What is ethylene dichloride?

ethylene dichloride, now commonly known as 1,2-dichloroethane, is an organic compound classified as organochloride. This designation is recognized by several other terms, including chlorocarbon, chlorinated solvent and chlorinated hydrocarbon, which means the same. The chemical structure of ethylene dichloride consists of a covalent link between hydrogen atoms and two chlorine atoms, which means that electron pairs share between them.

While ethylene dichloride is considered an outdated name for 1.2 dichloethane, which was also once called dutch with a century. Today, the compound is produced in large quantities of the same basic materials using chlorinated iron or copper as a catalyst. In fact, the commercial production of this solvent in the US, which began in 1922, eventually gained a place in the top 50 of the highest volumes gauge produced in the country. In addition, a large number of this is imported every year from Japan and several Western European countriesIt chemicals.

The primary industrial use of ethylene dichloride is the production of vinyl chloride, which is used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also used to produce latex polystyrene, thermoplastic and styrene of butadien (SBR), adhesive coating used to bind cement, concrete and asphalt. In addition, chemicals are used as an industrial solvent to remove oil and grease, as well as in the production of other chlorinated solvents, such as perchloethylene, otherwise known as dry cleaning fluid. Suddenly, this chemical was added to lead gasoline as an anti-knock agency.

with ethylene dichloride there are several known health risks that are easily absorbed through the skin and lungs. In addition to causing respirathells, this chemical can also affect the nervous system and damage the heart, liver, kidneys and adrenal glands. While the US Agency for Protection LiveThe environment (EPA) classifies this substance as "probable human carcinogen", it is not clear whether long -term or high exposure concentrations actually increase the risk of cancer due to the current presence of other chemical contaminants among the populations participating in work studies. However, studies using animal models suggest that exposure initiated by ingestion or local application has led to the formation of various lung tumors, stomach, colon and gland. In addition, fertility drops were observed in rats and mice.

While the exposure of ethylene dichloride was once considered primarily the danger that EPA found that this solvent was also present in significant quantities in rural air, as in surface water and groundwater. As expected, the world health organization (WHO) presents similar findings in Western Europe in the regions where this chemical is produced. According to an American agency for toxic substances and diseases (ATSDR), this substance was detected in humaném breast milk. Regarding the environmental impact, 1,2-dichloroethane persists in the ground, but biodegrad in the air within 300 days. However, this substance is toxic to fish and contributes to acid precipitation.