Ethyl benzene
Environmental Sources
Ethyl benzene is a colourless, flammable liquid that smells like petrol and
vaporises easily. It is found in natural products such as coal tar and
petroleum and is also found in manufactured products such as inks, insecticides,
and paints. Ethyl benzene is used primarily to make another chemical,
styrene. Other uses include as a solvent, in fuels, and to make other
chemicals..
Human Health effects
Since ethyl benzene vapourizes easily, it can cause exposure to handlers and
workers when inhaled. Limited information is available on the effects
of ethyl benzene on people’s health. The available information shows dizziness,
throat and eye irritation, tightening of the chest, and a burning sensation
in the eyes of people exposed to high levels of ethyl benzene in air.
Exposure limits
- The US EPA has set a maximum contaminant
level of 0.7 milligrams of ethyl benzene per litre of drinking water (0.7
mg/L).
- The US EPA requires that spills or accidental
releases into the environment of 1,000 pounds or more of ethyl benzene
be reported to the EPA.
- The US Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has set an occupational exposure limit of 100 parts
of ethyl benzene per billion parts of air (100 ppb) TWA for an 8-hour
workday, 40-hour workweek and a short term exposure limit (STEL) of 500
ppb.
- The ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienist) has TWA for skin contact with ethyl benzene of 50
ppb and a STEL of 250 ppb.
- The US NIOSH (National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health) has a ethyl benzene limit of 300 ppm.
Links and sources:
www.epa.gov/oerrpage/superfund/programs/er/hazsubs/sources.htm
www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/ethylbenzene/
www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dep/daq/outreach/readingm.html
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts110.html
www.modcon.co.il/exposure.htm
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