Ethylencarbonat

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

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.

30 [mg/m3]

330 [mg/m3]

2000 [mg/m3]

TERRESTRIALFATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 9.2(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that ethylene carbonate is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of ethylene carbonate from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2.74X10-4 atm-cu m/mole(3,SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(3), ethylene carbonate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 9.80X10-3 mm Hg(4). Ethylene carbonate achieved 64.1 percent of its theoretical BOD using an activated sludge inoculum during a 2 week incubation period(5), suggesting biodegradation in soil will be an important environmental fate process(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 9.2(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that ethylene carbonate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in water(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2.74X10-4 atm-cum/mole(4,SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 3 and 110 hours, respectively(SRC). Ethylene carbonate achieved 64.1 percent of its theoretical BOD using an activated sludge inoculum during a 2 week incubation period(8), suggesting biodegradation in water will be an important process(SRC). Ethylene carbonate is expected to undergo hydrolysis due to the presence of hydrolyzable functional groups(3). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3.2(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of -0.34(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low.

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), ethylene carbonate, which has a vapor pressure of 9.80X10-3 mm Hg at 25 °C(3), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase ethylene carbonate is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 160 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 2.4X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(2) determined using a structure estimation method(2). Ehtylene carbonate may also undergo direct photolysis in the environment since this compound contains a functional group that can absorb light >290 nm(4).

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for ethylene carbonate can be estimated to be 9.2(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that ethylene carbonate is expected to have very high mobility in soil.

1,3-Dioxolan-2-one (Ethylene carbonate, CAS # 96-49-1) was evaluated for teratogenicity in 108 female Sprague-Dawley rats (27/group) orally administered doses of 0 (deionized water control), 750, 1500, and 3000 mg/kg/day on gestation days (GD) 6 through 15. Technical error accounted for solitary maternal lethalities in 1500 and 3000 mg/kg/day groups. Clinical signs of toxicity associated with treatment included post dose salivation (750, 1500, 3000 mg/kg/day), chromodacryorrhea (1500 mg/kg/day), dyspnea (1500, 3000 mg/kg/day), alopecia, decreased body tone, decreased activity and dyspnea (3000 mg/kg/day). Suppressed group mean body weight gain was biologically significant in dams of 3000 mg/kg doses, while food consumption appeared unaffected by treatment. Caesarian section and fetal analyses (at least 24-26 litters, 337-382 fetuses/group) on GD 20 revealed no statistically significant (p</= 0.05) departure from controls in fetal mortality, number of gravid animals per group, total number of implantation sites, viable fetuses, non-viable fetuses, early or late resorptions, corpora lutea, fetal sex distribution, or number and percentage of pre-implantation or post-implantation losses. Group mean fetal body weights were significantly depressed from dams of 1500 and 3000 mg/kg/day dose groups. Fetuses of high-dose (3000 mg/kg/day) dams also exhibited statistically significant increased incidence (10%) of external, soft tissue, and skeletal malformations relative to both current and historical controls. Specifically, increased ossification of the sternebrae 1-4 and non-ossification of the 6th sternebra (1500, 3000 mg/kg/day) and increased incidence of bipartite thoracic vertebra (3000 mg/kg/day) reached statistical significance; fetuses of 3000 mg/kg/day also exhibited an increased, but not statistically significant, incidence of bipartite lumbar vertebra.

Ethylene carbonate's production and use as a solvent for many polymers and resins, plasticizer, intermediate for pharmaceuticals, rubber chemicals, textile finishing agents, and also in hydroxyethylation reactions(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).

An estimated BCF of 3.2 was calculated for ethylene carbonate(SRC), using an estimated log Kow of -0.34(1,SRC) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low.

The Henry's Law constant for ethylene carbonate is estimated as 2.74X10-4 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that ethylene carbonate is expected to 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 3 hours(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 110 hours(SRC). ethylene carbonate's Henry's Law constant(1) indicates that volatilization from moist soil surfaces is expected to occur(SRC). Ethylene carbonate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 9.80X10-3 mm Hg(3).

The mechanism and disposition of ethylene-carbonate (96491) were studied in rats to determine if the toxicity of ethylene-carbonate could be the result of it being metabolized to ethylene-glycol. In-vitro, no ethylene-carbonate hydrolysis occurred. Male Fischer-344-rats were given 200 mg/kg (14)C labeled ethylene-carbonate or 141 mg/kg radiolabeled ethylene-glycol by gavage. In-vivo, ethylene-carbonate was rapidly metabolized, 60 percent of the dose being recovered as carbon-dioxide in the expired air and 27 percent in the urine after 3 hours. Approximately 90 percent of the ethylene-glycol dose was excreted in the expired air or urine after 24 hours. Ethylene-glycol was the only ethylene-carbonate metabolite detected. Peak blood ethylene-carbonate and ethylene-glycol concentrations in rats dosed with ethylene-carbonate were 0.028 and 2.3 umol/g, respectively. The respective halflives were 0.25 and 2 hours. The peak blood ethylene-glycol concentration in ethylene-glycol dosed rats was 1.1 umol/g. The half life was 3 hours. It was concluded that ethylene-carbonate is rapidly metabolized to ethylene-glycol in-vivo. The systemic toxicity following oral administration of ethylene-carbonate is probably due to its being converted into ethylene-glycol.

Moderately toxic by intraperitoneal route. Mildly toxic by ingestion.

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylene carbonate with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 2.4X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 160 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Ethylene carbonate is expected to undergo hydrolysis due to the presence of hydrolyzable functional groups(2). It may also undergo direct photolysis in the environment since this compound contains a functional group that can absorb light >290 nm(2).

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 4,051 workers (573 of these are female) are potentially exposed to ethylene carbonate in the US(1). Occupational exposure to ethylene carbonate may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where ethylene carbonate is produced or used(SRC).

Ethylene carbonate's production and use as a solvent for many polymers and resins, plasticizer, intermediate for pharmaceuticals, rubber chemicals, textile finishing agents, and also in hydroxyethylation reactions, may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to air, a vapor pressure of 9.80X10-3 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates ethylene carbonate will exist solely as a vapor. Vapor-phase ethylene carbonate 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 160 hours. It may also undergo direct photolysis in the environment since this compound contains a functional group that can absorb light >290 nm. If released to soil, ethylene carbonate is expected to have very high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 9.2. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2.74X10-4 atm-cum/mole. Ethylene carbonate achieved 64.1 percent of its theoretical BOD using an activated sludge inoculum during a 2 week incubation period, in a single screening study. If released into water, ethylene carbonate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in water based upon the estimated Koc. Volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon this compound's estimated Henry's Law constant. Ethylene carbonate is expected to undergo hydrolysis due to the presence of hydrolyzable functional groups. An estimated BCF of 3.2 suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Occupational exposure to ethylene carbonate may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where ethylene carbonate is produced or used. (SRC)

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. Ethylene carbonate is produced, as an intermediate or a final product, by process units covered under this subpart.