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 chloroethane (ethyl chloride). It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about chloroethane (ethyl chloride) 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 chloroethane (ethyl chloride) emissions in Australia .
Ethyl chloride is mildly irritating to the eyes and lungs. The acute (short-term) effects of chloroethane from inhalation exposure in humans consists of temporary feelings of drunkenness. Higher levels cause lack of muscle coordination and unconsciousness. Accidental death has resulted from its former medical use as an anaesthetic during major surgery. Death appears to be caused by effects on the heart, lungs, and central nervous system.
The chronic (long-term) health effects resulting from exposure to air containing chloroethane in humans is not known. Some animal studies indicate changes to the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Rapid evaporation of the liquid may cause frostbite with skin contact.
Sources of possible chloroethane exposure include the inhalation of contaminated air and ingestion of contaminated drinking water or food (probably at very low levels) or by contact with the skin.
Exposure is primarily by using or being exposed to products that contain chloroethane.
See Sources for more information.
Worksafe Australia :
Maximum time weighted average TWA exposure: 1,000 ppm 2,640 mg/m³
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.
Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Chloroethane has slight acute toxicity to aquatic life. It has caused respiration and germination increases in potatoes. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short term effects of ethylchloride to birds or land animals. Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behaviour.
The majority of chloroethane is present as a gas or vapour and so is transported by air. Wash out by rain and fog is possible, however, any chloroethane which is removed in this way will probably quickly evaporate. About 99.8% of Chloroethane will eventually end up in air; the rest will end up in the water. It does not tend to bioaccumulate.
Most of the chloroethane released to the environment ends up as a gas in the atmosphere, while much smaller amounts enter groundwater as a result of filtration through soil. Once in the atmosphere, chloroethane breaks down fairly rapidly by reaction with other chemicals in the air. It takes about 1 to 2 months for any given amount of chloroethane that is released to the atmosphere to disappear.
No national guidelines.
Ethyl chloride is used as a chemical intermediate, in solvents, aerosols, and anaesthesia. Currently, chloroethane is largely used as a blowing agent in foamed plastics. In the past, chloroethane was used in the production of tetraethyl lead, an anti-knock additive to leaded gasoline. Chloroethane has also been used in the production of ethyl cellulose and for miscellaneous applications including use as a solvent, for phosphorus, sulfur, fats, oils, resins and waxes; in insecticides; and as an ethylating agent in the manufacture of dyes and drugs, refrigerant, and topical anaesthetic and use in the manufacture of dyes, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Other uses of chloroethane are as a pulp vitality tester in dentistry, as a medication to alleviate pain associated with insect burns and stings, as an adjunct in the treatment of tinea lesions and creeping eruptions, and as a counterirritant for relief of myofacial and visceral pain syndromes. Chloroethane is also used as a solvent, as a refrigerant, and in the production of ethyl cellulose, dyes, medicinal drugs, and other commercial chemicals. It is also used to numb skin prior to medical procedures such as ear piercing and skin biopsy, and in sports injuries.
Point sources include release from factories that manufacture or use chloroethane, evaporation from some landfills, solvents, refrigerants, and anaesthetics, release in fumes from the burning of plastics and other materials and spills from shipping accidents.
The limited amount of information available about chloroethane in drinking water suggests that extremely low levels of chloroethane may be expected in some drinking water supplies because of formation during chlorination, contamination, or seepage into groundwater following storage of chemical wastes or disposal at waste sites.
Ethyl chloride has also been shown to be formed through microbial degradation of other chlorinated solvents in soil systems.
It is not expected to be directly associated with mobile equipment.
May be present in foamed plastics, some pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, some solvents and refrigerants. It has also been used in sports injury sprays and anaesthetics for ear and body piercing.
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.
Chloroethane (ethyl chloride) was ranked as 71 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 4.0.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 chloroethane (ethyl chloride) registers 2.0. 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 chloroethane (ethyl chloride) registers 2.0. 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 | Chloroethane (ethyl chloride) |
| CASR number |
75-00-3 |
| Molecular formula | C2H5CL |
| Synonyms | ethane, dublofix, chloroether, chloratus, ether hydrochloric, ether muriatic, ethyl chloride, HSDB 533, hydrochloric ether, kelene, monochlorethane, muriatic ether, narcotile, NCI-CO6224, NCI-c06224, UN 1037 |
| Physical properties: Ethyl chloride is a colourless flammable gas at ordinary temperature and pressure. It has a characteristic ether-like odour and a burning taste. Boiling Point: 12.3 (°C) |
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| Chemical properties: Ethyl chloride is a flammable gas at ordinary temperature and pressure and a mobile volatile liquid below 12 °C or/and increased pressure. Chloroethane burns with a smoky, greenish flame, which results is a result of the production of hydrogen chloride. It reacts violently with oxidants, alkaline metals, calcium, magnesium, aluminium powder, and zinc. It reacts with water or steam producing corrosive fumes of hydrogen chloride. |
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There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.