1,2-DICHLOROETHANE
CAS#: 107-06-2
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
__________________________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
__________________________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
1,2-Dichloroethane has been found in the breath, The federal government develops regulations and
blood, breast milk, and urine of exposed people. recommendations to protect public health.
Because breath samples are easily collected, testing Regulations can be enforced by law. Federal
breathed-out or exhaled air is now a possible way to agencies that develop regulations for toxic
find out whether someone has recently been substances include the Environmental Protection
exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane. However, tests that Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health
measure small amounts in human breath, tissues, Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug
and fluids may not be available at your doctor's Administration (FDA). Recommendations provide
office because they require special equipment. Your valuable guidelines to protect public health but
physician can refer you to a facility where these cannot be enforced by law. Federal organizations
tests are done. Although these tests can show that that develop recommendations for toxic substances
you have been exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane, it is include the Agency for Toxic Substances and
not possible to tell if you will experience any Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National
harmful health effects. Because 1,2-dichloroethane Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
leaves the body fairly quickly, these methods are (NIOSH). Regulations and recommendations can be
best for finding exposures that occurred within the expressed in not-to-exceed levels in air, water, soil,
last several days. Exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane at or food that are usually based on levels that affect
hazardous waste sites will probably include animals; then they are adjusted to help protect
exposure to other organic compounds at the same people. Sometimes these not-to-exceed levels differ
time. Therefore, levels of 1,2-dichloroethane among federal organizations because of different
measured in the body by these methods may not exposure times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour
show exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane only. Medical day), the use of different animal studies, or other
tests available at a doctor's office include lung-, factors. Recommendations and regulations are also
liver-, and kidney-function tests, but these tests look periodically updated as more information becomes
for damage that has already occurred from general available. For the most current information, check
chemical exposure and do not determine the cause with the federal agency or organization that
of damage. Damage could also be the result of provides it. Some regulations and recommendations
lifestyle (e.g., drinking alcohol, smoking) or general for 1,2-dichloroethane include the following: The
exposure to environmental agents. Other methods to federal government has developed regulatory
measure the effects of exposure to 1,2- standards and guidelines to protect people from the
dichloroethane (such as abnormal enzyme levels) do possible health effects of 1,2-dichloroethane in air.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Phone: 888-422-8737
FAX: (770)-488-4178
__________________________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry