Substance fact sheet
The background information page contains information and concepts that will be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI. It is strongly recommended that you read this before reading the information presented below.
For an explanation of some of the terms used in this page, see the Glossary
| Substance name | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane |
| CASR number | 79-00-5 |
| Molecular formula | C2H3Cl3 |
| Synonyms | Vinyl trichloride; beta-trichloride; 1,2,2-Trichloroethane; ethane trichloride; |
Physical and chemical properties Physical properties: Melting Point (°C): -36.5 Boiling Point (°C): 113.8 Specific Gravity: 1.4416 Vapour Density: 1.067 Chemical properties: |
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Common uses 1,1,2-Trichloroethane is used as an intermediate for vinylidene chloride production and as a solvent for chlorinated rubber, fats, oils, resins, and adhesives. It is used in the production of Teflon tubing and in lacquer and coatings formulations, and in adhesives. |
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Sources of emissions Point sources The primary sources of 1,1,2-Trichloroethane emissions are the industries that manufacture it or use it in production. Some of the industries that use it in production are the chemical industry, rubber manufacturers, heavy equipment manufacturing, the timber products industry, the plastics and synthetics industries and laundries. These are emissions to the air unless there is a spill. Diffuse sources, and point sources included in aggregated emissions data Other possible emitters of 1,1,2-Trichloroethane are the electronics industry (solvent use) and manufacturers of fabricated metal parts. Natural sources 1,1,2-Trichloroethane does not occur naturally in the environment. Mobile sources No mobile sources. Consumer products which may contain 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Aerosol paint concentrates. |
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Health effects How might I be exposed to 1,1,2-Trichloroethane? Workers in the industries that use or produce 1,1,2-Trichloroethane are at risk of exposure. Consumers can be exposed to 1,1,2-Trichloroethane by exposure to air from production and processing facilities using 1,1,2-Trichloroethane. By what pathways might 1,1,2-Trichloroethane enter my body? 1,1,2-Trichloroethane can enter the body when a person breathes air containing it, or if a person drinks water that has been contaminated with the compound. It will also pass through the skin. Relative health hazard On a health hazard spectrum of 0 - 3 1,1,2-Trichloroethane registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the evaluation of its tendency to cause, or not cause cancer and/or birth defects. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Human exposure is reflected in the NPI rank given to this substance (see comparative data below). 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.  Health guidelines According to Worksafe Australia: For 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, it is allowable for workers to be exposed to concentrations of 10 parts per million over an eight hour workshift. See the Additional Information page for current health information. 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. What effect might 1,1,2-Trichloroethane have on my health? 1,1,2-Trichloroethane is a potent central nervous system depressant. In high concentrations, in air, with closed or poorly ventilated areas, single exposures to 1,1,2-Trichloroethane may cause central nervous system effects leading to dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking or walking, and possibly unconsciousness, coma and death. It is a narcotic at high levels. Exposures to vapour concentrations near 2,000 parts per million for five minutes cause central nervous system depression and the effect of being anaesthetised. Adverse liver and kidney effects have are possible from high exposures or from long term exposure to 1,1,2-Trichloroethane. It will also defat the skin causing irritation and dryness. Other effects may include headache, tremor, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. |
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Environmental effects Environmental Fate 1,1,2-Trichloroethane enters the air during production, use and transporting it. In the air it will break down into other chemicals in a few months (50% may be gone in 50 days). 1,1,2-Trichloroethane and its products of degradation contribute to photochemical smog. Although most of the 1,1,2-Trichloroethane released is to the air, when released to the soil it will either evaporate or leach into the ground water. It will also quickly evaporate if released to surface water. In the soil and water bacteria will break it down, if at all, very slowly. In the soil and subsurface water it may last for months to years. Environmental Transport Industrial emissions of 1,1,2-Trichloroethane can produce elevated concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Since it takes a long time to breakdown in the air it is likely to spread far from where it is used. Most of the releases are to the air, releases to the soil and water quickly evaporate to the air. Since it does not bind to soil well, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane that makes its way into the ground, and does not evaporate may move through the ground and enter groundwater. Relative hazard to the environment On an environmental spectrum of 0 - 3 1,1,2-Trichloroethane registers 1.2. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard. Factors that are taken into account to obtain this ranking 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 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.  Environmental guidelines See the Additional Information page for current environmental guidelines. No national guidelines. What effect might 1,1,2-Trichloroethane have on the environment? 1,1,2-Trichloroethane will exist as a gas if released to the atmosphere. It dissolves only slightly when mixed with water. It also evaporates from soil and water when they are exposed to the air. In the air when it reacts into other chemicals, it takes a long time. It has moderate acute (short-term) toxicity on aquatic life. It has moderate chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. Chronic and acute effects on plants, birds or land animals have not been determined. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane does not bioaccumulate. |
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Comparative data NPI Rank Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A risk ranking was given based on health and environmental hazard identification and human and environmental exposure to the substance. Some substances were grouped together at the same rank with 208 ranks in total. 1,1,2-Trichloroethane was ranked as 61 out of the 208 ranks. Total hazard score (human health + environmental criteria) = 2.4.  |
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Sources of information used in preparing this article
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