Diethyl Carbonate

Excerpt from ERG Guide 128 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible)]:

Use AFFF, alcohol-resistant foam, powder, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Fresh air, rest.

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. Rest.

· 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.

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:

... FOAM, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL

If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped or safely confined. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may spread fire. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide.

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.

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

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. Attempt to stop leak if without undue personnel hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors.

Personnel protection: Avoid breathing vapors. Keep upwind. ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Wash away any material which may have contacted the body with copious amounts of water or soap and water.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 128 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible)]:

Immediate precautionary measure

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 100(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.21(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that diethyl carbonate is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of diethyl carbonate from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 8.9X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), calculated from a vapor pressure of 10.8 mm Hg(4) and water solubility of 18,800 mg/l(5). Diethyl carbonate may volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure(4). Although no biodegradation data for diethyl carbonate was located, chemically similar short alkyl chain esters have been shown to biodegrade(6).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 100(SRC), determined from a log Kow of 1.21(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that diethyl carbonate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment in water(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 8.9X10-5 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), calculated from a vapor pressure of 10.8 mm Hg(4) and water solubility of 18,800 mg/l(5). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 8 hours and 8 days, respectively(SRC). Diethyl carbonate may undergo hydrolysis in water since esters are susceptible to hydrolysis(3). Although no biodegradation data for diethyl carbonate was located, chemically similar short alkyl chain esters have been shown to biodegrade(6). According to a classification scheme(7), an estimated BCF of 2(SRC), from its log Kow(2) and a regression-derived equation(8), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), diethyl carbonate, which has a vapor pressure of 10.8 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase diethyl 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 5 days(SRC), calculated from its estimated rate constant of 3.3X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) determined using a structure estimation method(3). Diethyl carbonate may also undergo direct photolysis in the environment since this compound contains a functional group that can absorb light greater than 290 nm(4).

Cough. Nausea. Sore throat.

Redness. Pain.

The Koc of diethyl carbonate is estimated as 100(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.21(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that diethyl carbonate is expected to have high mobility in soil(SRC).

MODERATELY TOXIC BY INGESTION & INHALATION; STRONG IRRITANT.

Mildly toxic by subcutaneous route. Questionable carcinogen with experimental tumorigenic and teratogenic data.

An estimated BCF of 2 was calculated for diethyl carbonate(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.21(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).