Substance profile
1,2-Dibromoethane
1,2-Dibromoethane is a heavy liquid with a chloroform odor.
01 · Identification
What 1,2-Dibromoethane is
1,2-Dibromoethane is a heavy liquid with a chloroform odor. It boils at 131 °C, melts at 9.8 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
02 · Identifiers
1,2-Dibromoethane identifiers and molecular data
1,2-Dibromoethane CAS number and EC number
1,2-Dibromoethane molecular formula and molecular weight
03 · GHS classification
1,2-Dibromoethane hazard classification
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
1,2-Dibromoethane pictograms and signal word
1,2-Dibromoethane hazard class and category
| Hazard class | Category | From code | Pictogram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute toxicity - oral GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H301 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - dermal GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H311 | GHS06 |
| Acute toxicity - inhalation GHS chapter 3.1 | Category 3 | H331 | GHS06 |
| Skin corrosion/irritation GHS chapter 3.2 | Category 2 | H315 | GHS07 |
| Serious eye damage/eye irritation GHS chapter 3.3 | Category 2A | H319 | GHS07 |
| Carcinogenicity GHS chapter 3.6 | Category 1A or 1B | H350 | GHS08 |
| Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure GHS chapter 3.8 | Category 3 | H335 | GHS07 |
| Hazardous to the aquatic environment - chronic GHS chapter 4.1 | Category 2 | H411 | GHS09 |
Where two values are shown with “or”, the hazard statement is shared by more than one category or by more than one class, and the code alone does not say which. H272, for example, belongs to oxidising liquids and to oxidising solids — the physical state decides. The binding answer for a specific entry is in the CLP Annex VI table itself.
1,2-Dibromoethane hazard statements (H-codes)
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H350 | May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
This page lists only the codes assigned to 1,2-Dibromoethane. The full reference lives on the hazard statements hub, the precautionary statements hub and the GHS pictograms hub.
Safety Data Sheet
Getting an SDS for 1,2-Dibromoethane
A Safety Data Sheet is written for a product, not for a substance: the supplier of the grade you actually buy issues it, so two suppliers of 1,2-Dibromoethane issue two different sheets. That is why there is no single authoritative SDS for a substance to download — what there is, is the job of collecting the sheets for the products you hold and keeping them current as suppliers revise them.
04 · Precautionary statements
1,2-Dibromoethane precautionary statements
CLP Annex VI assigns 21 precautionary statements to 1,2-Dibromoethane. They are grouped the way a label groups them: what to do before handling, what to do when something has already happened, how to store it and how to dispose of it.
Prevention
What to do before and during handling so the hazard never happens.
Response
What to do once exposure, spillage or fire has already happened.
Disposal
What has to happen to the contents and the empty container.
Reading the notation. … is a blank the supplier fills in — not a truncated sentence.· [square brackets] mark a part printed only when it applies.
05 · Names in the regulation
1,2-Dibromoethane name in 23 EU languages
CLP Annex VI Part 3 is published in every language edition of the regulation, and the identification column is written out in each of them. Nothing below is translated by us: each line is the name as that edition prints it. Under Art. 18(2) the substance name from Annex VI is a lawful product identifier, so this is the wording to put on a label going to that market — and where the cell lists several designations, any one of them qualifies.
| Language | Name in CLP Annex VI Part 3 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian български | 1,2-дибромоетан |
| Spanish español | 1,2-Dibromoetano |
| Czech čeština | 1,2-dibromethan |
| Danish dansk | 1,2-dibromethan |
| German Deutsch | 1,2-Dibromethan Ethylendibromid |
| Estonian eesti | 1,2-dibromoetaan |
| Greek ελληνικά | 1,2-διβρωμοαιθάνιο |
| English English | 1,2-dibromoethane |
| French français | 1,2-dibromoéthane |
| Croatian hrvatski | 1,2-dibrometan |
| Italian italiano | 1,2-dibromoetano |
| Latvian latviešu | 1,2-dibrometāns |
| Lithuanian lietuvių | 1,2-dibrometanas |
| Hungarian magyar | 1,2-dibrómetán |
| Maltese Malti | 1,2-dibromoetan |
| Dutch Nederlands | 1,2-dibroomethaan |
| Polish polski | 1,2-dibromoetan dibromek etylenubromek etylenu |
| Portuguese português | 1,2-dibromoetano |
| Romanian română | 1,2-dibromoetan |
| Slovak slovenčina | 1,2-dibrómetán |
| Slovenian slovenščina | 1,2-dibromoetan |
| Finnish suomi | 1,2-dibromietaani |
| Swedish svenska | 1,2-dibrometan |
All 23 language editions of Annex VI carry this entry. Irish is the twenty-fourth official EU language and has no line here for a different reason: no consolidated CLP text has ever been published in Irish, so there is no Irish edition of Annex VI to quote a name from. Source: consolidated CLP, CELEX 02008R1272, language editions. © European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu — only the electronic Official Journal of the European Union is authentic.
06 · Label elements
1,2-Dibromoethane GHS label elements
Everything CLP Annex VI fixes for 1,2-Dibromoethane, laid out the way it appears on a label. The greyed lines are the parts only the supplier can fill in.
Danger
1,2-Dibromoethane
- May cause cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>.
- Toxic if inhaled.
- Toxic in contact with skin.
- Toxic if swallowed.
- May cause respiratory irritation.
- Causes skin irritation.
- Causes serious eye irritation.
- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
- Obtain special instructions before use.
- Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
- Wash … thoroughly after handling.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product.
- Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Avoid release to the environment.
- Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/…
- IF SWALLOWED:
- IF ON SKIN:
- IF INHALED:
- IF IN EYES:
- IF exposed or concerned:
- Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor/…
- Get medical advice/attention.
- Rinse mouth.
- If skin irritation occurs:
- If eye irritation persists:
- Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- Wash with plenty of water/…
- Collect spillage.
- Dispose of contents/container to …
Supplier name, address and telephone number· Product identifier·Nominal quantity
Need this as an actual label? Open 1,2-Dibromoethane in the GHS label constructor →
07 · Health hazards
1,2-Dibromoethane health hazards and exposure limits
1,2-Dibromoethane hazard summary
1,2-Dibromoethane is a manufactured chemical. It also occurs naturally in small amounts in the ocean where it is formed, probably by algae and kelp. It is a colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor. Other names for 1,2-dibromoethane are ethylene dibromide, EDB, and glycol bromide. Trade names include Bromofume and Dowfume. 1,2-Dibromoethane has been used as a pesticide in soil, and on citrus, vegetable, and grain crops. Most of these uses have been stopped by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1984. Another major use was as an additive in leaded gasoline; however, since leaded gasoline is now banned, it is no longer used for this purpose. Uses today include treatment of logs for termites and beetles, control of moths in beehives, and as a preparation for dyes and waxes.
Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
1,2-Dibromoethane carcinogenicity classification
Under the conditions of this bioassay, 1,2-dibromoethane was carcinogenic for F344 rats, causing increased incidences of carcinomas, adenocarcinomas, adenomas of the nasal cavity, and hemangiosarcomas of the circulatory system in males and females; mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis and adenomatous polyps of the nasal cavity in males; and fibroadenomas of the mammary gland and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas (combined) in females. 1,2-Dibromoethane was carcinogenic for B6C3F1 mice, causing alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas in males and females; and hemangiosarcomas of the circulatory system, fibrosarcomas in the subcutaneous tissue, carcinomas of the nasal cavity, and adenocarcinomas of the mammary gland in females.
Source: US National Toxicology Program · TR-210: Carcinogenesis Bioassay of 1,2-Dibromoethane (CASRN 106-93-4) in F344 Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Study) (1982 )
Cancer Classification: Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of ethylene dibromide. There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethylene dibromide. Overall evaluation: Ethylene dibromide is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). In making the overall evaluation, the Working Group took into consideration that ethylene dibromide is genotoxic in a broad range of in vitro and in vivo assays and binds covalently with DNA in vivo.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
An IARC group and a CLP classification answer different questions. IARC judges whether the evidence for cancer in humans is strong enough; CLP Annex VI is the legally binding EU classification. A substance can carry one and not the other.
1,2-Dibromoethane occupational exposure limits
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PEL | 20.0 [ppm], Ceiling(OSHA) = 30 ppm (50 ppm for 5-min peak per 8-hour shift) | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| PEL | 20 ppm | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| PEL | 30 ppm [5 minutes]; 50 ppm (Peak) [5 minutes for 8 hr shift] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 0.045 ppm | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | 0.13 ppm [15 minutes] | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) |
| REL | Ca TWA 0.045 ppm C 0.13 ppm [15-minute] See Appendix A | The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
| IDLH | 46 ppm ; A potential occupational carcinogen. (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO Chemicals |
| IDLH | 100.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases |
| IDLH | NIOSH considers ethylene dibromide to be a potential occupational carcinogen. [100 ppm] | Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) |
These are United States values. The European Union sets its own indicative and binding limits, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation — not the one shown here.
08 · Physical and chemical properties
1,2-Dibromoethane properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
1,2-Dibromoethane boiling point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 131.3 °C (268.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 131.11 °C (268 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 131 °C (267.8 °F) | ICSC |
1,2-Dibromoethane melting point
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting point | 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 10 °C (50 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 9.94 °C (49.9 °F) | CAMEO |
1,2-Dibromoethane density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.17 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 2.18 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| 2.1683 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB |
1,2-Dibromoethane solubility
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solubility | Soluble in about 250 parts water | HSDB | |
| Soluble in diethyl ether, ethanol and most organic solvents. Miscible with non-alkaline organic liquids | HSDB | ||
| In water, 3.91X10+3 mg/L at 25 °C | at 25 °C | HSDB |
1,2-Dibromoethane vapor pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor pressure | 11 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
| 11.2 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| 11 mmHg | at 25 °C | NIOSH |
1,2-Dibromoethane autoignition temperature
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO |
1,2-Dibromoethane lower explosive limit (LEL)
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Noncombustible Liquid | NIOSH |
1,2-Dibromoethane vapor density
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vapor density | 6.48 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 6.5 (air = 1) | ICSC |
1,2-Dibromoethane odor threshold
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odor threshold | Low: 76.80 mg/cu m; High: 62.50 mg/cu m. | HSDB |
1,2-Dibromoethane critical temperature and pressure
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical temperature and pressure | 309.8 °C (589.6 °F) | HSDB |
1,2-Dibromoethane corrosivity
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrosivity | Liquid ethylene dibromide will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings. | HSDB | |
| May poison platinum catalysts | HSDB | ||
| Corrosive to iron and other metals | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
09 · Fire and explosion
1,2-Dibromoethane fire and explosion behaviour
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
1,2-Dibromoethane fire potential
Not flammable
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
10 · Handling and storage
1,2-Dibromoethane storage and handling
1,2-Dibromoethane safe storage
Separated from strong oxidants, strong bases, powdered metals and food and feedstuffs. See Chemical Dangers. Ventilation along the floor. Store in an area without drain or sewer access.
Source: ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
1,2-Dibromoethane storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Light sensitive. May darken on storage.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
1,2-Dibromoethane incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Alkali metals, oxidizing agents, magnesium.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
1,2-Dibromoethane reactivity
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE slowly decomposes in the presence of light and heat. Turns brown upon exposure to light. Corrosive to iron and other metals. May decompose upon contact with alkalis. Incompatible with oxidizing agents. Reacts with sodium, potassium, calcium, powdered aluminum, zinc, magnesium and liquid ammonia. May attack some plastics, rubber and coatings. May poison platinum catalysts [Hawley]. Reacts as an alkylating agent (NTP, 1992).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check 1,2-Dibromoethane in the storage compatibility matrix →
11 · Questions
1,2-Dibromoethane — frequently asked questions
What is the CAS number of 1,2-Dibromoethane?
The CAS number of 1,2-Dibromoethane is 106-93-4. Its EC number is 203-444-5.
What does a 1,2-Dibromoethane label have to show?
Under CLP Annex VI the label for 1,2-Dibromoethane carries the pictograms Skull and crossbones, Health hazard and Environment and the signal word is Danger.
Is 1,2-Dibromoethane flammable?
CLP Annex VI assigns 1,2-Dibromoethane no flammability hazard class. That is not a statement that it cannot burn: the harmonised list only records the hazards that were assessed for it.
Is 1,2-Dibromoethane a carcinogen?
Yes. CLP Annex VI classifies 1,2-Dibromoethane as a category 1A or 1B carcinogen and assigns it H350: may cause cancer. IARC places it in Group 2A: probably carcinogenic to humans.
What is the exposure limit for 1,2-Dibromoethane?
The US occupational exposure limit reported for 1,2-Dibromoethane is 20.0 [ppm], Ceiling(OSHA) = 30 ppm (50 ppm for 5-min peak per 8-hour shift) (Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases). Limits differ by country: the EU sets its own indicative and binding values, and the figure that applies at a given workplace is the one in the local regulation.
What is the boiling point of 1,2-Dibromoethane?
The boiling point reported for 1,2-Dibromoethane is 131.3 °C (268.3 °F) (HSDB).
What is the melting point of 1,2-Dibromoethane?
The melting point reported for 1,2-Dibromoethane is 9.8 °C (49.6 °F) (HSDB).
How should 1,2-Dibromoethane be stored?
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Light sensitive. May darken on storage. (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB))
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