Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene). It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) emissions in Australia.
Exposure to the gas can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Breathing very high levels of 1,3-Butadiene for a short time can cause central nervous system damage, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, headache, decreased pulse rate and pressure and unconsciousness. Long term exposures at lower levels have shown increases in heart and lung damage.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies 1,3-Butadiene as a 'probable human carcinogen'. Worksafe Australia categorises 1,3-Butadiene a 'probable human carcinogen'.
1,3-Butadiene will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air.
Workers in the industries that use or produce 1,3-Butadiene are at risk of exposure. The dominant exposure for smokers is likely to be tobacco smoke. For non-smokers, the dominant exposure is likely to occur when using consumer products containing 1,3-butadiene, especially if ventilation is poor. The next most significant route of exposure to 1,3-Butadiene for most members of the general public is through breathing air in and around heavy traffic areas. People may also be exposed to 1,3-Butadiene by exposure to air from production and processing facilities using 1,3-Butadiene.
See Sources for more information.
Worksafe Australia :
Eight hour time weighted average (TWA) exposure limit: 10 parts per million of 1,3-Butadiene in air. Worksafe Australia has determined that 1,3-Butadiene is a probable carcinogen.
The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information.
Note that the emissions data in the NPI database is not directly comparable with these guidelines.
1,3-Butadiene has moderate acute (short-term) toxicity to aquatic life. It has slight chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. There is not enough information to predict additional short or long-term effects of 1,3-Butadiene on plants, birds, or other animals. It is not expected to accumulate in fish. Animal studies have reported development effects, such as skeletal abnormalities and decreased foetal weights and reproductive effect, including an increased incidence of shrinkage of the ovaries and testicles. Animal studies have also reported tumours at a variety of sites from inhalation of 1,3-Butadiene.
Industrial emissions of 1,3-Butadiene can produce elevated, but still low level concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Motor vehicles may also produce elevated levels of 1,3-Butadiene in areas of higher traffic. Tobacco smoke is the primary source of 1,3-Butadiene indoors. Because of its short life expectancy in the atmosphere 1,3-Butadiene is expected to be confined to the local area within which it is emitted.
It quickly evaporates to a gas if released as a liquid. It then decomposes quickly in air in sunlight. In sunlight it should almost all be broken down in about one day. When it is not sunny it may take as long as a few weeks to breakdown.
No national guidelines.
1,3-Butadiene is a chemical made from the processing of petroleum. Most of the 1,3-Butadiene manufactured is used in the production of synthetic rubber. It is also used in the production of plastics and acrylics. These synthetic materials are used to manufacture automotive tyres and tyre products, automotive hoses, belts, seals, and gaskets. It is also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of some fungicides, and in the manufacture of latex adhesives, nylon carpet backing, paper coatings, pipes, conduits, electrical components and luggage. Small levels of 1,3-Butadiene are found in petrol.
The primary stationary sources of 1,3-Butadiene are petroleum refining, manufacturing of synthetic materials and oil and gas extraction. These all emit to air.
Smoking tobacco, agricultural burning, bush or forest fires result in emissions to air.
1,3-Butadiene is emitted to air as a product of incomplete combustion in bush or forest fires, and the burning of biomass (wood, leaves, agricultural burning), including tobacco leaves.
Motor vehicles emit 1,3-Butadiene to air.
In almost all consumer products produced using1,3-Butadiene, it has been reacted and is no longer available as 1,3-Butadiene. However, the burning of many consumer products will release 1,3-Butadiene. The burning of petrol (driving), leaves, or tobacco will release 1,3-Butadiene to air.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) was ranked as 13 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 3.4.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) registers 2.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) registers 0.7. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.
| Substance name | 1,3-Butadiene (vinyl ethylene) |
| CASR number | 106-99-0 |
| Molecular formula | C4H6 |
| Synonyms | Butadiene, vinyl ethylene, biethylene, pyrrolyene, Buta-1,3-diene, bivinyl, alpha-gamma-butadiene, erythrene, divinyl, trans-butadiene, buta-1,3-dieen |
| Physical properties: Colourless gas with a mild aroma like petrol. It is not soluble in water, but is soluble in most organic solvents. Melting Point (°C): -108.9 |
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| Chemical properties: Non-corrosive, explosive, flammable. |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.