Chloromethyl ethyl ether

· 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.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 131 [Flammable Liquids - Toxic]:

General First Aid:

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.

This compound should be susceptible to removal from waste water by air stripping. /Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether/

Excerpt from ERG Guide 131 [Flammable Liquids - Toxic]:

Immediate precautionary measure

TERRESTRIAL FATE: The fate of chloromethyl ethyl ether in soil is unknown. However, due to its expected rapid hydrolysis rate in water, which is based upon measured hydrolysis rates for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether(1), chloromethyl ethyl ether would be expected to disappear rapidly from moist soil. Significant adsorption to soil, therefore, is not expected to occur.

AQUATIC FATE: If released to water, chloromethyl ethyl ether will hydrolyze rapidly based upon the hydrolysis half-life of <1 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C(1). It will not, therefore, be expected to adsorb to sediment or suspended particulates, bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms, biodegrade, or significantly volatilize from water(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: If released to the atmosphere, chloromethyl ethyl ether will be subject reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals with a half-life of 53 hours estimated for this process(1,SRC). It may be susceptible to surface catalyzed(2) hydrolysis in humid air, based upon observed hydrolysis of the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in humid air(3).

The hydrolysis half-life in water is expected to be sufficiently fast, based upon the hydrolysis half-life of <1 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C(1), to preclude the possibility of biodegradation in the environment(SRC).

Based upon the hydrolysis half-life of 18 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C(1), significant volatilization from water is unlikely to occur(SRC). Based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 59 mm Hg(2), evaporation from surfaces and dry near-surface soil may be an important process(SRC).

Hydrolysis of chloromethyl ethyl ether is expected to be very rapid(SRC), based upon the hydrolysis half-life of <1 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C(1). It may be susceptible to surface catalyzed(2) hydrolysis in humid air, based upon observed hydrolysis of the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in humid air(1). The rate constant for the vapor phase reaction of chloromethyl ethyl ether with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated to be 7.2X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C which corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of 53 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(3,SRC).

DRINKING WATER: Chloromethyl ethyl ether has been listed in a literature review as a compound which has been found, but not quantified, in drinking water from unidentified sources(1), in the US(2) and in New Orleans(3); no dates were reported. Detection of considerable amounts of the compound in water is unlikely based upon the expected rapid hydrolysis in water based upon the hydrolysis half-life of 18 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C(4).

Chloromethyl ethyl ether has been listed as a compound with no specific industrial manufacture or use. Small amounts of it may be formed as a byproduct of water chlorination. The fate of chloromethyl ethyl ether in soil is unknown. However, due to its expected rapid hydrolysis rate in water, which is based upon measured hydrolysis rates for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether, it would be expected to disappear rapidly from moist soil. Significant adsorption to soil, therefore, is not expected to occur. If released to water, chloromethyl ethyl ether will hydrolyze rapidly based upon the hydrolysis half-life of <1 sec for the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in pure water at 20 °C. Adsorption to sediment or suspended particulates, bioconcentration in aquatic organisms, biodegradation, and volatilization from water are not expected to be important processes in natural waters compared to hydrolysis. If released to the atmosphere, chloromethyl ethyl ether will be subject to reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals with an estimated half-life of 53 hours. It may be susceptible to surfaces catalyzed hydrolysis in humid air, based upon observed hydrolysis of the structurally related chloromethyl methyl ether in humid air. Due to its expected rapid hydrolysis in water and its susceptibility to hydrolysis in humid air, exposure to significant amounts of chloromethyl ethyl ether is not expected to occur. (SRC)

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Provide a low-stimulus environment. Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 mL/kg up to 200 mL of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Treat frostbite by rapid rewarming ... . /Ethers and related compounds/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious or in respiratory arrest. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W TKO /SRP: To keep open, "minimal flow rate"/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Consider vasopressors for hypotension with a normal fluid volume. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Ethers and related compounds/