bis(2-Chloro-1-methylethyl) ether

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.

WATER TO BLANKET FIRE, FOAM, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL.

If material is on fire or involved in fire: Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water and apply water from as far a distance as possible. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. Use water spray to knockdown vapors.

Personnel protection: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving this material.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION. Then, use absorbent paper to pick up all liquid spill material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with 60-70% ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

Generators of waste (equal to or greater than 100 kg/mo) containing this contaminant, EPA hazardous waste number U027, must conform with USEPA regulations in storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.

A potential candidate for liquid injection incineration at a temperature range of 650 to 1,600 °C and a residence time of 0.1 to 2 seconds. Also, a potential candidate for rotary kiln incineration at a temperature range of 820 to 1,600 °C and residence times of seconds for liquids and gases, and hours for solids. Also, a potential candidate for fluidized bed incineration at a temperature range of 450 to 980 °C and residence times of seconds for liquids and gases, and longer for solids.

Dichlorodiisopropyl ether wastes are destroyed in special waste incinerators. Due to the high hydrogen chloride content of the flue gases incineration takes place predominantly at sea. Recommendable method: Incineration. Not recommendable method: Evaporation.

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

If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary. Use water spray to knock-down vapors.

Personnel protection: Avoid breathing vapors. Keep upwind. Do not handle broken packages without protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water.

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.

MINIMUM PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: If Tyvek-type disposable protective clothing is not worn during handling of this chemical, wear disposable Tyvek-type sleeves taped to your gloves.

Personnel protection: Wear appropriate chemical protective boots, protective gloves, and goggles.

AQUATIC FATE: Assuming a first order reduction of concentration ... the following half-lives were derived: 3-30 days in river water and 30-300 days in lake and groundwater.

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: The vapor pressure of bis(2-chloroisopropyl) ether suggests that it might be sufficiently volatile to be transported into the atmosphere.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), a Koc of 47(2) indicates that bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether from moist soil surfaces is expected to be important(3,SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 7.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), calculated from its water solubility(4) and vapor pressure(4). Aqueous screening test data from studies using activated sludge(5,6) suggest that bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether may be resistant to biodegradation in environmental media(SRC). In one study, bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether showed no biodegradation after 5 days when incubated with Ohio River water(7). In general, many ethers are known to be resistant to biodegradation(8). By analogy to bis(2-chloroethyl) ether, which has a hydrolytic half-life of about 20 years(9), hydrolysis of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), a Koc of 47(2) indicates that bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in water(SRC). Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is expected to volatilize from water surfaces(3,SRC) based on an estimated Henry's Law constant of 7.4X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), calculated from its water solubility(4) and vapor pressure(4). Estimated volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 19 hours and 10 days, respectively(3,SRC). According to a classification scheme(5), a BCF of 5.2 to 12(6) suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether may be resistant to biodegradation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions in environmental media based upon screening test data from studies using activated sludge(6,7SRC). In one study, bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether showed no biodegradation after 5 days when incubated with Ohio River water(8). In general, many ethers are known to be resistant to biodegradation(9). By analogy to bis(2-chloroethyl)ether, which has a hydrolytic half-life of about 20 years(10), hydrolysis of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether, which has a vapor pressure of 0.56 mm Hg at 20 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether 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 28 hours(3,SRC).

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=108-60-1]

Release of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl)ether ... in wastewater from industrial processes, particularly in proplylene glycol manufacturing is estimated to be one million lb per yr. /Separate figures not given; 1979/

Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether has been detected in U.S. rivers as a result of industrial outfall from propylene glycol production(1,2) at concns ranging from 0.2-5 ug/l (Ohio River) from August-September 1971(2). Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether has been detected in water samples from a specially constructed leachate treatment plant located at Love Canal (Niagara Falls, NY)(3). According to the STORET database, bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether has been detected in effluents in the U.S.A. with a median concn of <10.000 ug/l(4). In a study conducted from 1989-1993, bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether was detected in New York City Municipal wastewaters at a concn of 8 ug/l(5).

Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether

Hematologic

4 x 10 ^-2 mg/kg-day

A complete history and physical examination: The purpose is to detect existing conditions that might place the exposed employee at increased risk, and to establish a baseline for future health monitoring. Examination of the respiratory tract, liver, and the central nervous system should be stressed. 14 inch x 17 inch chest roentgenogram and FVC and FEV (1 sec) /should also be performed/. The above medical examinations are to be repeated on an annual basis, except that an x-ray is necessary only when indicated by the results of pulmonary function testing, or signs and symptoms of respiratory disease. /Bis(2-chloroethyl ether)/

Because of its water solubility, some migration through the soil may occur.

The value of the log octanol/water partition coefficient ... 2.58, does indicate, ... some potential for adsorption on suspended organic matter.

The Koc of bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether in various soils was determined to be 47(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC).

The toxicity of /bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether/ is somewhat less than that of the dichloroethyl ether but damage occurs in the liver and kidneys rather than in the lungs. /Bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether/ causes no primary irritation of the skin but may penetrate the skin sufficiently to cause death. ... No cases of injury to health of humans have been reported.

With the notable exception of the chloromethyl ethers and the glycidyl ethers, the ethers as a group have little general toxicological action in industrial use. Their /CNS depressant/ action causes them to produce loss of consciousness on appreciable exposure and, as good fat solvents, they cause dermatitis on repeated or prolonged skin contact. Enclosure and ventilation are to be employed to avoid excessive exposure. Barrier creams and impervious gloves assist in preventing skin irritation. In the event of loss of consciousness, the person should be removed from the contaminated atmosphere and given artificial respiration and oxygen. /Chloromethyl ethers/

U027; As stipulated in 40 CFR 261.33, when bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl)ether, as a commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate or an off-specification commercial chemical product or a manufacturing chemical intermediate, becomes a waste, it must be managed according to Federal and/or State hazardous waste regulations. Also defined as a hazardous waste is any residue, contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into water or on dry land, of this waste. Generators of small quantities of this waste may qualify for partial exclusion from hazardous waste regulations (40 CFR 261.5).

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Bis(2-Chloro-1-methylethyl)ether is included on this list.

Persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 1000 lb or 454 kg. The toll free number of the NRC is (800) 424-8802; In the Washington D.C. metropolitan area (202) 426-2675. The rule for determining when notification is required is stated in 40 CFR 302.4 (section IV. D.3.b).