRACT MUCOSA.
Ethyl benzene vapor has a transient irritant
effect on human eyes at 200 ppm in air. At 1000 ppm on the first exposure it is
very irritating and causes tearing, but tolerance rapidly develops. At 2000 ppm
eye irritation and lacrimation are immediate and severe; 5000 ppm causes
intolerable irritation of the eyes and nose.
ETHYLBENZENE IS MORE
VOLATILE THAN STYRENE AND ITS MANUFACTURE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A GREATER HAZARD OF
ACUTE POISONING. ...
Skin, Eye and Respiratory Irritations:
... CHARACTERIZED ... AS MOST SEVERE IRRITANT
OF THE BENZENE SERIES.
A concn of 200 ppm causes eye irritation. A
concn of 100 ppm for 8 hr caused irritative effects in a human.
EXPOSURE TO CONCN OF 5000 PPM /24.6 MG/L/ ...
CAUSES INTOLERABLE IRRITATION OF EYES, MUCOUS MEMBRANES & NOSE.
HAZARD WARNING: ... exposure to 21.5 g/cu m
(5000 ppm) ethylbenzene for a few seconds gives
intolerable irritation of nose, eyes, and throat.
Medical Surveillance:
... EMPLOYMENT EXAMINATION SHOULD ENSURE THAT
PERSONS WITH LIVER, KIDNEY, NERVOUS SYSTEM, BLOOD AND HEMOPOIETIC-ORGAN
DISORDERS ARE /PROTECTED FROM EXPOSURE/ ... WOMEN WITH OVULATION AND MENSTRUAL
CYCLE DISORDERS SHOULD ALSO BE /PROTECTED/.
Consider the points of attack (eyes, upper
respiratory system, skin, central nervous system) in placement and periodic
physical examinations.
Populations at Special Risk:
IN PERSONS WITH IMPAIRED PULMONARY FUNCTION,
ESP THOSE WITH OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY DISEASES, BREATHING ETHYL BENZENE MIGHT CAUSE
EXACERBATION OF SYMPTOMS DUE TO ITS IRRITANT PROPERTIES OR PSYCHIC REFLEX
BRONCHOSPASM.
PERSONS WITH ... EXISTING SKIN DISORDERS MAY
BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EFFECTS. ...
... PERSONS WITH LIVER, KIDNEY, NERVOUS
SYSTEM, BLOOD AND HEMOPOIETIC-ORGAN DISORDERS. ... WOMEN WITH OVULATION AND
MENSTRUAL CYCLE DISORDERS. ...
Probable Routes of Human Exposure:
NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has
statistically estimated that 80,726 workers (21,785 of these are female) are
potentially exposed to ethylbenzene in the US(1).
Occupational exposure to ethylbenzene may occur via
inhalation at municipal waste composting facilities where the air concn was
found to be 78,000-178,000 ug/cu m(2),and through inhalation and dermal contact
with this compound at worplaces where ethylbenzene is
produced or used(SRC). The general population may be exposed to ethylbenzene
via inhalation of ambient air, ingestion of foods and fish, and drinking
contaminated water, and dermal contact with this compound and other products
such as gasoline which contains ethylbenzene(SRC).
Body Burden:
Ethylbenzene was
detected, not quantified, in 8 of 8 samples of mother's milk from 4 US urban
areas(1). 16.5% of 387 expired air samples taken from 54 normal, healthy, urban
volunteers were positive for ethylbenzene concn with an
avg of 1.8 ng/l expired air(2). Whole blood samples from 250 subjects ranged in ethylbenzene
concns from not detected to 59 ppb, with an avg of 1.0 ppb(3).
Average Daily Intake:
AIR INTAKE: (assume air concn of 0.2-2.7
ppb)(2-6); 17-235 ug; WATER INTAKE: (assume water concn of 0-4 ppb(1)) 0-8 ug;
FOOD INTAKE: insufficient data(SRC).
Animal Toxicity Studies:
Toxicity Summary:
The acute toxicity of ethylbenzene
to algae, aquatic invertebrates and fish is moderate. ... No information is
available regarding chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to ethylbenzene.
There is limited information regarding the toxicity of ethylbenzene
to bacteria ... There are no data for terrestrial plants, birds, or wild
mammals. Human exposure to ethylbenzene occurs mainly
by inhalation; 40-60% of inhaled ethylbenzene is
retained in the lung. Ethylbenzene is extensively
metabolized, mainly to mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids. These urinary
metabolites can be used to monitor human exposures. Ethylbenzene
has low acute and chronic toxicity for both animals and humans. It is toxic to
the central nervous system and is an irritant of mucous membranes and the eyes.
... Ethylbenzene is an inducer of liver microsomal
enzymes. It is not mutagenic or teratogenic ... No information is available on
reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity of ethylbenzene.
A guidance value of 22 mg/ cu m (5 ppm) has been calculated from animal studies.
/This value would correspond to a weekly absorbed dose (daily ventilation of 20
cu m with 60% retention) of about 2000 mg./ The estimated exposure of the
general population (even in the worst case situation) is below this guidance
value. Long term occupational exposure to ethylbenzene
concentrations estimated to be of this order of magnitude did not cause adverse
health effects in workers.
Evidence for Carcinogenicity:
CLASSIFICATION: D; not classifiable as to
human carcinogenicity. BASIS FOR CLASSIFICATION: nonclassifiable due to lack of
animal bioassays and human studies. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None. ANIMAL
CARCINOGENICITY DATA: None.
A3; Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown
relevance to humans.
Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts:
... From ingestion of or exposure of skin or
lung to high concns causes /CNS depression/ in animals. Although similar to
benzene, ethylbenzene apparently does not cause bone
marrow problems.
EXPOSURE OF GUINEA PIGS TO 1% CONCENTRATION
HAS BEEN REPORTED AS CAUSING ATAXIA, LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, TREMOR OF THE
EXTREMITIES, AND FINALLY DEATH THROUGH RESPIRATORY FAILURE. THE PATHOLOGICAL
FINDINGS WERE CONGESTION OF THE BRAIN AND LUNGS WITH EDEMA.
... CONCN ... OVER 2 MG/L MAY CAUSE ACUTE
POISONING /IN LABORATORY ANIMALS/ ... INITIAL SYMPTOMS ... INCL IRRRTATION OF
MUCOUS MEMBRANES ... FOLLOWED BY ... /CNS DEPRESSION/, CRAMPS & DEATH ...
DUE TO RESPIRATORY-CENTER PARALYSIS. MAIN PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS ARE MARKED EDEMA
OF BRAIN & LUNG, FOCI OF EPITHELIAL NECROSIS IN RENAL TUBULES & HEPATIC
DYSTROPHY.
... /GUINEA PIGS/ THAT DIED FROM EXPOSURE /TO
10000 PPM FOR FEW MIN OR 5000 PPM FOR 30-60 MIN/ HAD INTENSE CONGESTION AND
EDEMA OF LUNG AND GENERALIZED VISCERAL HYPEREMIA.
IN GUINEA PIGS, 0.3% BY VOL IS MAX AMT FOR 1
HR WITHOUT SERIOUS SYMPTOMS; 0.1% BY VOL IS MAX AMT FOR SEVERAL HR WITHOUT
SERIOUS DISTURBANCES. /FROM TABLE/
REPEATED APPLICATIONS OF UNDILUTED ETHYLBENZENE
TO THE SKIN OF RABBITS CAUSED ... BLISTERING.
... RATS, RABBITS, GUINEA PIGS, AND MONKEYS
/WERE EXPOSED/ TO CONCN OF ... 400-2200 PPM, 7 TO 8 HR/DAY, 5 DAYS A WK FOR AS
LONG AS 6 MONTHS. THE GUINEA PIGS, RABBITS, AND MONKEYS WERE NOT AFFECTED ...
SLIGHT INCREASE IN AVG WT OF KIDNEYS AND LIVERS WERE OBSERVED IN RATS EXPOSED TO
400 PPM FOR 186 DAYS.
... RATS /WERE INJECTED/ SUBCUTANEOUSLY WITH 1
ML ... PER KG OF BODY WT DAILY FOR 2 WEEKS AND ... NO DECREASE IN THE TOTAL
FEMORAL MARROW NUCLEATED CELL COUNT /WAS OBSERVED/. THESE ANIMALS DEVELOPED A
LEUCOCYTOSIS INSTEAD OF SEVERE LEUCOPENIAS FOUND IN BENZENE-DOSED ANIMALS WHICH
SERVED AS POSITIVE CONTROLS.
EXPOSURE TO 2000 PPM FOR UP TO 375 MIN CAUSED
IN SOME OF /GUINEA PIGS/ ... MOTOR ATAXIA AND APPARENT UNCONSCIOUSNESS; WITH
10,000 PPM THIS STAGE WAS REACHED IN 18 MIN. IT WAS PRECEDED BY VERTIGO,
UNSTEADINESS AND ATAXIA.
LIVER & KIDNEY WT INCREASED IN RATS GIVEN
SUBCHRONIC ORAL DOSES OF 408-680 MG/KG/DAY FOR 182 DAYS. /FROM TABLE/
INHALATION @ 3050 PPM (15 MG/L) PRODUCED LOSS
OF RIGHTING RESPONSE IN MICE & DEATH IN 2 HR FROM 9150 PPM (45 MG/L). IN
GUINEA PIGS 1000 PPM (4.92 MG/L)/3 MIN PRODUCED SLIGHT NASAL IRRITATION, @ 8 MIN
EYE IRRITATION; 2000 PPM (9.84 MG/L)/1 MIN PRODUCED MODERATE EYE & NASAL
IRRITATION, UNCONSCIOUSNESS @ 345 MIN. /FROM TABLE/
SUBACUTE EXPOSURE OF MALE RATS TO 2000 PPM
PRODUCED INCREASES OF DOPAMINE & NORADRENALINE LEVELS & TURNOVER IN
VARIOUS PARTS OF HYPOTHALAMUS & MEDIAN EMINENCE 16-18 HR FOLLOWING LAST
EXPOSURE.
Rats inhaling 600, 1200, or 2400 mg ethylbenzene/cu
m for 24 hr/day from days 7-15 of pregnancy showed mild toxicity. The highest
dose retarded skeletal development and weight gain in the fetuses and increased
the incidence of extra ribs. Sacral displacement with abnormal development was
observed in 2 instances. Thus, ethylbenzene, has some
embryotoxic and teratogenic activity.
Ethylbenzene was
investigated ... as a sensory irritant in mice. The concn necessary to depress
the respiratory rate by 50% (RD 50) due to sensory irritation of the upper
respiratory tract was 4060 ppm. ... A model for the sensory irritating action
... was proposed on the basis of ... physical interaction with a receptor
protein.
Drop application to rabbit eyes caused slight
irritation and no corneal injury demonstrable by fluorescein staining. Standard
testing on rabbit eyes gave an injury grade of 2 on a scale of 10.
Rats were exposed for 3 days by inhalation to
2000 ppm of a xylene mixture, or ... ethylbenzene. All
solvents increased hepatic cytochrome p450 concn and NADPH-cytochrome C
reductase activity. The ability of ethylbenzene to
modify the metabolism of other potentially toxic substances in liver, kidney,
and lung microsomes suggested the possibility of synergistic toxic responses.
Concn of < 0.25 mg/l can cause tainting of
fish flesh.
Neither maternal toxicity nor embryotoxicity
was observed in gravid rabbits exposed to ethylbenzene
/by inhalation/ at 100 or 1000 ppm.
Neither maternal toxicity nor embyrotoxicity
was observed /in pregnant rats/ exposed to ethylbenzene
/by inhalation/ at 100 ppm ... but /1000 ppm/ induced some indications of
toxicity. ... A significant increase in the incidence of extra ribs was detected
in rat fetuses exposed in utero to the high level.
Mice, B6C3F1 Fischer-344 rats, and /rabbits
/New Zealand/ (five/sex/group) were exposed by inhalation to ethylbenzene
vapors for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks (20 exposures). Rats and mice
received 0, 99, 382, or 782 ppm ethylbenzene while
rabbits received 0, 382, 782, or 1610 ppm. No changes were evident in mortality
patterns, clinical chemistries, urinalyses, or treatment-related
gross/microscopic (including ophthalmologic) lesions. Rats exhibited sporadic
lacrimation and salivation, as well as significantly increased liver weights at
382 and 782 ppm, and small increases in leukocyte counts at 782 ppm. Males at
this exposure level also showed marginal elevations in platelet counts. In mice,
females showed statistically increased absolute and relative liver weights at
382 and 782 ppm while males had statistically increased relative liver-to-brain
weight ratios only at 782 ppm. Female rabbits at the high exposure level of 1610
ppm gained weight more slowly than controls (not statistically significant);
males showed a similar transient downward trend after 1 week, but showed no
differences from controls at study's end. A no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL)
of 382 ppm appears appropriate for rats and mice with a lowest observed adverse
effect level (LOAEL) of 782 ppm. A NOAEL of 782 ppm and LOAEL of 1610 ppm are
appropriate for rabbits.
Repeated application of undiluted ethyl
benzene to the ear and shaved abdominal area of rabbits (10-20 applications over
a period of 2-4 wk) resulted in erthyema, edema, and superficial necrosis. ...
Two drops of ethyl benzene into the conjunctival sac produced only a slight
irritation of the conjunctival membranes but no corneal injury.
Inhalation of 2600 mg/cu m (600 ppm) ethyl
benzene 7 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 186 days caused degeneration of the germinal
epithelium in the testes of rabbits and monkeys but not of rats. Pregnant rats
exposed at 100 or 1000 ppm 6 hr/day for 3 wk prior to mating and on days 1-19 of
gestation had pups with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in extra rib
formation; at the higher dose, maternal toxicity was indicated by increased
liver, kidney, and spleen weights.
... CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of these
2 yr inhalation studies, there was clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene
in male F344/N rats based on incr incidences of renal tubule neoplasms. The
incidences of testicular adenoma were also incr. There was some evidence of
carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in female F344/N
rats based on incr incidences of renal tubule adenomas. There was some evidence
of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in male B6C3F1
mice based on incr incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms. There was some
evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in
female B6C3F1 mice based on incr incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms.
Efforts were made to clarify the molecular
basis of styrene toxicity on the dopaminergic systems and to evaluate whether
the same mechanism was common to other solvents. Groups of male New Zealand
rabbits were exposed to 750 ppm toluene, xylene, styrene, ethylbenzene,
vinyltoluene, 7-methyl-styrene, or fresh air (control group). A significant
depletion in both striatal and tubero infundibular dopamine was caused by
styrene, ethylbenzene, and vinyltoluene. Methylation of
the aromatic ring of styrene did not change its activity, whereas methylation of
the side chain drastically reduced its effect on dopamine. Treatment carried out
with the main metabolites of aromatic solvents indicated that acidic metabolites
of some solvents caused striatal and tubero infundibular dopamine depletion.
Present data suggested a chemical reaction between dopamine and some acidic
metabolites. The active metabolites have an alpha-keto acid as the side chain or
as a part of their molecule. These keto acids condense nonenzymatically with
dopamine.
National Toxicology Program Studies:
... 2 Yr Study in Rats: Groups of 50 male and
50 female F344/N rats were exposed to 0, 75, 250 or 750 ppm ethylbenzene
6 hr day, 5 days/wk for 104 wk. ... 2 Yr Study in Mice: Groups of 50 male and 50
female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 75, 250 or 750 ppm ethylbenzene
by inhalation, 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 103 wk. ... CONCLUSIONS: Under the
conditions of these 2 yr inhalation studies, there was clear evidence of
carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in male F344/N
rats based on incr incidences of renal tubule neoplasms. The incidences of
testicular adenoma were also incr. There was some evidence of carcinogenic
activity of ethylbenzene in female F344/N rats based on
incr incidences of renal tubule adenomas. There was some evidence of
carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in male B6C3F1
mice based on incr incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms. There was some
evidence of carcinogenic activity of ethylbenzene in
female B6C3F1 mice based on incr incidences of hepatocellular neoplasms.
Non-Human Toxicity Values:
LD50 Rat oral 5.46 g/kg.
LD50 Rat oral 3500 mg/kg
LD50 Mouse ip 2272 mg/kg
LD50 Rabbit skin 17,800 mg/kg
Ecotoxicity Values:
LC50 Lepomis macrochirus 32 mg/l/96 hr
/Conditions of bioassay not specified/
LC50 Carassius auratus 94.44 mg/l/96 hr
/Conditions of bioassay not specified/
LC50 Lebistes reticulatus 97.10 mg/l/96 hr
/Conditions of bioassay not specified/
LC50 Mysidopsis bahia (shrimp) 87.6 mg/l 96 hr
in a static unmeasured bioassay
LC50 Cyprinodon variegatus (sheepshead minnow)
275 mg/l 96 hr in a static unmeasured bioassay
LC50 Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) 42.3
(hardwater) to 48.5 (softwater) mg/l 96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not
specified/
LC50 Poecilla reticulata (guppy) 97.1 mg/l/96
hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified/
Toxicity threshold (cell multiplication
inhibition test): Microcystis aeruginosa (algae) 33 mg/l; Scenedesmus
quadricauda (green algae) > 160 mg/l
Toxicity threshold (cell multiplication
inhibition test): Entosiphon sulcatum (protozoa) 140 mg/l; Uronema parduczi
Chatton-Lwoff (protozoa) > 110 mg/l.
Toxicity threshold (cell multiplication
inhibition test): Pseudomonas putida (bacteria) 12 mg/l.
LC50 Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp, adult)
14,400 ug/l/24 hr in a static unmeasured bioassay
LC50 Palaemonetes pugio (grass shrimp, larva)
10,200 ug/l/24 hr in a static unmeasured bioassay
LC50 Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) 12.1
mg/l/96 hr (confidence limit 11.5 - 12.7 mg/l), flow-through bioassay with
measured concentrations, 26.1 deg C, dissolved oxygen 7.0 mg/l, hardness 45.6
mg/l calcium carbonate, alkalinity 43.0 mg/l calcium carbonate, and pH 7.39.
TSCA Test Submissions:
In a single generation reproduction study, 380
female and 60 male Wistar rats were exposed to ethylbenzene
at average daily concentrations of 97 or 959 ppm 7 hours per day, 5 days per
week for 3 weeks. They were then mated and exposed daily on gestation days (GD)
1-19 at concentrations of 96 (low) or 985 (high) ppm. Animals were sacrificed
and examined on GD 21. No significant differences were observed between
treatment groups and controls in food consumption, gestational body weights (of
pregnant rats), organ weights (of male rats), histopathology of liver, kidney or
lungs, percent pregnancy, no. of corpora lutea, no. of implants, total live or
dead fetuses, no. of live or dead fetuses per litter, no. of resorptions per
litter and percent litters with resorptions. A significant difference (ANOVA,
Duncan's multiple range test) was observed in pregestational body weights in
both treatment groups. Maternal toxicity was indicated in the high dose groups
(dosed at the high level during both periods or dosed with air during
pregestational and with the high level during gestation) by significant
differences (ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test) in liver, spleen and kidney
weights. Statistically significant differences were seen in mean crown-rump
length (in the group which was dosed at the high level during both periods),
supernumerary ribs (in the 2 high dose groups and the group which was dosed with
air pregestationally and with the low level during gestation) and rudimentary
rib incidence (in the group dosed with air during pregestation and with the high
level during gestation).
In a single generation reproduction study 96
New Zealand White rabbits were artifically inseminated and exposed to ethylbenzene
at average daily concentrations of 99 or 962 ppm 7 hours per day, through
gestation day (GD) 24. Animals were sacrificed and examined on GD 30. Mortality
was observed in 2 does, 1 from each dose group. No significant differences were
observed between treatment groups and controls in the following: food
consumption; body weight; weight gain; lung, kidney, and spleen mean weights;
histopathology of liver, kidney, or lungs; percent pregnancy; no. of corpora
lutea; no. of implants; total live or dead fetuses; no. of dead fetuses per
litter; no. of resorptions per litter; percent litters with resorptions; and
skeletal, visceral, or external parameters in fetuses. Significant differences
(ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test) relative to controls were observed in
liver weights of the high dose group and in mean number of live fetuses per
litter in both treatment groups.
Ethylbenzene (CAS#
100-41-4) was evaluated for developmental toxicity in 89, 77, and 77 female
Wistar rats exposed to 0, 100, and 1000 ppm of the test material respectively by
inhalation for 7 hours per day, 5 days per week for 3 weeks. They were then
mated and exposed daily through the 19th day of gestation. The rats were killed
and examined at the 21st day of gestation. No significant differences were
observed in food consumption and body weights during progestational and
gestational exposure periods. At 1000 ppm relative and absolute liver, spleen,
and kidney weights were significantly greater than controls and or the 100 ppm
group. No treatment-related histological changes were observed. Body weights,
placenta weights, and sex ratios were all within normal limits. There were no
significant increases in major malformations or minor anomalies. Litters were
examined for the presence of external, visceral, and skeletal defects as well as
the incidence of growth retardation and intrauterine mortality. A statistically
significant increased incidence of fetal supernumary ribs was observed at the
1000 ppm exposure. It was concluded that ethylbenzene
caused maternal and developmental toxicity (significant increase in extra ribs)
at 1000 ppm.
Ethylbenzene (CAS#
100-41-4) was evaluated for developmental toxicity in 24, 23, and 22 New Zealand
white rabbits artificially inseminated and exposed for 7 hours daily to 0, 100,
and 1000 ppm of the test material respectively until the 24th day of gestation.
Neither maternal toxicity nor embryotoxicity was observed in rabbits exposed to ethylbenzene
at 100 or 1000 ppm. Rabbits had increased maternal liver weights at 1000 ppm and
reduced mean number of live fetuses at 100 and 1000 ppm. No significant
differences were observed in food consumption and weight gain. No
treatment-related organ weight or histopathological changes were observed. Fetal
size (weight and length), placenta weights, and sex ratios were all within
normal limits. The sex ratios of the groups were not affected by treatment. No
statistically significant incidences of major malformations, minor anomalies, or
common variants were observed. It was concluded that the test material did not
induce significant maternal toxicity, embryomortality, growth retardation, or
teratogenicity at 1000 ppm.
The frequency of chromosomal aberrations was
evaluated in vitro by exposing rats liver (RL1) cells to 25, 50 or 100 ug of
ethyl benzene/ml. No increases in the frequency of chromatid gaps, chromatid
breaks or total chromosome aberrations was observed at any dose level. Ethyl
benzene did not induce chromosome damage in this assay.
The mutagenicity of ethyl benzene was
evaluated in E. coli tester strains WP2 and WP2uvrA and in Salmonella tester
strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and TA1538 (Ames test), both in the
presence and absence of added metabolic activation by Aroclor-induced rat liver
S9 fraction. Based on the results of preliminary bacterial toxicity
determinations, ethyl benzene, in DMSO, was tested for mutagenicity at
concentrations of 0.2, 2.0, 20.0, 200.0, and 2000.0 ug/plate using the direct
plate incorporation method. Ethyl benzene did not cause a positive response in
any of the tester strains with or without metabolic activation.
The ability of ethyl benzene to induce
conversion of differentially inactive alleles to wild-type alleles in
Saccharomyces cervisiae was examined in the mitotic gene conversion assay. The
cultures were dosed with solutions of 20 ul (in the absence of added metabolic
action provided by Aroclor-induced rat liver S9 fraction) or 25 ul (with S9) of
1, 10, 50, 100 or 500 mg ethyl benzene/ml. Ethyl benzene did not produce an
increase mitotic gene conversion, either with or without added metabolic
activation, and was not considered to be mutagenic in the assay.
Metabolism/Pharmacokinetics:
Metabolism/Metabolites:
ETHYL BENZENE IN MAN IS METABOLIZED 64% TO
MANDELIC AND 25% TO PHENYLGLYOXYLIC ACID AND EXCRETED INTO URINE.
THE OXIDATION OF ETHYLBENZENE
TO METHYLPHENYLCARBINOL IN ANIMALS ... WAS CONFIRMED ... WITH ADDITIONAL FINDING
THAT BOTH ISOMERS OF METHYL PHENYL CARBINOL (THE + AND - FORMS) IN EQUAL AMT ARE
RESULT OF ITS BIOLOGICAL HYDROXYLATION.
In the rabbit, it is metabolized to a number
of oxidation products and subsequently excreted. The major urinary metabolite is
hippuric acid. The oxidation products are benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, and
mandelic acid, excreted as the glycine conjugate, and also methylphenylcarbinol,
1-phenylethanol, excreted as the glucuronide.
FROM A DOSE OF 100 MG/KG ADMIN ORALLY TO RATS
... THE URINARY METABOLITES, P-ETHYLPHENOL, ABOUT 0.3%, & SMALLER QUANTITIES
OF 1- & 2-PHENYLETHANOL /WERE IDENTIFIED/.
URINARY SULFATE RATIO DECREASES ARE NORMALLY A
ROUGH EST OF DOSE-RELATED ALKYLBENZENE HYDROXYLATION DUE MAINLY TO SIDE CHAIN
OXIDATION. ... THIS ... DOES NOT HOLD WITH DOSE-ACTION RELATIONSHIP FOR ETHYLBENZENE.
... AT HIGH DOSES, RING HYDROXYLATION INCREASES, ALTERING SULFATE RATIO.
PRODUCTS OF RING HYDROXYLATION ... DETECTED
FOR 1ST TIME IN RABBIT URINE. ... IDENTIFICATION OF M- & P-HYDROXYACETOPHENONE
& ... ACETOPHENONE REVEALS THAT FURTHER OXIDATION IN SIDE-CHAIN OF
ACETOPHENONE TO PHENACYL ALCOHOL (& THEN TO BENZOIC ACID) IS NOT ONLY
PATHWAY. ... HOWEVER, RING-HYDROXYLATED PRODUCTS ARE ONLY MINOR ONES.
SINCE ... (1+) & (-1)METHYLPHENYL CARBINOL
YIELDED (-1)MANDELIC ACID /IN RATS/, AS DID ACETOPHENONE & OMEGA-HYDROXYACETOPHENONE,
THE STEREOSELECTIVE STEP MUST OCCUR DURING OXIDATION &/OR REDUCTION OF
LATTER ... EITHER PATHWAY IS POSSIBLE, FOR ... PHENYLGLYOXAL & ...
PHENYLETHYLENE GLYCOL ... YIELDED (-)MANDELIC ACID STEREOSELECTIVELY.
BENZOYLFORMIC ACID WAS BY-PRODUCT IN ALL ...
EXPT /IN WHICH RATS WERE FED POSSIBLE INTERMEDIATES/. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS CMPD
WAS FED, NO MANDELIC ACID WAS FORMED, & NEITHER WAS (-1)MANDELIC ACID
CONVERTED INTO BENZOYLFORMIC ACID.
FEMALE ASSISTANTS USING MIXTURE OF XYLENES
& ETHYLBENZENE AS SOLVENT IN HISTOLOGY LAB WERE
EXAM. AVG AIR CONCN OF (M + P)-XYLENE & ETHYLBENZENE
WAS BETWEEN 56-68 & 34-41 PPM. APPROX 1.1 TO 1.4% OF RETAINED ETHYLBENZENE
WAS METABOLIZED TO 2-ETHYL-PHENOL.
IN 3 LAB TECHNICIANS OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED TO
ETHYLBENZENE, THE URINARY METABOLITES WERE AMYGDALIC
ACID, PHENYLGLYOXYLIC ACID & 2-ETHYLPHENOL; WITHIN 24 HR MORE THAN 90% OF
METABOLITES HAD BEEN EXCRETED.
After ip administration of /4.45 g/ ethylbenzene
/to rabbits/ ... o-, p-, and m-hydroxyacetophenone were identified in urine. The
above hydroxyacetophenones represented 0.11, 0.13, and 0.03% of the dose ...
respectively.
WHEN ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, MANDELIC ACID WAS
EXCRETED AT 4.6%, WHEREAS AFTER LUNG ABSORPTION MAJORITY OF ETHYLBENZENE
WAS CONVERTED TO MANDELIC ACID & CONJUGATED WITH GLYCINE.
After 2 volunteers were exposed to 65 ppm ethylbenzene
for 3 hr, the metabolites of ethylbenzene in their
urine, mandelic acid, hippuric acid (HA), and phenylglyoxylic (PhGA) were
analyzed. The metabolites were excreted in the urine in the order mandelic acid
> hippuric acid > phenylglyoxylic. The highest value of excretion was
observed 6-10 hr after the beginning of exposure. Mandelic acid/phenylglyoxylic
and hippuric/phenylglyoxylic mol ratios of total excretion in urine were 3.5 and
2.6 respectively.
The purpose of this study was to clarify
whether the blood concentration of inhaled toluene, ethylbenzene,
m-xylene, or mesitylene can change after the concomitant pulmonary absorption of
ethyl acetate. (Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed in a 20 liter
glass chamber under dynamic conditions for 2 hours to various concentrations of
the aromatics without or in combination with different concentrations of ethyl
acetate (0, 1000, or 4000 ppm) in air. Concentration ranges were as follows:
toluene, 140-690 ppm; ethylbenzene, 120-650 ppm; m-xylene,
100-560 ppm; mesitylene, 120-720 ppm; and ethyl acetate, 1000 or 4000 ppm. The
coexposures with ethyl acetate lowered the blood concentrations of other inhaled
aromatics. This reduction was statistically significant following a 2 hour
exposure to 230 ppm toluene in combination with 1000 ppm ethyl acetate, 650 ppm ethylbenzene
with 1000 ppm ethyl acetate, and 100 ppm m-xylene with 4000 ppm ethyl acetate.)
Similarly a significant reduction of the blood level of the aromatics by ethyl
acetate coinhalation was also observed at higher exposure concentrations with
toluene and m-xylene. A metabolic interaction such as enhanced disposition of
the aromatics, may be responsible for these effects. However, it is possible
that the solubility of the solvents could be altered by the presence of ethyl
acetate. It was concluded that coexposures to concentrations in the order of the
threshold limit values (100 ppm for these solvents) with 400 ppm ethyl acetate
should not be followed by a dangerous change of the blood levels of the
aromatics.
Stereochemical considerations in the
metabolism of ethylbenzene and styrene were
investigated. Three alternative methods used to determine the enantiomeric
composition of mandelic-acid in urine arising from exposure to styrene or ethylbenzene
were described. Of the methods described, the direct gas chromatographic
resolution of the enantiomers on a chiral stationary phase was the best
approach. It was a simple analytical technique which avoids complex
derivatization. An additional advantage was that it may be used as a gas liquid
chromatography/mass spectrometry method and thus has advantages of sensitivity
and specificity. F-19 nuclear magnetic resonance proved a useful alternative
technique and was invaluable if standards of the pure isomers were not
available. The major advantage of the nuclear magnetic resonance approach was
that absolute configuration of the compound could be elucidated. (In
experimental studies, rats were administered ethylbenzene
or styrene at 100 mg/kg by the stomach tube; urine was collected over 96 hours.
Male volunteers were exposed to ethylbenzene vapor in
an exposure chamber at 435 mg/cu m for 4 hours; urine samples were collected
before, during and after exposure. The results indicate that whereas only the R-enantiomer
of mardelic acid was excreted after ethylbenzene
exposure, the mandelic acid from styrene was essentially racemic. In three
workers exposed occupationally to styrene, R/S ratios of 1.16, 1.27 and 1.14
were found. A synthetic R/S mixture of mandelic acid has a R/S ratio of 1.03.)
The principal metabolites of ethyl benzene in
the rabbit are hippuric acid and methylphenylcarbinyl glucosiduronic acid (the
glucuronide of methylphenylcarbinol), which were excreted in roughly the same
amounts and accounts for 60-70% of the administered dose. Minor metabolites were
pharmaceutic acid (10-20%) and mandelic acid (2%).
Absorption, Distribution & Excretion:
ABSORPTION IS CHIEFLY BY INHALATION. A SMALL
PROPORTION ... THAT GETS INTO THE BLOOD STREAM IS EXHALED UNCHANGED, BUT MOST OF
IT /70%/ IS FOUND IN THE URINE AS METABOLITES BECAUSE OF OXIDATION OF THE SIDE
CHAIN.
IT IS ABSORBED ... THROUGH SKIN AT LOW RATE.
... HAS BEEN DETECTED IN SUBCUTANEOUS ADIPOSE TISSUE SAMPLES OF WORKERS 3 DAYS
AFTER LOW TO HIGH EXPOSURE TO STYRENE & RELATED RUBBER MFR COMPONENTS. ...
HAS BEEN DETECTED IN CORD BLOOD SAMPLES, INDICATING ... TRANSPORT THROUGH
PLACENTA.
Traces of ethylbenzene
have been detected in exhaled air. It also occurs in the gas phase of smoke
condensate and has been detected at 3.1 to 4.5 ppb in urban air.
THREE LAB TECHNICIANS EXPOSED TO 42 PPM &
1 TO 34 PPM HAD AVG STEADY STATE BLOOD LEVELS OF 0.72 + OR - 0.11 MG/L. 30 MIN
AFTER EXPOSURE CONCN HAD DROPPED TO APPROX 0.5% OF ORIGINAL VALUES.
After exposure to 112-156 mg/l (aq) the skin
absorption rate in humans (n= 14) was 0.11 to 0.21 mg/sq m/hr.
When administered sc to 40 rats (2.5 ml, 1:1
v/v), ethylbenzene was detected in the blood within 2
hours, and the levels of ethylbenzene (10-15 ppm in
blood) were maintained for at least 16 hours.
After exposure of rats to atmospheres of 50,
300, or 600 ppm ethylbenzene 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk, for
maximum of 16 wk, the concn of ethylbenzene in
perirenal fat and the urinary excretion of 1-phenylethanol, omega-hydroxyacetophenone,
mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, hippuric acid, and phenaceturic acid were
measured at the 2nd, 5th, and 9th weeks. Excretion of metabolites into urine
increased in a dose-related manner, but less than linearly. The level of
exposure, but not the duration of exposure, markedly affected the pattern of the
metabolites in the urine. The concn of ethylbenzene in
perirenal fat was low at 50 ppm, high at 300 ppm and higher still at 600 ppm,
but not in proportion to the increased dose.
Percutaneous absorption of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
and aniline was investigated in male HRS/J hairless mice. Stainless steel skin
depots containing 100 to 150 mg of solid sorbent were fixed to the backs of
anesthetized mice and charged with about 5 ul of (14)C tagged test solution.
Expired air samples were obtained until 4 hours after exposure, when mice were
killed and samples for radioactivity were obtained from the skin depot, the skin
under the depot, a wiping of the skin under the depot, the carcass, feces,
urine, and cage washings. Physical constants were determined for each test
compound, including octanol/water partition coefficient, solubility, vapor
pressure, melting and boiling points, and absorption and evaporation rates.
Solvent recovery exceeded 90% in all mice with highest recovery in the skin
depot. Average administered doses were 3.94 mg benzene, of which 0.99% was
absorbed; 3.89 mg toluene (2.31% absorbed), 4.10 mg ethylbenzene
(3.61% absorbed), and 4.68 mg aniline (4.76% absorbed). Excretion rate in
expired air was fastest during the first 15 minutes of exposure except in mice
treated with toluene or ethylbenzene, which
demonstrated maximal excretion rate during the second 15 minutes after exposure.
A two compartment model was suggested by the initial rapid and subsequent
gradual decay of expired breath excretion. Vapor pressure and boiling point were
significantly correlated with the applied radioactive dose absorbed. Absorption
rates were found to be 56, 49, 37, and 2.3 ug per square centimeter per minute
for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and aniline,
respectively.
Mechanism of Action:
The effect of styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
alpha-methylstyrene, and butylbenzene on oxidative phosphorylation was studied
using rat liver mitochondrial preparations. Rat liver mitochondria were prepared
from male white Wistar rats and assessed for respiration rate, oxygen uptake,
glutamate oxidation, succinate oxidation, ATPase activity, and proton
permeability in the presence and absence of the alkyl benzene derivatives.
Inclusion of the alkyl benzene derivatives in the incubation medium produced an
initial acceleration of oxygen consumption followed by an inhibition of
glutamate oxidation, and the stimulatory effect paralleled the aliphatic chain
length. Glutamate oxidation was also inhibited by styrene, ethylbenzene,
and alpha-methylstyrene but not by butylbenzene or toluene in 2,4-dinitrophenol
uncoupled mitochondria. Styrene and the aliphatic benzene derivative stimulated
succinate oxidation in rat liver mitochondria without effect on
2,4-dinitrophenol stimulated succinate oxidation. Similar stimulatory effects on
ATPase activity were observed with maximal stimulation occurring at the same
relative concentrations producing maximal succinate oxidation. ATPase
stimulation required magnesium, was oligomycin sensitive, and showed an inverse
relation to the hydrophobicity of the compounds tested. The inclusion of styrene
in the incubation medium markedly increased the rate of passive entry of protons
into rat liver mitochondria in a manner comparable to 2,4-dinitrophenol. It was
concluded that styrene and other monosubstituted benzene derivatives act as
mitochondrial uncoupling agents.
Effect of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
their metabolites, and their structure on brain dopamine was studied. Adult male
New Zealand rabbits were exposed to 750 ppm toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene,
vinyltoluene, 7-methylstyrene, xylenes, and fresh air. Six groups of eight
rabbits received 4 mM/kg ip for 3 days of hippuric acid, mandelic acid,
methylhippuric acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, or 7-methylmandelic acid. Animals
were killed 12 hours after inhalation exposure or 24 hours after the last dose
of acid. The hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, tuberoinfundibular area, and
part of the brain cortex were treated with 0.2 molar perchloric acid,
homogenized, desorbed on alumina, and centrifuged. Supernatant was filtered and
used to measure homovanillic acid. Styrene induced a marked dopamine depletion
and a significant increase in homovanillic acid concentration. Ethylbenzene
and vinyltoluene produced a smaller, but statistically significant effect.
Toluene, xylenes, and 7-methylstyrene were ineffective. Phenylglyoxylic acid
caused a decrease in dopamine levels and a consistent rise in homovanillic acid
in striatal and tuberoinfundibular regions. Mandelic acid elicited the same
effect, but to a lesser degree. 7-Methylmandelic, methylhippuric, and hippuric
acids evoked no response. Neither solvents nor their metabolites affected
norepinephrine contents of brain areas in which this neurotransmitter reaches
high concentrations. It was concluded that the results indicate that the changes
in brain dopamine depend on metabolic interferences of some metabolites of
aromatic solvents with dopamine catabolism. Only metabolites whose side chain
may be transformed into a alpha-keto acid caused dopamine depletion.
The effect of organic solvents on the CNS was
discussed. The similarity of effects of different solvents is believed to be due
to the formation of tetrahydroisoquinolines by nonenzymatic condensation of
dopamine with metabolites of organic solvents having a reactive carbonyl group.
The suspected metabolites are phenylglyoxylic- acid that is formed by metabolism
of ethylbenzene, styrene, vinyltoluene;
trichloroacetaldehyde, which derives from trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene;
and trichloroethane; glyoxylic acid that is synthesized from ethyleneglycol and
ethyleneglycolmonomethyl ether; formaldehyde that is metabolized from methanol;
and acetaldehyde that is transformed from ethanol. The tuberoinfundibular
dopaminergic system may represent a target for metabolites dissolved in the
blood stream. The suggested mechanism implies a selective vulnerability of
pituitary functions. The impairment of tuberoinfundibular activity may explain
most of the behavioral changes observed with styrene and perhaps with other
similar solvents. It appears that the majority of pathways that are affected in
the hypothalamic control of gonadotropins in primates are adrenergic and
dopaminergic. Occupational exposure to neurotoxins may cause repeated reversible
CNS effects which are difficult to distinguish from the chronic effects. In
workers exposed to styrene a relationship between recent exposure and measurable
effects on CNS has been observed and prolonged exposure has failed to induce
tolerance. It was concluded that although no excessive risk for Alzheimer
disease and presenile dementia has been found, there is no indication that
exposure to solvents does not cause irreversible or slowly reversible cognitive
or neuropsychological impairment.
Efforts were made to clarify the molecular
basis of styrene toxicity on the dopaminergic systems and to evaluate whether
the same mechanism was common to other solvents. Groups of male New Zealand
rabbits were exposed to 750 ppm toluene, xylene, styrene, ethylbenzene,
vinyltoluene, 7-methyl-styrene, or fresh air (control group). A significant
depletion in both striatal and tubero infundibular dopamine was caused styrene, ethylbenzene,
and vinyltoluene. Methylation of the aromatic ring of styrene did not change its
activity, whereas methylation of the side chain drastically reduced its effect
on dopamine. Treatments carried out with the main metabolites of aromatic
solvents indicated that acidic metabolites of some solvents cause striatal and
tubero infundibular dopamine depletion. Present data suggested a chemical
reaction between dopamine and some acidic metabolites. The active metabolites
have an alpha-keto acid as the side chain or as a part of their molecule. These
keto acids condense nonenzymatically with dopamine in both experimental models
and in occupational exposed workers as evidenced by the direct measurements of
dopamine in the brain. According to the authors, such a mechanism may account
for neurobehavioral effects resulting from solvent exposure such as mood
changes, or impaired attention spans and decreasing psychomotor performance
factors.
Interactions:
IN LAB ASSISTANTS USING XYLENES & ETHYLBENZENE,
2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL, METAB OF M-XYLENE COULD NOT BE DETECTED. COMPETITIVE
REACTION BETWEEN XYLENES & ETHYLBENZENE PREVENTED
M-XYLENE FROM OXIDATION. ...
Pharmacology:
Interactions:
IN LAB ASSISTANTS USING XYLENES & ETHYLBENZENE,
2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL, METAB OF M-XYLENE COULD NOT BE DETECTED. COMPETITIVE
REACTION BETWEEN XYLENES & ETHYLBENZENE PREVENTED
M-XYLENE FROM OXIDATION. ...
Environmental Fate & Exposure:
Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary:
Ethylbenzene's
production and use as an intermediate for the production of styrene, its
presence in automotive and aviation fuels, and its presence in crude oil may
result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If
released to air, a vapor pressure of 9.6 mm Hg at 25 deg C indicates ethylbenzene
will exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase ethylbenzene
will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced
hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 55
hr. If released to soil, ethylbenzene is expected to
have moderate mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 520. Volatilization from
moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon a
Henry's Law constant of 7.88X10-3 atm-cu m/mole. Ethylbenzene
may volatilize from dry soil surfaces based upon its vapor pressure.
Biodegradation in soil takes place via nitrate-reducing processes. If released
into water, ethylbenzene may adsorb to suspended solids
and sediment in water based upon the estimated Koc. Biodegradation in a gasoline
contaminated aquifer ranged from 10-16 days under aerobic conditions. Ethylbenzene
was degraded in 8 days in groundwater and 10 days in seawater as a component of
gas oil. Volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be an important fate
process based upon this compound's Henry's Law constant. Estimated
volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 1.1 and 99 hrs,
respectively. Measured BCFs of 0.67 to 15 suggest the potential for
bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Hydrolysis is not expected to
occur due to the lack of hydrolyzable functional groups. Occupational exposure
to ethylbenzene may occur through inhalation at
municipal waste composting facilities and via inhalation and dermal contact with
this compound at workplaces where ethylbenzene is
produced or used. The general population may be exposed to ethylbenzene
via inhalation of ambient air, drinking and eating contaminated foods and water,
and by handling gasoline. Ethylbenzene is likely to be
detected in groundwater. (SRC)
Probable Routes of Human Exposure:
NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has
statistically estimated that 80,726 workers (21,785 of these are female) are
potentially exposed to ethylbenzene in the US(1).
Occupational exposure to ethylbenzene may occur via
inhalation at municipal waste composting facilities where the air concn was
found to be 78,000-178,000 ug/cu m(2),and through inhalation and dermal contact
with this compound at worplaces where ethylbenzene is
produced or used(SRC). The general population may be exposed to ethylbenzene
via inhalation of ambient air, ingestion of foods and fish, and drinking
contaminated water, and dermal contact with this compound and other products
such as gasoline which contains ethylbenzene(SRC).
Body Burden:
Ethylbenzene was
detected, not quantified, in 8 of 8 samples of mother's milk from 4 US urban
areas(1). 16.5% of 387 expired air samples taken from 54 normal, healthy, urban
volunteers were positive for ethylbenzene concn with an
avg of 1.8 ng/l expired air(2). Whole blood samples from 250 subjects ranged in ethylbenzene
concns from not detected to 59 ppb, with an avg of 1.0 ppb(3).
Average Daily Intake:
AIR INTAKE: (assume air concn of 0.2-2.7
ppb)(2-6); 17-235 ug; WATER INTAKE: (assume water concn of 0-4 ppb(1)) 0-8 ug;
FOOD INTAKE: insufficient data(SRC).
Natural Pollution Sources:
Ethylbenzene is a
product of biomass combustion(1), and a component of crude oil(2).
Artificial Pollution Sources:
Ethylbenzene is
present at 0.02 wt% in coke-oven tars.
Ethylbenzene's
production and use as an intermediate for the manufacture of styrene and use as
a resin solvent(1), intermediate for the production of diethylbenzene and
acetophenone(2), and its use as a component of automotive and aviation fuels(3)
may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams.
Environmental Fate:
TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification
scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 520(SRC), determined from a structure
estimation method(2), indicates that ethylbenzene is
expected to have moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of ethylbenzene
from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given
a Henry's Law constant of 7.88X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(3). The potential for
volatilization of ethylbenzene from dry soil surfaces
may exist(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 9.6 mm Hg(4). Ethylbenzene
was completely degraded in microcosms inoculated with the sediment material from
a refinery pond or activated sludge from the refinery treatment facility under
nitrate-reducing conditions(5). At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in
Michigan, ethylbenzene was degraded at slow rates via
anaerobic degradation under ambient subsurface conditions using ferric iron,
sulfate and/or carbon dioxide as the terminal electron acceptors(6).
AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification
scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 520(SRC), determined from an estimation
method(2), indicates that ethylbenzene may adsorb to
suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is
expected(3) based upon a Henry's Law constant of 7.88X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(4).
Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization
half-lives for a model river and model lake are 1.1 and 99 hr, respectively(SRC).
According to a classification scheme(5), an experimental log BCF of 1.19(7),
which corresponds to a BCF of 15, suggests the potential for bioconcentration in
aquatic organisms is low. In a shallow coastal plain aquifer contaminated with
gasoline and diesel fuel in rural Sampson County in North Carolina, ethylbenzene
was degraded in aerobic conditions within 10-16 days and in conditions of low
initial oxygen, it was rapidly degraded in 21 days until the available oxygen
was depleted(8). As a component of gas oil, ethylbenzene
is completely degraded in groundwater in 8 days(9) and seawater in 10 days(10).
In a mesocosm experiment using simulated Narragansett Bay conditions, complete
biodegradation occurred in approximately 2 days after a 2 week lag in spring and
a 2 day lag in summer(11).
ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of
gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the
atmosphere(1), ethylbenzene, which has a vapor pressure
of 9.6 mm Hg at 25 deg C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor. Vapor-phase
ethylbenzene is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction
with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this
reaction in air is 55 hr(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.1X10-12 cu
cm/molecule-sec at 25 deg C(3).
Environmental Biodegradation:
After a period of inocula adaptation, ethylbenzene
is biodegraded fairly rapidly by sewage or activated sludge inoculua(1-3,9). As
a component of gas oil, it is completely degraded in groundwater in 8 days(4)
and seawater in 10 days(5). In a mesocosm experiment using simulated
Narragansett Bay conditions, complete biodegradation occurred in approximately 2
days after a 2 week lag in spring and a 2 day lag in summer(6). Part of the
attenuation in concn from a leaky gasoline storage tank in the chalk aquifer in
England has been attributed to biodegradation(7). No degradation was observed in
an anaerobic reactor even after 110 days acclimation(8) or at low concentrations
in a batch reactor in 11 weeks under denitrifying conditions(10). Percent
removal in an anaerobic, continuous-flow, laboratory bioflim column was 7% after
a 2 day detention time(11); 99% removal was observed in a similar aerobic column
following a 20 min detention time(11).
AEROBIC: A study was conducted using
underground storage tanks containing gasoline and diesel fuel that contaminated
a shallow coastal plain aquifer in rural Sampson County in North Carolina. Ethylbenzene
was degraded in aerobic conditions within 10-16 days and in conditions of low
initial oxygen, it was rapidly degraded in 21 days until the available oxygen
was depleted(1). A combined culture experiment of Mycobacterium vaccae and
Rhodococcus sp. strain R-22 showed M. vaccae alone and M. vaccae and R-22
together can oxidize ethylbenzene to 4-ethylphenol
which is then degraded to 50 ppm within 72 hr(2).
ANAEROBIC: Anaerobic ethylbenzene
transformation in Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station sediments in Southern
California appeared to be strictly associated with nitrate-reducing
processes(1). Ethylbenzene was completely degraded in
microcosms inoculated with the sediment material from a refinery pond or
activated sludge from the refinery treatment facility under nitrate-reducing
conditions(2). At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, ethylbenzene
was degraded at slow rates via anaerobic degradation under ambient subsurface
conditions using ferric iron, sulfate and/or carbon dioxide as the terminal
electron acceptors(3).
Environmental Abiotic Degradation:
The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction
of ethylbenzene with photochemically-produced hydroxyl
radicals is 7.1X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 298 K(1) which corresponds to an
atmospheric half-life of about 55 hr at an atmospheric concn of 5X10+5 hydroxyl
radicals per cu cm. Ethylbenzene is not expected to
undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of hydrolyzable functional
groups(2). Ethylbenzene photolysis occurs via
photooxidation hydrogen abstraction from the alkyl group by photooxydatively
formed hydroxyl radical which results in the formation of acetophenone, and
eventually benzaldehyde with 2-butanedial, 4-oxo-2-hexenal, and
2-ethyl-2-butenedial being suggested as further end products(3).
Environmental Bioconcentration:
Experimental data on the bioconcentration of ethylbenzene
include a log BCF of 1.9 in goldfish(2) and a log BCF of 0.67 for clams exposed
to the water-soluble fraction of crude oil(1). Experimentally, a log BCF of 1.19
has also been reported(4) which corresponds to a BCF of 15. According to a
classification scheme(3), these BCFs suggest the potential for bioconcentration
in aquatic organisms is low.
Soil Adsorption/Mobility:
Using a structure estimation method based on
molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for ethylbenzene
can be estimated to be 520(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this
estimated Koc value suggests that ethylbenzene is
expected to have low mobility in soil.
Volatilization from Water/Soil:
The Henry's Law constant for ethylbenzene
is 7.88X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that ethylbenzene
will volatilize from water surfaces(2). Based on this Henry's Law constant, the
volatilization half-life from a model river (1 m deep, flowing 1 m/sec, wind
velocity of 3 m/sec)(2) is estimated as 1.1 hr(SRC). The volatilization
half-life from a model lake (1 m deep, flowing 0.05 m/sec, wind velocity of 0.5
m/sec)(2) is estimated as 99 hr(SRC). Ethylbenzene's
Henry's Law constant(1) indicates that volatilization from moist soil surfaces
may occur(SRC). The potential for volatilization of ethylbenzene
from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 9.6 mm
Hg(3).
Environmental Water Concentrations:
DRINKING WATER: In surveys of representative
US municipal water supplies, ethylbenzene has been
detected in most cases(1,2,4-8,10). Values for 3 New Orleans finished drinking
waters ranged 1.6 to 2.3 ppb(6). Chicago Central Water Works on Lake Michigan
measured 4 ppb(8). It has been found in the water supply for Evansville, IN on
the Ohio River(7). 6 of 10 US cities were found to be positive(1,4). One US city
had 1 of 4 samples pos with a 1 ppb avg, while another reported no positive
samples(5). Tap water from bank infiltrated Rhine River water in the Netherlands
measured 30 ppb in one study(3). Zurich, Switzerland tap water - detected not
quantified(9). 1982 US groundwater supply survey, random samples of finished
water supplies using groundwater as a source, 466 random samples, 0.6%, pos (0.5
ppb detection limit), 0.8 ppb median, 1.1 ppb max(10).
GROUNDWATER: A well in Ames, IA measured 15
ppb 50 yr after tar residues were buried at a nearby coal gas plant(5). Concns
of 82-400 ppb were detected in two aquifers near the Hoe Creek underground coal
gasification site in Wyoming, 15 mo after gasification was complete(2). In a US
survey, 1970-76, it was detected but not quantified in well waters(1). In
Jackson Township, NJ, drinking water wells measured 2000 ppb(4). Chalk aquifer
in East Anglia, England - 210 m from petroleum storage - 0.15 ppb, 10 m distance
- 1110 ppb, and 100-200 m - <250 ppb(3).
SURFACE WATER: Ethylbenzene
has been detected but not quantified in a 1970-76 US survey(1,4). 14 heavily
industrialized US river basins, 5 of 204 sites pos - 1-4 ppb; Chicago area and
Illinois River Basin, 5 of 31 sites pos - 1-4 ppb(6). Two representative US
cities, city A - 41% of 28 samples pos, 5.0 ppb avg, city B - 40% of 48 samples
pos 3.2 ppb avg(2). Lower Tennessee River near Calvert City, KY reported 4.0
ppb(7). Lake Michigan, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Channel measured 1-2 ppb(3).
River Glatt, Switzerland -detected, not quantified(5). USEPA STORET database,
1,101 data points, 10% pos, <5.0 ppb median(8).
SEAWATER: Ethylbenzene
concns were found to be 30-50 ng/l in an estuary in Brazos, US; between
<10-46.3 ng/l in UK; and 36.9 ng/l in Belgium(1). Ethylbenzene
has been found in concns of 4.5-30 ng/l in Vineyard Sound; 0.4-4.5 ng/l in
coastal and shelf sea water in the Gulf of Mexico; 5.5-22 ng/l in the coastal
waters of Spain; 4.3-380 ng/l in Campeche Shelf; <10 ng/l in shelf and bay
waters in UK; and 9.4-18.7 ng/l in Belgian Continental Shelf(1). Ethylbenzene
mean concn of 21.94 ng/l was found in the South Northern sea up to 60 km
offshore in the Scheldt Estuary(2). In the coastal waters off the western Gulf
of Mexico at the mouth of the Brazos River, TX, ethylbenzene
concns range between 0.004-0.5 ug/l(3). In the Gulf of Mexico in unpolluted
areas ethylbenzene concn is 0.4 to 5 ppb(4,6), while an
area of anthropogenic influence ranged from 5 to 15 ppb(6). Cape Cod, MA
measured ethylbenzene at 22 ppb(5,7) with 11 ppb being
avg(5). In the coastal waters of the Dutch Northern Sea, 108 samples ranged from
not detected to 20 parts per trillion and averaged 4 parts per trillion(8).
RAIN WATER: West Los Angeles, CA - 9
parts/trillion(1). Concn (parts/trillion) dissolved in rain, Portland, OR,
Feb-April 1984, 7 rain events, 100% pos, 6.9-72, 34 avg(2).
Effluent Concentrations:
Industries with mean raw wastewater
concentrations >2000 ppb: gum and wood chemicals (11,000 ppb), pharmaceutical
manufacturing (10,000 ppb), paint and ink formulation, and auto and other
laundries(1). Effluents from representative water treatment plants in Southern
California were variable <10 ppb at San Diego City to 130 ppb at Los Angeles
Co (both measurements following primary treatment)(2); <10 ppb detected
following secondary treatment(2). In a US city survey, 17% of 6 samples were
positive, 6.0 ppb avg(3), Lake Michigan, North Side sewage treatment plant - 1
ppb(4). USEPA STORET database, 1,368 data points, 7.4% pos, <3.0 ppb
median(5). MN municipal solid waste landfills, leachates, 6 sites, 100% pos,
12-820 ppb, contaminated groundwater (by inorganic indices), 13 sites, 61.5%
pos, 1.2-590 ppb, other groundwater (apparently not contaminated as indicated by
inorganic indices), 7 sites, 14.3% pos, 9.4 ppb avg(6). 18.0 and 12.28 kilotons
of ethylbenzene was emitted as part of gasoline exhaust
emissions from motor vehicles in 1987 and 1990, respectively in UK(7).
Sediment/Soil Concentrations:
SOIL: Ethylbenzene
concns found in three leachate samples taken from German hazardous waste sites
where leachate samples A and B were both anaerobic and alkaline and leachate
sample C was aerobic and slightly acidic, were 10, 3200, and 20,000 ug/l,
respectively(1). SEDIMENTS: Sediments from the lower Tennessee River below
Calvert City, KY measured 4.0 ppb for ethylbenzene(2).
According to the USEPA STORET database, 350 data points were tested for ethylbenzene
with 11% pos, 5.0 ppm median, dry weight(3).
Atmospheric Concentrations:
SOURCE DOMINATED: The ethylbenzene
concn measured 0.5-2.6 ppb in the Allegheny Mt. Tunnel, with concns directly
corresponding to the number of vehicles passing through the tunnel(1). Emissions
testing from motor vehicle traffic in a Los Angeles roadway tunnel showed concns
of 143 mg/l of ethylbenzene(2). The Maastunnel in the
Netherlands measured an avg ethylbenzene concn of 6
ppb(3). Concn (ppb) a rural motorway in UK, May-Aug 1983, 184 samples, not
detected-1.14, 0.17 avg(4); Aug 1982, not detected-0.70, 0.25 avg(5). Ethylbenzene
ambient air concns at 2 landfill sites in Ireland were found to have a min and
max of 0.03 and 5.9, median of 0.8 ug/cu m (site with no leachate collection),
and 0.03 and 47.6, median of 5.3 ug/cu m (site with leachate collection),
respectively(6). Houston, TX 21 individuals in urban sites reported a range of
2.5 to 154.2 ppb(8). A natural gas facility in Rio Blanco County, CO measured
3.6 ppb, and a Texaco refinery in Tulsa, OK ranged from 4.7 to 7.9 ppb(7).
England - car park - 115 ppb, motorway - 92 ppb(9), while 6 sites at Gatwick
airport ranged from 0.46 to 1.8 ppb, 1.4 ppb avg(10). 181 samples of US source
dominated areas - 0.63 ppb avg(11).
URBAN/SUBURBAN: Values for major western US
cities ranged from 0.1 to 27.7 ppb(1,5,6,7,13), with the avg being 2.68 ppb(SRC).
Representative centers in New Jersey had a range of 0.17 to 0.33 ppb avg, 107 of
110 samples pos(4). Ethylbenzene was detected but not
quantified in another New Jersey study(11). It has been detected in 6 USSR
cities, including Lenningrad as well as New York and Paris(8-10). The Hague,
Netherlands - 5 ppb(2); Sidney Australia - 1.3 ppb(12); Japan - 0.2 ppb and
Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany - 1 ppb(14). 3 sites in England away from traffic -
16.1 to 18.8 parts/trillion avg, 2 sites with heavy traffic 28.7 to 33.9
parts/trillion avg(3). 8.7 ppb measured in the atmosphere of Zurich,
Switzerland(17). 669 samples from the US had a median concn of 1.2 ppb(15). 36
Chicago metropolitan area homes tested - 36% in outdoor air(16). Gas-phase concn
(ng/cu m) during 7 rain events, Portland, OR, Feb-Apri 1984, 7 rain events 100%
pos, 780-2800, 1300 avg(20). Concn (ppb), Exhibition Road, London, May-Aug 1983,
267 samples, 100% pos, 0.05-2.17, 0.78 avg(18); June-July 1982, 256 samples, not
detected-3.3, 0.88 avg(19). US 1979-1984, 15 cities, 1-2 weeks of sampling/site,
overall range, not detected-31.5 ppb; range of avg, 0.6-4-6 ppb, avg of avg, 1.9
ppb(21). Ethylbenzene outdoor air concns in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil ranged from 3.1-7.4 ug/cu m(22).
RURAL/REMOTE: Concentration in air sampls from
rural and remote areas in the continental US ranged between 0.5 to 2.2 ppb(1,6).
Samples from the Jones State Forest north of Houston, TX ranged from 0.8 to 10.4
ppb(3). Air intake in fan rooms of the Allegheny Mt. tunnel measured 0.07 to
0.16 ppb(2). Air samples in England - 11.3 parts/trillion avg(4); the
Netherlands - 0.8 ppb avg; and Belgium 0.01 to 15 ppb(5). Concn at rural site in
the UK, May-Aug 1983, 204 samples, not detected-0.70, 0.14 ppb avg(7); July
1982, 175 samples, not detected-0.6, 0.12 ppb avg(8).
RURAL/REMOTE: Between May-Aug 1983, 204
samples of air were tested for ethylbenzene at a rural
site in UK and it was found that the sample concn ranged between not detected to
0.70 ppb, with an avg of 0.14 ppb(1). In July 1982, 175 samples from rural UK
ranged between not detected to 0.6 ppb, with an avg of 0.12 ppb(2).
INDOOR: Ethylbenzene
indoor air concns in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ranged from 9.3-13.1 ug/cu m.
samples from 36 Chicago metropolitan area homes tested showed a 57% detection
frequency in indoor air(2).
Food Survey Values:
Ethylbenzene concns
in supermarket eggs packed in polystyrene, fresh unpacked eggs, and fresh eggs
packed in polystyrene were found to be 28, 4, and 4 ng/g, respectively(1). Duck
meat, duck fat, cantonese style roasted duck, and cantonese style roasted duck
gravy had concns of 0.47, 2.55, 4.07, and 12.30 ppb ethylbenzene,
respectively(2). Ethylbenzene was detected but not
quantified in mountain Beaufort cheese(3). Ethylbenzene
was detected in dried legumes such as beans with a 5 ppb avg concn, in split
peas at 13 ppb, and in lentils at a 5 ppb concn(4).
Fish/Seafood Concentrations:
In 1982, bottomfish (sole and flounder
species) from Commencement Bay and adjacent waterways in Tacoma, WA were found
to have an avg concn of ethylbenzene of 0.01 ppm(1). 5
samples of oysters in Lake Pontchartrain, LA, had an avg concn of 0.8 ppb(2).
Milk Concentrations:
Ethylbenzene was
detected, but not quantified, in 8 of 8 samples of mother's milk from 4 US urban
areas(1).
Other Environmental Concentrations:
Detected in cigarette smoke(1).
Environmental Standards & Regulations:
Acceptable Daily Intakes:
Acceptable daily intake: 1.6 mg/day
TSCA Requirements:
Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA
promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d)
model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical
substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health
and safety studies. Ethylbenzene is included on this
list.
CERCLA Reportable Quantities:
Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are
required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is
a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or
greater than its reportable quantity of 1000 lb or 454 kg. The toll free number
of the NRC is (800) 424-8802; In the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (202)
426-2675. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40
CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).
RCRA Requirements:
F003; When ethylbenzene
is a spent solvent, it is classified as a hazardous waste from a nonspecific
source (F003), as stated in 40 CFR 261.31, and must be managed according to
State and/or Federal hazardous waste regulations.
Atmospheric Standards:
This action promulgates standards of
performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the
Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect
of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and
reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of
continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non
air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Ethylbenzene
is produced, as an intermediate or a final product, by process units covered
under this subpart.
Listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP)
generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. The Clean Air
Act, as amended in 1990, directs EPA to set standards requiring major sources to
sharply reduce routine emissions of toxic pollutants. EPA is required to
establish and phase in specific performance based standards for all air emission
sources that emit one or more of the listed pollutants. Ethylbenzene
is included on this list.
Clean Water Act Requirements:
Toxic pollutant designated pursuant to section
307(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and is subject to effluent
limitations.
Ethylbenzene is
designated as a hazardous substance under section 311(b)(2)(A) of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act and further regulated by the Clean Water Act
Amendments of 1977 and 1978. These regulations apply to discharges of this
substance. This designation includes any isomers and hydrates, as well as any
solutions and mixtures containing this substance.
For the protection of human health from the
toxic properties of ethylbenzene ... the ambient water
criterion is determined to be 1.4 mg/l.
The maximum contaminant level (MCL) set forth
by the National Revised Primary Drinking Water Regulations for the organic
contaminant ethylbenzene in community and
non-transient, non-community water systems is 0.7 mg/l.
Federal Drinking Water Standards:
EPA 700 ug/l
Federal Drinking Water Guidelines:
EPA 700 ug/l
State Drinking Water Guidelines:
(AZ) ARIZONA 680 ug/l
(FL) FLORIDA 30 ug/l
(ME) MAINE 700 ug/l
(MN) MINNESOTA 700 ug/l
Chemical/Physical Properties:
Molecular Formula:
C8-H10
Molecular Weight:
106.16
Color/Form:
Colorless liquid
Odor:
Aromatic odor
Pungent odor
SWEET, GASOLINE-LIKE ODOR
Boiling Point:
136.1 deg C
Melting Point:
-94.9 deg C
Critical Temperature & Pressure:
Critical temperature = 617.15 K; critical
pressure = 3.6X10+6 Pa
Density/Specific Gravity:
0.8670 @ 20 deg C/4 deg C
Heat of Combustion:
-17,780 BTU/lb= -9877 cal/g= -413.5x10+5 J/kg
Heat of Vaporization:
4.8X10+7 J/kmol @ 178.20 K
Octanol/Water Partition Coefficient:
log Kow= 3.15
Solubilities:
SOL IN ALL PROPORTIONS IN ETHYL ALCOHOL AND
ETHYL ETHER
SOLUBILITY IN WATER @ 15 DEG C, 0.014 G/100 ML
Miscible with the usual organic solvents.
Soluble in alcohol, benzene, carbon
tetrachloride, and ether.
Slight soluble in chloroform; miscible in
ethanol and ethyl ether.
In water, 169 mg/l @ 25 deg C
Insol in ammonia; sol in SO2.
Spectral Properties:
SADTLER REF NUMBER: 246 (IR, PRISM); 82 (IR,
GRATING)
IR: 4779 (Coblentz Society Spectral
Collection)
UV: 97 (Sadtler Research Laboratories Spectral
Collection)
NMR: 505 (Varian Associates NMR Spectra
Catalogue)
MASS: 322 (Atlas of Mass Spectral Data, John
Wiley & Sons, New York)
Index of refraction: 1.4959 at 20 deg C/D
Surface Tension:
4.3 N/m @ 178.20 K
Vapor Density:
3.66 (Air= 1)
Vapor Pressure:
9.6 mm Hg @ 25 deg C
Relative Evaporation Rate:
IT EVAPORATES ABOUT 94 TIMES MORE SLOWLY THAN
ETHER
Viscosity:
0.64 cP @ 25 deg C
Other Chemical/Physical Properties:
DENSITY OF SATURATED VAPOR-AIR MIXTURE AT 760
MM HG (AIR= 1): 1.03 (26 DEG C); SPECIFIC DISPERSION: 174.6
CONVERSION FACTORS: 1 MG/L IS EQUIVALENT TO
230 PPM, 1 PPM IS EQUIVALENT TO 4.35 MG/CU M AT 25 DEG C, 760 MM HG
Specific heat: 0.41 cal/gal/K
Liquid-water interfacial tension: 35.48
dynes/cm= 0.03548 N/m @ 20 deg C
Ratio of Specific Heats of Vapor (gas): 1.071
Heats of transition, J/(mol.K): fusion 9.164;
formation @ 25 deg C: -12.456; entropy of formation 255.2
Cricital density: 2.67 mmol/cu m; critical
volume: 374.0 cu m/mol
Viscosity: 0.678 mPas (20 deg C)
Ionization potential: 8.76 eV
Flame speed: 0.35 m/s
Partition coefficients at 37 deg C for ethylbenzene
into blood= 28.4; into oil= 3,790.
Henry's Law constant= 7.88X10-3 atm-cu m/mol @
25 deg C
Hydroxyl radical rate constant= 7.10X10-12 cu
m/molecule-sec @ 25 deg C
Chemical Safety & Handling:
DOT Emergency Guidelines:
Fire or explosion: Highly flammable: Will be
easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures
with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors
are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low confined
areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in
sewers. Those substances labeled "P" may polymerize explosively when
heated or involved in a fire. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion
hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.
Health: May cause toxic effects if inhaled or
absorbed through skin. Inhalation or contact with material may irritate or burn
skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.
Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution
water may cause pollution.
Public safety: Call Emergency Response
Telephone Number. ... Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 50 to
lOO meters (160 to 330 feet) in all directions. Keep unauthorized personnel
away. Stay upwind. Keep out of low areas. Ventilate closed spaces before
entering.
Protective clothing: Wear positive pressure
self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective
clothing will only provide limited protection.
Evacuation: ... Fire: If tank, rail car or
tank truck is involved in a fire, isolate for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all
directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all
directions.
Fire: Caution: All these products have a very
low flash point: Use of water spray when fighting fire may be inefficient. Small
fires: Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or alcohol-resistant foam. Do not use dry
chemical extinguishers to control fires involving nitromethane or nitroethane.
Large fires: Water spray, fog or alcohol-resistant foam. Do not use straight
streams. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk. Fire
involving tanks or car/trailer loads: Fight fire from maximum distance or use
unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding
quantities of water until well after fire is out. Withdraw immediately in case
of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. Always
stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned hose
holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let
fire burn.
Spill or leak: Eliminate all ignition sources
(no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used
when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled
material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent entry into waterways,
sewers, basements or confined areas. A vapor suppressing foam may be used to
reduce vapors. Absorb or cover with dry earth, sand or other non-combustible
material and transfer to containers. Use clean non-sparking tools to collect
absorbed material. Large spills: Dike far ahead of liquid spill for later
disposal. Water spray may reduce vapor; but may not prevent ignition in closed
spaces.
First aid: Move victim to fresh air. Call 911
or emergency medical service. Apply artificial respiration if victim is not
breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate
contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately
flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. Wash skin with
soap and water. Keep victim warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation,
ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. Ensure that medical
personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect
themselves.
Odor Threshold:
140 ppm /Purity not specified/
2-2.6 mg/cu m; detection: 0.4 mg/cu m /Purity
not specified/
Odor Low: 8.7 mg/cu m, Odor High: 870.0 mg/cu
m
Skin, Eye and Respiratory Irritations:
... CHARACTERIZED ... AS MOST SEVERE IRRITANT
OF THE BENZENE SERIES.
A concn of 200 ppm causes eye irritation. A
concn of 100 ppm for 8 hr caused irritative effects in a human.
EXPOSURE TO CONCN OF 5000 PPM /24.6 MG/L/ ...
CAUSES INTOLERABLE IRRITATION OF EYES, MUCOUS MEMBRANES & NOSE.
HAZARD WARNING: ... exposure to 21.5 g/cu m
(5000 ppm) ethylbenzene for a few seconds gives
intolerable irritation of nose, eyes, and throat.
Fire Potential:
A very dangerous fire ... hazard when exposed
to heat or flame ...
Electrical ignition hazard: May be ignited by
static discharge.
NFPA Hazard Classification:
Health: 2. 2= Materials that, on intense or
continued (but not chronic) exposure, could cause temporary incapacitation or
possible residual injury, including those requiring the use of respiratory
protective equipment that has an independent air supply. These materials are
hazardous to health, but areas may be entered freely if personnel are provided
with full-face mask self-contained breathing apparatus that provides complete
eye protection.
Flammability: 3. 3= This degree includes Class
IB and IC flammable liquids and materials that can be easily ignited under
almost all normal temperature conditions. Water may be ineffective in
controlling or extinguishing fires in such materials.
Reactivity: 0. 0= This degree includes
materials that are normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and
that do not react with water. Normal fire fighting procedures may be used.
Flammable Limits:
Lower flammable limit: 0.8% by volume; Upper
flammable limit: 6.7% by volume
Flash Point:
12.8 DEG C (55 DEG F) (CLOSED CUP)
Autoignition Temperature:
810 DEG F
Fire Fighting Procedures:
Approach fire from upwind to avoid hazardous
vapors and toxic decomposition products. Use water spray, dry chemical, foam, or
carbon dioxide. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.
If material on fire or involved in fire: Do
not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped or safely confined. Use water in
flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may spread fire. Cool all
affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a
distance as possible. Use foam, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical.
Toxic Combustion Products:
Irritating vapors are generated when heated.
The combustion products of ethylbenzene
are water and carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide in limited oxygen atmospheres.
Compounds identified in tars produced by the
pyrolysis of ethylbenzene include the following
suspected carcinogens: 1-benzanthracene, benzene, benzofluoranthene,
10,11-benzofluoranthene, 12-benzofluoranthene, 1-benzofluoranthene,
1-benzopyrene, 3,4-benzopyrene, chrysene, and 1,2:5,6-dibenzanthracene.
Firefighting Hazards:
Vapors are heavier than air and may travel to
a source of ignition and flash back. Liquid floats on water and may travel to a
source of ignition and spread fire.
Explosive Limits & Potential:
Vapors form explosive mixtures with air.
Lower explosive limit= 1.2%. Upper explosive
limit= 6.8%.
Hazardous Reactivities & Incompatibilities:
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers.
... Can react vigorously with oxidizing
materials.
Strong oxidizers.
Hazardous Decomposition:
When heated to decomposition it emits acrid
smoke and irritating fumes.
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health:
800 ppm
Protective Equipment & Clothing:
Wear full protective clothing and positive
pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.
Rubber overclothing (including gloves)
Wear appropriate personal protective clothing
to prevent skin contact.
Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye
contact.
Recommendations for respirator selection. Max
concn for use: 800 ppm. Respirator Class(es): Any chemical cartridge respirator
with organic vapor cartridge(s). May require eye protection. Any air-purifying,
full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a chin-style, front- or back-mounted
organic vapor canister. Any powered, air-purifying respirator with organic vapor
cartridge(s). May require eye protection. Any supplied-air respirator. May
require eye protection. Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full
facepiece.
Recommendations for respirator selection.
Condition: Emergency or planned entry into unknown concn or IDLH conditions:
Respirator Class(es): Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full
facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.
Any supplied-air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a
pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary
self-contained breathing apparatus operated in pressure-demand or other
positive-pressure mode.
Recommendations for respirator selection.
Condition: Escape from suddenly occurring respiratory hazards: Respirator
Class(es): Any air-purifying, full-facepiece respirator (gas mask) with a
chin-style, front- or back-mounted organic vapor canister. Any appropriate
escape-type, self-contained breathing apparatus.
Preventive Measures:
Contact lenses should not be worn when working
with this chemical.
SRP: The scientific literature for the use of
contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of
wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors
including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the
exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the
lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or
corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be
harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn.
In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when
contact lenses are in place.
Employees should wash promptly when skin is
wet or contaminated. Remove clothing immediately if wet or contaminated to avoid
flammability hazard.
BEFORE WORKERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER A REACTION
VESSEL ... THE VESSEL SHOULD BE PURGED AND WELL VENTILATED. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE SUPPLIED ...
... SUBSTITUTION OF LESS IRRITATING
SUBSTANCES, ... REDESIGN OF OPERATIONS, ... PREVENT CONTACT, PROVISION OF A
PHYSICAL BARRIER AGAINST CONTACT, PROPER WASHING FACILITIES, PROPER WORK
CLOTHING AND STORAGE FACILITIES, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, BARRIER CREAMS, AND
MEDICAL CONTROL ...
Personnel protection: Avoid breathing vapors.
Keep upwind. ... Do not handle broken packages without protective equipment.
Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of
water or soap and water.
COMBUSTION MAY BE IMPROVED BY MIXING WITH MORE
FLAMMABLE LIQ. ... SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER CONFINED SPACE, SUCH AS SEWER,
BECAUSE OF POSSIBILITY OF EXPLOSION.
If material not on fire and not involved in
fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out
of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary. Attempt
to stop leak if without hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors.
The worker should immediately wash the skin
when it becomes contaminated.
Work clothing that becomes wet should be
immediately removed due to its flammability hazard.
Shipment Methods and Regulations:
No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a
hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is
registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed,
described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required
or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./
The International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Dangerous Goods Regulations are published by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board
pursuant to IATA Resolutions 618 and 619 and constitute a manual of industry
carrier regulations to be followed by all IATA Member airlines when transporting
hazardous materials.
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods
Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed
recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for
good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A
general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should
always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be
used when shipping any substance or article.
Storage Conditions:
Outside or detached storage is preferred.
Inside storage should be in a standard flammable liquids storage warehouse,
room, or cabinet. Separate from oxidizing materials.
Temp: ambient; Venting: open (flame arrester)
or pressure-vacuum
Cleanup Methods:
1) REMOVE ALL IGNITION SOURCES. 2) VENTILATE
AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 3) FOR SMALL QUANTITIES, ABSORB ON PAPER TOWELS.
EVAPORATE IN SAFE PLACE (SUCH AS FUME HOOD). ... BURN PAPER IN SUITABLE LOCATION
AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE COLLECTED &
ATOMIZED IN SUITABLE COMBUSTION CHAMBER.
Land spills should be contained; skimming
equipment and/or sorbent (polyurethane) foams can be used. Use of activated
carbon is recommended.
Water spills should be contained; skimming
equipment and/or sorbent (polyurethane) foams can be used to remove the slick.
Universal gelling agent can be used to solidify a trapped mass. Use of activated
carbon on dissolved portion is recommended.
Environmental considerations: Land spill: Dig
a pit, pond, lagoon, or holding area to contain liquid or solid material. /SRP:
If time permits, pits, ponds, lagoons, soak holes, or holding areas should be
sealed with an impermeable flexible membrane liner./ Dike surface flow using
sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. Absorb bulk liquid with fly
ash, cement powder, sawdust, or commercial sorbents. Apply "universal"
gelling agent to immobilize spill. Apply appropriate foam to diminish vapor and
fire hazard.
Environmental considerations - Air spill:
Apply water spray or mist to knock down vapors.
Environmental considerations: Water spill: Use
natural barriers or oil spill control booms to limit spill travel. Use surface
active agent (e.g., detergent, soaps, alcohols), if approved by EPA. Inject
"universal" gelling agent to solidify encircled spill and increase
effectiveness of booms. If dissolved, in region of 10 ppm or greater
concentration, apply activated carbon at ten times the spilled amount. Remove
trapped material with suction hoses. Use mechanical dredges or lifts to remove
immobilized masses of pollutants and precipitates.
ABSORB IN VERMICULITE, DRY SAND, EARTH OR
SIMILAR MATERIAL
Disposal Methods:
Generators of waste (equal to or greater than
100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number F003, must
conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and
disposal of waste.
Ethylbenzene is a
waste chemical stream constituent which may be subjected to ultimate disposal by
controlled incineration.
A good candidate for liquid injection
incineration at a temperature range of 650 to 1,600 deg C and a residence time
of 0.1 to 2 seconds. A good candidate for rotary kiln incineration at a
temperature range of 820 to 1,600 deg C and residence times of seconds for
liquids and gases, and hours for solids. A good candidate for fluidized bed
incineration at a temperature range of 450 to 980 deg C and residence times of
seconds for liquids and gases, and longer for solids.
The following wastewater treatment
technologies have been investigated for ethylbenzene:
Activated Carbon.
The following wastewater treatment
technologies have been investigated for ethylbenzene:
biological treatment.
The following wastewater treatment
technologies have been investigated for ethylbenzene:
stripping.
Occupational Exposure Standards:
OSHA Standards:
Permissible Exposure Limit: Table Z-1 8-Hr
Time Weighted Avg: 100 ppm (435 mg/cu m).
Vacated 1989 OSHA PEL TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/cu
m); STEL 125 ppm (545 mg/cu m) is still enforced in some states.
Threshold Limit Values:
8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 100 ppm; 15 min
Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL): 125 ppm.
Biological Exposure Index (BEI): Determinant:
mandelic acid in urine; Sampling Time: end of shift at end of workweek; BEI: 1.5
g/g creatinine. The determinant is nonspecific, since it is also observed after
exposure to other chemicals.
Biological Exposure Index (BEI): Determinant:
ethyl benzene in end-exhaled air. The biological determinant is an indicator of
exposure to the chemical, but the quantitative interpretation of the measurement
is ambiguous. These determinants should be used as a screening test if a
quantitative test is not practical or as a confirmatory test if the quantitative
test is not specific and the origin of the determinant is in question.
A3; Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown
relevance to humans.
NIOSH Recommendations:
Recommended Exposure Limit: 10 Hr
Time-Weighted Avg: 100 ppm (435 mg/cu m).
Recommended Exposure Limit: 15 Min Short-Term
Exposure Limit: 125 ppm (545 mg/cu m).
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health:
800 ppm
Other Occupational Permissible Levels:
Australia: 100 ppm, STEL 125 ppm, substance
under review (1990); Federal Republic of Germany: 100 ppm, short-term level 200
ppm, 5 min, 8 times per shift, skin (1990); Sweden: 80 ppm, short-term value 100
ppm, 15 min (1989); United Kingdom: 100 ppm, 10-min STEL 125 ppm (1991).
Manufacturing/Use Information:
Major Uses:
USED IN ... THE PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC RUBBER
... AS A SOLVENT OR DILUENT, A COMPONENT OF AUTOMOTIVE AND AVIATION FUELS; MFR
OF CELLULOSE ACETATE
Ethylbenzene is
mainly used as a precursor to styrene.
... SOLVENT-EG, FOR ALKYD SURFACE COATINGS,
CHEM INT FOR DIETHYLBENZENE & ACETOPHENONE, FOR ETHYL ANTHRAQUINONE, FOR ETHYLBENZENE
SULFONIC ACIDS (O-, M- & P-), FOR PROPYLENE OXIDE & ALPHA-METHYLBENZYL
ALCOHOL, UNRECOVERED COMPONENT OF GASOLINE
Used as an intermediate for the manufacture of
the styrene monomer and as a resin solvent.
Intermediate for the production of
diethylbenzene and acetophenone.
Used as a component of automotive and aviation
fuels.
Intermediate in production of styrene solvent.
Manufacturers:
Amoco Corporation, Hq, 200 East Randolph
Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, (312) 856-6111; Subsidiary: Amoco Chemical Company
(address same as Hq), (312) 856-3200; Chemical & Specialty Product Group;
Production site: Texas City, TX 77592
ARCO Chemical Co., Hq, 3801 W. Chester Pk.,
Newtown Square, PA 19073; Production site: Channelview, TX 77530
Chevron Chemical Co., 6001 Bollinger Canyon
Rd., San Ramon, CA 94583, (925) 842-5500; Production site: St. James, LA 70086
Cos-Mar, Inc., Hq, PO Box 11, Carville, LA
70721, (504) 642-5454; Production site: Carville, LA 70721
Dow Chemical USA, Hq, 2020 Dow Center,
Midland, MI 48674, (517) 636-1000; Production site: Freeport, TX 77541
Huntsman Corp., 3040 Post Oak Blvd., Houston,
TX 77056, (713) 235-6000; Production site: Odessa, TX 79760
Sterling Chemicals, Inc., Hq, 333 Clay St.,
Suite 3700, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 650-3700; Production site: Texas City, TX
77590
Westlake Styrene Corp., 2801 Post Oak Blvd.,
Suite 200, Houston, TX 77056, (713) 877-1924; Production site: Lake Charles, LA
70602-3089
Methods of Manufacturing:
Prepared by dehydrogenation of naphthenes or
from catalytic cyclization and aromatization.
ALKYLATION OF BENZENE WITH ETHYLENE IN LIQUID
PHASE USING ALUMINUM CHLORIDE CATALYST OR IN VAPOR PHASE USING PHOSPHORIC ACID
OR ALUMINA-SILICA CATALYST; RECOVERY FROM MIXED XYLENES VIA FRACTIONATION
Prepd from acetophenone
Produced by alkylation of benzene with
ethylene using acidic catalysts and can be carried out in the liquid or vapor
phase.
Produced via the use of zeolite catalyst,
ZSM-5, in a process called the Mobil-Badger vapor phase ethylbenzene
process.
(1) By heating benzene and ethylene in the
presence of aluminum chloride, with subsequent distillation; (2) by
fractionation directly from the mixed xylene stream in petroleum refining.
General Manufacturing Information:
In most processes, ethylbenzene
is not recovered because of high energy costs.
Ethylbenzene is
recovered from benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) processing.
19th-highest-volume chemical produced in the
U.S. (1995).
Formulations/Preparations:
GRADE: TECHNICAL 99.0%; PURE 99.5%; RESEARCH
99.98%.
Grade: Technical, pure, research
Consumption Patterns:
Intermediate for styrene monomer production,
more than 99%; the remainder is exported or sold as solvent (1984).
Styrene, 97%; Miscellaneous, 3% (1983)
/Estimate/
CHEMICAL PROFILE: Ethylbenzene.
Intermediate for styrene monomer production, over 99%. The remainder is used in
solvent applications.
CHEMICAL PROFILE: Ethylbenzene.
Demand: 1988: 9,935 million lb; 1989: 10,230 million lb; 1993 /projected/:
11,500 million lb. (Imports and exports are both minor, each one on the order of
200 million lb.)
Precursors for styrene production, more than
99 percent. The remainder is used in solvent applications.
U. S. Production:
(1977) 8.3X10+9 lb
(1980) 3.5 x 10+12 g
(1981) 3.5 x 10+12 g
(1977) 3.77X10+12 G
(1982) 3.15X10+12 G
(1985) 3.35X10+12 g
(1988) 9.9X10+9 lb
(1990) 8.37 billion lb
(1991) 8.87 billion lb
(1992) 11.11 billion lb
(1993) 11.76 billion lb
(1993) 4,233,835 kg
1997: 12.9 billion pounds; 1998 13 billion
pounds; 2002 15 billion pounds. (Includes exports, which amounted to 126 million
pounds in 1996, but not imports which totaled 16 million pounds in that year).
Growth: Historical (1988-1997): 2.5 percent
per year; future: 3 percent per year through 2002.
U. S. Imports:
(1978) 1.53X10+10 G
(1981) 2.09X10+10 G
US General Imports entered under schedule 4,
pt 1B, of the TSUS (1983). Quantity of ethylbenzene:
87,201,615 lbs.
(1996) 16 million pounds
U. S. Exports:
(1978) 8.59X10+10 G
(1983) 4.84X10+10 G
(1985) 7.49X10+10 g
(1996) 126 million pounds
Laboratory Methods:
Clinical Laboratory Methods:
IN BLOOD BY ULTRAVIOLET-SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC
METHOD.
An automated high performance liquid
chromatographic method for the direct determination of urinary concentrations of
phenyl glyoxylic acid and mandelic acid, metabolites of styrene or ethylbenzene,
is described. The method is simple and specific. Urine can be analyzed without
solvent extraction. Analysis can be performed satisfactorily within 15 minutes
for samples containing hippuric acid, o-, m- and p-methyl hippuric acids, phenyl
glyoxylic acid, and mandelic acid, and within 15 minutes for those containing
hippuric acid, phenyl glyoxylic acid and mandelic acid.
Analytic Laboratory Methods:
EPA Method 624. Purge-and-Trap Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for the analysis of purgeable organics
including ethylbenzene in the municipal and industrial
discharges. Under the prescribed conditions, for ethylbenzene
the method has a detection limit of 7.2 ug/l. Precision and method accuracy were
found to be directly related to the concentration of the analyte and essentially
independent of the sample matrix.
EPA Method 1624. Isotope Dilution
Purge-and-Trap Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. This method is applicable
for the determination of volatile organic compounds in municpal and industrial
discharges. By adding a known amount of a labeled compound to every sample prior
to purging, a correction of recovery of the pollutant can be made. If labeled
compounds are not available, an internal standard method is used. Under the
prescribed conditions, for both the labeled, and unlabeled ethylbenzene
the method has a minimum detection level 10 ug/l.The established acceptance
performance criteria at 20 ug/l is 9.6 ug/l for the standard deviation of the
recovery, with the average recovery of 15.6 to 28.5 ug/l and the labeled cmpd
recovery ranging from below detection to 203%.
EPA Method 602. Purge-and-Trap Gas
Chromatography with photoionization detection for the determination of purgeable
aromatics including ethylbenzene in municipal and
industrial discharges. Under the prescribed conditionss for ethylbenzene
the detection limit is 0.2 ug/l. The method is applicable for use in the
concentration range from the method detection limit to times that limit.
Precision and method accuracy were found to be directly related to the
concentration of the analyte essentially independent of the sample matrix.
EPA Method 524.2. Purge-and-Trap Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for the determination of volatile aromatic
compounds in water including finished drinking water, raw source water, and
drinking water in any treatment stage. For ethylbenzene
the method has a detection limit of 0.06 ug/l and a relative standard deviation
of 8.6% with a wide bore capillary column, and a method detection limit of 0.03
ug/l and a relative standard deviation of 5.3% with a narrow bore capillary
column.
EPA Method 503.1. Purge-and-Trap Gas
Chromatography with a Photoionization Detector. The method is applicable for the
determination of volatile aromatic and unsaturated organic compounds in finished
drinking water, raw source water, or drinking water in any treatment stage. For ethylbenzene
the method has a detection limit of 0.002 ug/l and a relative standard deviation
of 8.5%. Overall precision and method accuracy were found to be directly related
to the concentration of the analyte essentially independent of sample matrix.
EPA Method 502.2: Purge-and-Trap Capillary
Column Gas Chromatography with Photoionization and Electrolytic Conductivity
Detectors in Series. The method is applicable for the determination of volatile
organic compounds in finished drinking water, raw source water, or drinking
water in any treatment stage. For ethylbenzene the
method has a detection limit of 0.005 ug/l, a percent recovery of 101%, and a
standard deviation of 1.4 using the photoionization detector; and there is no
data given for the following: the method detection limit, a percent recovery, or
the standard deviation of recovery using the electrolytic conductivity detector.
NIOSH Method 1501. Determination of Aromatic
Hydrocarbons by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection.
EPA Method 8240. Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry for the determination of volatile organics. This method can be used
to quantify most volatile organic compounds including ethylbenzene
that have boiling points below 200 deg C and are insoluble or slightly soluble
in water. The detection limit is not given. Precision and method accuracy were
found to be directly related to the concentration of the analyte and essentially
independent of the sample matrix.
EPA Method 8260. Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry for the determination of volatile organic compounds. This method
can be used to quantitate most volatile organic compounds including ethylbenzene
that have boiling points below 200 deg C and are insoluble or slightly soluble
in water. Under the prescribed conditions for ethylbenzene,
the method has a detection limit of 0.06 ug/l, a percent recovery of 99%, and a
percent relative standard deviation of 8.6% using a wide bore capillary column;
and a detection limit of 0.03 ug/l, a percent recovery of 99%, and a percent
relative standard deviation of 5.3% using a narrow bore capillary column.
OSW Method 8240B. Determination of Volatile
Organics Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).
OSW Method 5021. Volatile Organic Compounds in
Soils and Other Solid Matrices Using Equilibrium Headspace Analysis.
OSW Method 8020A. Determination of Aromatic
Volatile Organics by Gas Chromatography.
OSW Method 8021A. Analysis of Halogenated and
Aromatic Volatiles By Gas Chromatography using Electrolytic Conductivity and
Photoionization Detectors in Series: Capillary Column Technique.
OSW Method 8021A. Halogenated and Aromatic
Volatiles By Gas chromatography using Electrolytic Conductivity and
Photoionization Detectors in Series: Capillary Technique.
OSW Method 8240B. Determination of Volatile
Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS).
OSW Method 8260A. Determination of Volatile
Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS): Capillary
Column Technique.
OSW Method 8260B. Volatile Organic Compounds
by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS): Capillary Column Technique.
OSW Method 5041. Analysis of Sorbent
Cartridges From Volatile Organic Sampling Train by using the Wide-Bore Capillary
Column Technique.
OSW Method 5041A. Protocol for Desorption of
Sorbent Cartridges from Volatile Organic Sampling Train (VOST): Wide-Bore
Capillary GC/MS Technique.
AOB Method OA-002-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds by GC/MS Analysis of Tenax/CMS Cartridge and Summa Canister Samples.
AOB Method VA-001-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Air Sampled by Sorbent Tubes and Analyzed by Purge and Trap
GC.
AOB Method VA-003-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Air by Portable GC/PID.
AOB Method VA-005-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Ambient Air by Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography.
AOB Method VA-006-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Ambient Air by Direct Portable GC/PID.
AOB Method VA-008-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Ambient Air by Portable GC/PID with Direct Sampling via Pump
and Sample Loop.
AOB Method VG-001-1. Volatile Organics in Soil
Gas - Adsorbent Tube Method.
AOB Method VG-006-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Ambient Air by Purge and Trap GC.
AOB Method VG-007-1. Halogenated and Aromatic
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Air and Soil Gas Sampled by Sorbent Tubes
and Analyzed by Purge and Trap GC/ELCD/PID.
AOB Method VG-008-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Soil Gas sampled by Tenax Tubes and Analyzed by Thermal
Desorption GC/PID/ELCD.
AOB Method VG-010-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Soil Gas by Direct Portable GC.
AOB Method VG-011-1. Halogenated and Aromatic
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Whole Gas Analyzed by Purge and Trap GC/ELCD/PID.
AOB Method VW-001-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Purge and Trap GC/PID/ELCD.
AOB Method VW-002-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Automated Headspace GC/PID/ELCD.
AOB Method VW-003-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Automated Headspace GC/PID/ELCD (Internal
Standard).
AOB Method VW-004-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Manual Headspace Portable GC/PID.
AOB Method VW-008-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Purge and Trap GC.
AOB Method VW-010-1. Field Screening for
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Water and Soil by Headspace GC/PID (Photovac
10S10).
AOB Method VW-014-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Water by Purge and Trap GC/PID/ELCD.
AOB Method VS-001-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Soil by Purge and Trap GC/PID/ELC.
AOB Method VS-002-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Soil and Sediment by Automated Headspace GC/PID/ELCD.
AOB Method VW-010-1. Field Screening for
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Water and Soil by Headspace GC/PID (Photovac
10S10).
CLP Method LC_VOA. Analysis of Water for Low
concn Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy.
CLP Method MC_VOA. Analysis of Volatile
Organics in Multi-Concentration Water Samples by Gas Chromatography with a Mass
Spectrometer.
CLP Method MC_VOA. Analysis of Volatile
Organics in Low concn Soil Samples by Gas Chromatography with a Mass
Spectrometer.
CLP Method MC_VOA. Analysis of Volatile
Organics in Medium concn Soil Samples by Gas Chromatography with a Mass
Spectrometer.
DOE Method OS040. Rapid Determination Of
Volatile Organic Contaminants in Water and Soils by Direct Purge Mass
Spectrometry.
DOE Method OS040. Rapid Determination Of
Volatile Organic Contaminants in Water and Soils by Direct Purge Mass
Spectrometry.
DOE Method OS060. Immunoassay for Petroleum
Fuel Hydrocarbons in Soil.
EAD Method 1624. Volatile Organic Compounds by
Isotope Dilution GCMS.
EAD Method 1624. Volatile Organic Compounds by
Isotope Dilution GCMS.
EMSLC Method 502.2. Volatile Organic Compounds
in Water by Purge and Trap Capillary Column Gas Chromatography with
Photoionization and Electrolytic Conductivity Detectors in Series.
EMSLC Method 503.1. Volatile Aromatic and
Unsaturated Organic Compounds in Water by Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography.
EMSLC Method 524.1. Measurement of Purgeable
Organic Compounds in Water by Packed Column Gas Chromatography and Mass
Spectrometry.
EMSLC Method 524.2 Measurement of Purgeable
Organic Compounds in Water by Capillary Column Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry.
EMSLC Method 602. Purgeable Aromatics in
Wastewater by Gas Chromatography with Photoionization Detection.
EMSLC Method 624. Protocol for the Analysis of
Purgeable Organic Priority Pollutants in Industrial and Municipal Wastewater.
EMSLC Method 624-S. Analysis of Purgeable
Organic Priority Pollutants in Industrial and Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Sludge.
SFSAS Method SFSAS_7. Determination of
Purgeable Organics in Sediment.
AOB Method VS-006-1. Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) in Soil and Water by Purge and Trap GC.
AOB Method VW-011-1. Field Screening for
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Water and Soil by Purge and Trap GC/PID/ELCD.
CLP Method OHC. Organics Analysis,
Multi-Media, High-Concentration.
SFSAS Method SFSAS_29. Extraction and Analysis
of Organics in Biological Tissue.
SFSAS Method SFSAS_5. Analysis of Fish for
Volatile Organics by Purge and Trap Analysis.
Sampling Procedures:
AIR SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED IN TEFLON LOOP (3.0
ML).
NIOSH Method 1501. Analyte: Ethylbenzene.
Matrix: Air. Sampler: Solid sorbent tube (coconut shell charcoal, 100 mg/50 mg).
Flow Rate: less or equal to 0.2 l/min. Sample Size: 10-24 liters. Shipment: no
special specifications. Sample Stability: not determined.
Special References:
Special Reports:
HALEY TJ, A REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON ETHYLBENZENE;
DANGEROUS PROP IND MATER REP 1(6) 2 (1981). A REVIEW WITH 39 REFERENCES ON
CHEMISTRY, METABOLISM, PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICITY OF ETHYLBENZENE.
USEPA; Ambient Water Quality Criteria
Document: Ethylbenzene (1980) EPA No. 440/5-8-048.
Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem
Spills: Ethylbenzene (Draft) (1982)
Fishbein L; Ethylbenzene
in An Overview of Environmental and Toxicological Aspects of Aromatic
Hydrocarbons; Sci Total Environ 44 (3): 269-88 (1985)
Forrest RG et al; Hazardous Mater Spills
Conference Proc, Prev, Behav, Control Cleanup Spills Waste Sites (1984) 17-23
Chemical Review: Ethylbenzene;
Dangerous Prop Ind Mater Rep 7 (2): 13-35 (1987)
DHHS/ATSDR; Toxicological Profile for Ethylbenzene
(1990) ATSDR/TP-90/15
USEPA/ECAO; Ambient Water Quality Criteria
Document: Addendum for Ethylbenzene. Final Draft
(12/89) ECAO Pub. ECAO-CIN-647
DHHS/NTP; NTP Report on the Toxicity Studies
of Ethylbenzene in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice
(Inhalation Studies) NTP Tox 10 (1992)
Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies of Ethylbenzene
in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice p.5 Technical Report Series No. 466 (1999) NIH
Publication No. 99-3956 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National
Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Synonyms and Identifiers:
Synonyms:
AETHYLBENZOL (GERMAN)
**PEER REVIEWED**
BENZENE, ETHYL-
**PEER REVIEWED**
EB
**PEER REVIEWED**
ETHYLBENZEEN (DUTCH)
**PEER REVIEWED**
ETHYL BENZENE
**PEER REVIEWED**
ETHYLBENZOL
**PEER REVIEWED**
ETILBENZENE (ITALIAN)
**PEER REVIEWED**
ETYLOBENZEN (POLISH)
**PEER REVIEWED**
NCI-C56393
**PEER REVIEWED**
PHENYLETHANE
**PEER REVIEWED**
Formulations/Preparations:
GRADE: TECHNICAL 99.0%; PURE 99.5%; RESEARCH
99.98%.
Grade: Technical, pure, research
Shipping Name/ Number DOT/UN/NA/IMO:
UN 1175; Ethylbenzene
IMO 3.2; Ethylbenzene
Standard Transportation Number:
49 091 63; Ethylbenzene
EPA Hazardous Waste Number:
F003; A hazardous waste from nonspecific
sources when a spent solvent.
Administrative Information:
Hazardous Substances Databank Number: 84
Last Revision Date: 20030305
Last Review Date: Reviewed by SRP on 1/29/2000
Update History:
Complete Update on 03/05/2003, 5 fields
added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 11/08/2002, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 10/31/2002, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/14/2002, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/09/2001, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/30/2001, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 09/12/2000, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/04/2000, 91 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 02/08/2000, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 02/02/2000, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 11/18/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/21/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 08/24/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 03/29/1999, 3 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 03/19/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 03/17/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 02/24/1999, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/20/1999, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 11/12/1998, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 09/03/1998, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 06/02/1998, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 02/25/1998, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 10/17/1997, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 03/27/1997, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 02/26/1997, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 02/25/1997, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 10/12/1996, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 05/14/1996, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 05/10/1996, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 04/18/1996, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 04/16/1996, 7 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/18/1996, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 10/19/1995, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 05/26/1995, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/20/1995, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 12/19/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/31/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/24/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/19/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 07/25/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 06/08/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 05/05/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 03/25/1994, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/20/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/10/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/07/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/04/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 04/30/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 02/05/1993, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field update on 12/10/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 09/14/1992, 72 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/04/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/04/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/17/1992, 72 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 07/29/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 05/29/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 04/16/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 01/13/1992, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/12/1991, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/10/1991, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 09/10/1991, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 07/09/1991, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 10/10/1990, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 04/16/1990, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field update on 03/06/1990, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 01/11/1990, 4 fields added/edited/deleted.
Field Update on 05/05/1989, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 12/09/1988, 2 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 09/23/1988, 1 field added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 08/15/1988, 104 fields added/edited/deleted.
Complete Update on 10/03/1986
GLCC
RELATED TOXIC SUBSTANCES FOUND IN THE CAMP POND AND CAMP WATER WELL 2003 AND
2004
GREAT LAKES CHEMICAL CORPORATION AND THE PATHFINDERS CAMP