| GHS classification | DangerH220: Extremely flammable gas [Danger Flammable gases]P203, P210, P222, P261, P271, P280, P304+P340, P319, P377, P381, P403, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 0.8% (38 of 4869) of reports.H220 (99.2%): Extremely flammable gas [Danger Flammable gases] |
|---|
| Regulatory information | Chemical: EtheneRegulation (EC) No 1935/2004 (amended)Ethene is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Ethene are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)Reg. (EU) 2022/708, 2008/127/EC, Reg. (EU) 2017/195, Reg. (EU) 2018/155, Reg. (EU) 2023/1446, Reg. (EU) No 187/2013, Reg. (EU) No 540/2011Status: Active Update: 17-05-2023 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/16094Ethene (ethylene): HSNO Approval: HSR001001 Approved with controls |
|---|
| Other safety information | IMAP assessments - Ethene: Human health tier I assessment |
|---|
| DOT label | Flammable Gas |
|---|
| Fire hazards | Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Vapors are anesthetic.Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:· EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE.Extremely flammable. Gas/air mixtures are explosive. |
|---|
| Fire potential | A highly flammable gas ... .A very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame. |
|---|
| Health hazards | Moderate concentration in air causes drowsiness, dizziness, and unconsciousness. Overexposure causes headache, drowsiness, muscular weakness. (USCG, 1999)Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:· Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning, especially when in closed or confined areas. |
|---|
| Hazards summary | Inhalation of high concentrations cause CNS depression and anesthesia[Merck Index] Simple asphyxiantInhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression[ICSC] Ethylene, compressed (UN1962) has warning of explosive polymerization[ERG 2016] |
|---|
| DOT ID and guide | 1038 1151962 116P |
|---|
| Reactive group | Hydrocarbons, Aliphatic Unsaturated |
|---|
| UN classification | UN Hazard Class: 2.1 |
|---|
| Special Reports | USEPA/Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic SubstancesReregistration Eligibility Decision Document - Ethylene (September 1992). The RED summarizes the risk assessment conclusions and outlines any risk reduction measures necessary for the pesticide to continue to be registered in the USA.[Available from, as of June 28, 2017: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/status.htm]OECDScreening Information Data Set for Ethylene, 74-85-1 (October 1998).[Available from, as of July 28, 2017: http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/74851.pdf] |
|---|
| FIFRA requirements | Ethylene is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance for residues when: (a) For all food commodities, it is used as a plant regulator on plants, seeds, or cuttings and on all food commodities after harvest and when applied in accordance with good agricultural practices. (b) Injected into the soil to cause premature germination of witchweed in bean (lima and string), cabbage, cantaloupe, collard, corn, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, okra, onion, pasture grass, pea (field and sweet), peanut, pepper, potato, sweet potato, sorghum, soybean, squash, tomato, turnip, and watermelon fields as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture witchweed control program.Section 4(g)(2)(A) of FIFRA requires the Agency to determine, after submission of relevant data concerning an active ingredient, whether products containing the active ingredient are eligible for reregistration. The Agency has waived all generic (ie, active ingredient specific) data requirements except for technical chemistry data and additionally has relied on public literature for mammalian toxicology. The Agency has completed its review of this information data and other factors and considerations, and has determined this information is sufficient to support reregistration of all products containing ethylene for all uses. ... The Agency therefore finds that products containing only ethylene as an active ingredient are eligible for reregistration and may be reregistered once the confidential statements of formula and amended labeling are received and accepted by the Agency.As the federal pesticide law FIFRA directs, EPA is conducting a comprehensive review of older pesticides to consider their health and environmental effects and make decisions about their continued use. Under this pesticide reregistration program, EPA examines newer health and safety data for pesticide active ingredients initially registered before November 1, 1984, and determines whether the use of the pesticide does not pose unreasonable risk in accordance to newer safety standards, such as those described in the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. Pesticides for which EPA had not issued Registration Standards prior to the effective date of FIFRA '88 were divided into three lists based upon their potential for human exposure and other factors, with List B containing pesticides of greater concern than those on List C, and with List C containing pesticides of greater concern than those on List D. Ethylene is found on List C. Case No: 3071Pesticide type: herbicideCase Status: RED Approved 09/92OPP has made a decision that some/all uses of the pesticide are eligible for reregistration, as reflected in a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) document.Active ingredient (AI): ethyleneAI Status: OPP has completed a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for the case/AI.. |
|---|
| Fire fighting | Excerpt from ERG Guide 116 [Gases - Flammable (Unstable)polymerization hazard]:Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:Shut off supplyif not possible and no risk to surroundings, let the fire burn itself out. In other cases extinguish with water spray. In case of fire: keep cylinder cool by spraying with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position. |
|---|
| First aid measures | Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention. |
|---|
| Accidental release measures | · CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. |
|---|
| First aid | Remove victim to fresh air, give artificial respiration and oxygen if breathing has stopped, and call a physician. (USCG, 1999)Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:General First Aid: |
|---|
| Safe storage | Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. |
|---|
| Firefighting Hazards | Closed containers may rupture violently when heated. |
|---|
| Exposure control and personal protection | · Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). |
|---|
| Fire fighting procedures | Suitable extinguishing media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.Advice for firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.To fight fire, stop flow of gas, use CO2, dry chemical, or fine water spray.If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. /Ethylene, compressedethylene, refrigerated liquid/For more Fire Fighting Procedures (Complete) data for Ethylene (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page. |
|---|
| Storage conditions | Store in cool dry, well-ventilated location. Protect against static electricity and lightning. Isolate from oxidizing materials, halogens, and other combustibles.Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Contents under pressure. Storage class (TRGS 510): GasesProtect containers against physical damage. Outdoor or detached storage is preferred. For indoor storage, use a fireproof, well-ventilated, area isolated from any sources of ignition. |
|---|
| Cleanup methods | ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures. Use personal protective equipment. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Beware of vapors accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapors can accumulate in low areas. Environmental precautions: Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so. Do not let product enter drains. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Clean up promptly by sweeping or vacuum.Spills on water: Contain if possible. If solubilized in water, apply activated carbon at 10% of the spill amount over the region occupied by 10 mg/L or greater concentrations. Mechanical dredges or lifts may then be used to remove immobilized masses of pollutants. Peat moss is also recommended as a sorbent.By forced ventilation, maintain concentration of gas below the range of explosive mixture. Remove the tank or cylinder to an open area. Leave to bleed off in the atmosphere.Evacuate danger area! Ventilation. Remove all ignition sources and turn off gas at source if possible. Personal protection: chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus. |
|---|
| Nonfire spill response | Excerpt from ERG Guide 116 [Gases - Flammable (Unstable)polymerization hazard]:Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]: |
|---|
| Disposal methods | SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air qualitypotential migration in air, soil or watereffects on animal, aquatic and plant lifeand conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.Product: Burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber but exert extra care in igniting as this material is highly flammable. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.Do not discharge ethylene directly into sewers or surface waters. Dispose of by incineration. If necessary, a flammable solvent may be added to aid in burning. |
|---|
| Body burden | Ethylene was detected in the expired air from 2 of 8 volunteers (1 smoker) during a test period of approximately 1 hr at quantities of 120 ug (smoker) and 0.91 ug(1). |
|---|
| Interactions | The rate of rise of alveolar ethylene concentration will be accelerated when administrated simultaneously with 70% nitrous oxide. |
|---|
| Environmental fate | TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 13(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that ethylene is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of ethylene from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given a Henry's Law constant of 0.228 atm-cu m/mole(3). Ethylene is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 5.21X10+4 mm Hg at 25 °C(4). Biodegradation data in soil were not available(SRC, 2017). However, ethylene was biodegraded to ethylene oxide using acclimated cell free extracts(8).AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 13(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon a Henry's Law constant of 0.228 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 2 hrs and 2 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 2.6(SRC), from its log Kow of 1.13(6) and a regression-derived equation(2), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Biodegradation data in water were not available(SRC, 2017). However, ethylene was biodegraded to ethylene oxide using acclimated cell free extracts(7).ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), ethylene, which has a vapor pressure of 5.21X10+4 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a gas in the ambient atmosphere. Gas-phase ethylene 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 2 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.9X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3). Gas-phase ethylene will also be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with ozone and nitrate radicals with respective half-lives of 6.5 and 190 days(4-6). Ethylene absorbs UV at wavelength 175.2 nm(7) and, therefore, is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight since sunlight consists of wavelengths above 290 nm(SRC). |
|---|
| Food survey values | Ethylene was detected at concentrations of 2.27 and 9.32 uL/L in internal samples of Bisbee Delicious apples from 2 orchards during fruit growth and maturation in 1990(1). Ethylene has been found in the gaseous metabolites released by germinating bean, corn, cotton, and pea seeds(2). |
|---|
| Adverse effects | Neurotoxin - Acute solvent syndrome |
|---|
| Exposure routes | The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation. |
|---|
| Toxicity summary | IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Ethylene is a colorless gas. It is used for oxyethylene welding and cutting metals, as well as in the manufacture of alcohol, mustard gas, and many other organics. It is also used in manufacture of ethylene oxide (for plastics), polythene, polystyrene and other plastics. Ethylene is a plant growth regulator, which is used commercially to accelerate the ripening of various fruits. HUMAN STUDIES: Exposure to 37.5% ethylene for 15 min may result in marked memory disturbances. Humans exposed to as much as 50% ethylene in air, whereby the oxygen availability is decreased to 10%, experienced a loss of consciousness. Prolonged inhalation of 85% ethene in air is slightly toxic, whereas 94% in oxygen is fatal. Death is certain at 8% oxygen. In fatal human intoxication, ethylene affects the respiratory center of the brain and kills by suffocation. Postmortem analysis has revealed that the right side of the heart is full of blood, while the left side is empty. In workers chronically exposed, ethylene has been associated with a decrease in maximum arterial pressure, slower pulse, lengthened later period of the visual-motor response, increased thresholds of olfaction and hearing, and tension of the thermoregulatory apparatus. In eight people not occupationally exposed to ethylene, the DNA adduct 7-(2-hydroxyethyl)guanine was detected at a background level in peripheral lymphocytes. ANIMAL STUDIES: Mice were dosed by gavage with 3.75 mg/kg bw ethylene for 4 months. The treated animals displayed no changes in behavior or in body weight gain and oxygen consumption. Gross pathology examination revealed no changes in the relative weights or in the histological structure of the visceral organs. Inhalation exposure to 600,000 ppm continuously for 90 days in rats caused reduced food uptake and activity, peripheral leucopenia, decreased thrombocyte and erythrocyte count, and decrease in bone marrow cellularity. One-day-old and adult rats continuously exposed to 3 mg/cu m per day for 90 days exhibited hypertension, disruption of the subordination chronaxy, and decreased cholinesterase activity. Experiments proved ethylene to be metabolized in certain species, notably mice and rats, into the carcinogenic and mutagenic ethylene oxide. Administration of ethylene by head-only exposure revealed no potential for adverse reproductive effects in the rat. Ethylene was not found to be mutagenic with or without metabolic activation in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA1537, TA100, or TA1535. Rats and mice exposed 6 hr/day 5 days/week for 4 weeks to 40-3000 ppm ethylene did not have a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow, when compared to the control group. |
|---|
| Average Daily Intake | An ethylene yearly mean exposure of 1.8 ug/cu m was determined for Swedish urban air samples, collected in Sveavagen from 29 November to December, 1986(1). |
|---|
| Ecotoxicity excerpts | /PLANTS/ Incubation of cut spurs of Hippophae rhamnoides in atmospheres containing 1 mL ethylene/L for 120 hr induced formation of abscission layer and complete abscission of ripe fruit within 1 week. Presence of leaves decreased the abscisic effect of ethylene./PLANTS/ Treating potato tubers with ethylene donors (Hydrel, Dihydrol or Camposan) inhibited the sprouting of the growth points and increased abscisic acid content of the meristem of the growth points and of the cortical parenchyma. However, abscisic acid content of the tubers increased less when Hydrel was used at growth-stimulating (0.05%) than at growth-inhibiting (0.5 and 1%) concentrations. Abscisic acid concentration in the tubers decreased 90-120 days after the treatment resulting in active tuber sprouting after that time when 0.05% Hydrel was used, while when the high Hydrel concentrations were applied, the abscisic acid concentration remained still at a high level inhibiting the sprouting 120-150 days after treatment and even later. Thus, the increase in abscisic acid concentration resulting from treatment with ethylene donors was the main cause of inhibition of tuber sprouting. The other ethylene donors behaved similarly as Hydrel did also increasing the abscisic acid concentration in the tuber tissues. In the control tubers (treated with 0.05% ethylene donors) the abscisic acid decreased 210 days after the treatment to 0.08 ug/g fresh matter while in tubers treated at 0.5% concentration it remained at that time at a level 10-fold that in the control. A direct relation between the concentration of ethylene donors used for treatment and abscisic acid concentration in the tubers was found./PLANTS/ Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) were treated with ethylene or ethephon at several development stages of flower buds. Ethylene hastened flower-bud opening. The earlier ethylene treatment during the flower-bud development stages, the earlier flowering occurred. Ethylene or ethephon treatment decreased tepal length, but increased degenerated flower buds and distorted flowers. Ethylene also hastened flower senescence to result in earlier wilting and earlier dropping of flowers./PLANTS/ Malformation is arguably the most crucial disease of mango (Mangifera indica L.). The etiology of the disease has not yet been successfully resolved. Here, we quantified the endogenous ethylene content in malformed and healthy vegetative and floral tissues of mango cultivars viz., Amrapali, Bombay green, Chausa, Dushehri and Mallika. Levels of ethylene were higher in malformed vegetative and floral tissues as compared with that of healthy tissues at both prior to full bloom and full bloom stages. The study also revealed that isolates of Fusarium dissected from mango exhibited most morphological similarities to the accepted standard features of Fusarium mangiferae. The growth dynamic of F. mangiferae were evaluated with varying temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 °C. Temperatures of 25 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C were better suited for growth of F. mangiferae than temperatures of 20 °C or 40 °C. Conidium germination of F. mangiferae was maximum at 30 °C and minimum at <15 °C. World-wide occurrence of mango malformation showed its most severity at 10-15 °C temperature range. Stress ethylene level is higher in diseased tissue at the same temperature range where growth of Fusaria is found to be completely restricted. The present study provides direct evidence that low temperature induced 'stress ethylene' is potentially responsible for the disease while on the other hand Fusarium role in the disease either through toxic principle or malformation inducing principle is not conclusive at <15 °C and is rather out of question./PLANTS/ Regulation of stomatal aperture is crucial in terrestrial plants for controlling water loss and gaseous exchange with environment. While much is known of signaling for stomatal opening induced by blue light and the role of hormones, little is known about the regulation of stomatal closing in darkness. The present study was aimed to verify their role in stomatal regulation in darkness. Epidermal peelings from the leaves of Commelina benghalensis were incubated in a defined medium in darkness for 1 hr followed by a 1 hr incubation in different test solutions [hydrogen peroxide, propyl gallate, ethrel (ethylene), silver nitrate, sodium orthovanadate, tetraethyl ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, lanthanum chloride, separately and in combination] before stomatal apertures were measured under the microscope. In the dark stomata remained closed under treatments with ethylene and propyl gallate but opened widely in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and silver nitrate. The opening effect was largely unaffected by supplementing the treatment with Na-vanadate (PM H+ ATPase inhibitor) and tetraethyl ammonium chloride (K(+)-channel inhibitor) except that opening was significantly inhibited by the latter in presence of hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide could not override the closing effect of ethylene at any concentrations while a marginal opening of stomata was found when silver nitrate treatment was given together with propyl gallate. Calcium chloride treatment opened stomata in the darkness while lanthanum chloride maintained stomata closed. A combination of lanthanum chloride and propyl gallate strongly promoted stomatal opening. A probable action of ethylene in closing stomata of Commelina benghalensis in dark has been proposed. |
|---|
| Plant Concentrations | Ethylene is produced by all plant tissues in high amounts and acts as an endogenous plant growth regulator(1). |
|---|
| Signs and Symptoms | Drowsiness. Unconsciousness. |
|---|
| Ongoing Test Status | The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Status of Agents Search page, which tabulates the results and current status of tests such as "Short-Term Toxicity Studies", "Long-term Carcinogenicity Studies", "Developmental Studies", "Genetic Toxicology Studies", etc., performed with this chemical. Testing status for ethylene is available.[Available from, as of July 26, 2017: https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?e=True&ContentType=Testing+Status] |
|---|
| 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. Ethylene is produced, as an intermediate or a final product, by process units covered under this subpart. |
|---|
| DHS Chemicals of Interest (COI) | Ethylene110000Flammable chemical that can be released at a facility. |
|---|
| TSCA inventory status | TSCA listed |
|---|
