1,1,2,2-Tetrabromoethane

Excerpt from ERG Guide 159 [Substances (Irritating)]:

Use water spray, powder, foam, carbon dioxide.

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Refer for medical attention .

· 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.

· Do not touch or walk through spilled material.

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

To fight a fire /involving/ acetylene tetrabromide use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water-foam, or fog.

If material involved in fire: Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Extinguish fire using agent suitable for type of surrounding fire. (Material itself does not burn or burns with difficulty.)

Extinguish fire using agent suitable for surrounding fire. Use water spray to cool fire-exposed containers.

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Separate from oxidizing materials and alkalies.

... SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL WELL VENTILATED PLACE, OUT OF THE DIRECT RAYS OF THE SUN, AWAY FROM AREAS OF HIGH FIRE HAZARD, AND SHOULD BE PERIODICALLY INSPECTED ... .

1. VENTILATE AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 2. COLLECT FOR RECLAMATION OR ABSORB IN VERMICULITE, DRY SAND, EARTH, OR A SIMILAR MATERIAL.

Stop or control the leak, if this can be done without undue risk. Use appropriate foam to blanket release and suppress vapors. Approach release from upwind. Absorb in noncombustible material for proper disposal. Control runoff and isolate discharged material for proper disposal.

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.

Acetylene tetrabromide may be disposed of by absorbing it in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material and disposing in a secured sanitary landfill.

Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in dry sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Personal protection: self-contained breathing apparatus.

EYES: irrigate opened eyes for several minutes under running water. INGESTION: do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water (never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person). Seek immediate medical advice. SKIN: should be treated immediately by rinsing the affected parts in cold running water for at least 15 minutes, followed by thorough washing with soap and water. If necessary, the person should shower and change contaminated clothing and shoes, and then must seek medical attention. INHALATION: supply fresh air. If required provide artificial respiration.

Bromine vapour causes irritation and direct damage to the mucous membranes. Elemental bromine also burns the skin. The bromide ion is a central nervous system depressant and chronic exposure produces neuronal effects. This is called bromism and can result in central reactions reaching from somnolence to coma, cachexia, exicosis, loss of reflexes or pathologic reflexes, clonic seizures, tremor, ataxia, loss of neural sensitivity, paresis, papillar edema of the eyes, abnormal speech, cerebral edema, delirium, aggressiveness, and psychoses. (L625, L626, L627)

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 120(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 678 mg/l(3) and a regression-derived equation(4), indicates that 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.34X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 0.02 mm Hg(2), and water solubility(3). The potential for volatilization of 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane from dry soil surfaces may exist(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(2). 1,1,2,2-Tetrabromoethane, reached 29% of its theoretical BOD in 2 weeks using the Japanese MITI test(5), suggesting biodegradation in soil may be an important environmental fate process(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 120(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 678 mg/l(3) and a regression-derived equation(4), indicates that 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(4) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.34X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 0.02 mm Hg(2), and water solubility, 678 mg/l(3). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(4), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 5 and 43 days, respectively(SRC). However, hydrolysis half-lives of 20 and 2 hours at pH 7 and 8, respectively, have been calculated(5); therefore, under acidic or neutral conditions, hydrolysis will be the dominant removal process(SRC). According to a classification scheme(6), a BCF of <8.2(7), suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). A theoretical BOD of 29% was reported using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/l and the Japanese MITI test over a 2 week test period(7), suggesting that biodegradation may occur in aquatic systems(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane, which has a vapor pressure of 0.02 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane 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 115 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.4X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and by ingestion.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Oral (L626) ; inhalation (L626) ; dermal (L626)

Bromine is a powerful oxidizing agent and is able to release oxygen free radicals from the water in mucous membranes. These free radicals are also potent oxidizers and produce tissue damage. In additon, the formation of hydrobromic and bromic acids will result in secondary irritation. The bromide ion is also known to affect the central nervous system, causing bromism. This is believed to be a result of bromide ions substituting for chloride ions in the in actions of neurotransmitters and transport systems, thus affecting numerous synaptic processes. (L626, L627, A543)

Cough. Sore throat. Headache. Dizziness. Nausea. Abdominal pain.

Redness.

Redness.

See Inhalation.

irritation eyes, nose; anorexia, nausea; headache; abdominal pain; jaundice; leukocytosis (increased blood leukocytes); central nervous system depression

Bromine vapour causes irritation and direct damage to the mucous membranes. Symptoms include lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, eye irritation with mucous secretions from the oropharyngeal and upper airways, coughing, dyspnoea, choking, wheezing, epistaxis, and headache. The bromide ion is a central nervous system depressant producing ataxia, slurred speech, tremor, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dizziness, visual disturbances, unsteadiness, headaches, impaired memory and concentration, disorientation and hallucinations. This is called bromism. (L626, L627)

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Agent Search Results page, which tabulates all of the "Standard Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies", "Developmental Studies", and "Genetic Toxicity Studies" performed with this chemical. Clicking on the "Testing Status" link will take the user to the status (i.e., in review, in progress, in preparation, on test, completed, etc.) and results of all the studies that the NTP has done on this chemical. [http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=79-27-6]

Consider the eyes, upper respiratory system, and liver in preplacement and periodic physical examination.

... Workers exposed to concn of tetrabromoethane approaching ... /1 ppm and 15 mg/cu m (TLV)/ should be kept under medical surveillance.