Chloroethane (ethyl chloride): Sources of emissions
Industry sources
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.
Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data
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.
Natural sources
Ethyl chloride has also been shown to be formed through microbial degradation of other chlorinated solvents in soil systems.
Transport sources
It is not expected to be directly associated with mobile equipment.
Consumer products
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.
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