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ETHYLENE
See Occupational Exposure Standards Human Health Effects: Evidence for Carcinogenicity:
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of ethylene. There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethylene. Overall evaluation: Ethylene is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).
A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Human Toxicity Excerpts:
AFTER PROLONGED USE, THERE MAY BE MODERATE HYPERGLYCEMIA. POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA & VOMITING OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER ETHYLENE THAN AFTER NITROUS OXIDE BUT LESS FREQUENTLY THAN AFTER CYCLOPROPANE. UNPLEASANT AFTERTASTE IS OFTEN EXPERIENCED FOR A FEW HR FOLLOWING ETHYLENE ANESTHESIA. DIFFUSION HYPOXIA MAY OCCUR AT THE CONCLUSION OF ANESTHESIA ...
BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CONCN OF ETHYLENE ... REQUIRED TO PRODUCE & MAINTAIN ANESTHESIA, CYANOSIS IS AN UNAVOIDABLE ACCOMPANIMENT OF ... /ITS/ USE.
BLOOD PRESSURE MAY RISE MODERATELY DURING INDUCTION & EARLY PHASE OF SURGICAL ANESTHESIA, BUT IT SOON RETURNS TO NORMAL & REMAINS THERE THROUGHOUT ANESTHESIA. CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS OCCUR INFREQUENTLY WHEN ETHYLENE IS USED, & CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF THE GAS ARE RELATIVELY BENIGN.
Exposure at 37.5% for 15 min may result in marked memory disturbances. Humans exposed to as much as 50% ethylene in air, whereby the oxygen availability is decreased to 10%, experienced a loss of consciousness, and death may follow.
... Moderate concentration in air causes unconsciousness.
Vapors are anesthetic.
Drug Warnings:
CHIEF DISADVANTAGE ... IS THAT IT IS EXPLOSIVE. ... EXPLOSIVE RANGE OF ETHYLENE-OXYGEN MIXT IS BROAD, MOST EASILY IGNITED RANGE BEING 5 TO 25% ... DIL WITH AIR OR OXYGEN; MOST CRITICAL TIME ... IS AT END OF ANESTHESIA ... THIS FACT MAKES ... /IT/ UNSUITABLE WHEN IT MUST BE USED INTERMITTENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE DURING LABOR.
POSTANESTHETIC NAUSEA & VOMITING ARE LESS FREQUENT & LESS SEVERE THAN AFTER ETHER.
IT HAS DISADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING INADEQUATE MUSCLE RELAXATION. CONCENTRATIONS SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO INDUCE HYPOXIA MUST BE EMPLOYED AND THE GAS-OXYGEN MIXTURES ARE EXPLOSIVE; FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DURING ETHYLENE ANESTHESIA. CONSEQUENTLY, ITS USE HAS DECLINED MARKEDLY IN RECENT YEARS.
Probable Routes of Human Exposure:
Under environmental conditions, ethylene is a gas; therefore, the most probable route of human exposure to ethylene is by inhalation. (SRC)
THERE IS LITTLE OPPORTUNITY OF EXPOSURE ... DURING ITS MFR BECAUSE PROCESS TAKES PLACE IN CLOSED SYSTEM. EXPOSURES MAY OCCUR AS RESULT OF LEAKS, SPILLS OR OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT RESULT IN RELEASE OF GAS INTO AIR. EMPTY TANKS ... THAT HAVE CONTAINED ETHYLENE ARE ... POTENTIAL SOURCE OF EXPOSURE.
... Cigarette smoke ...
NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 12,280 workers are potentially exposed to ethylene in the USA(1).
On July 30, 1992, a human operating a walk-behind alkylate-fuelled lawn mower was exposed to ethylene a concn of 70 ug/cu-m(1). On September 23, 1992, a human driving a car in urban traffic was exposed to ethylene at a concn of 9 ug/cu-m(1).
Body Burden:
Ethylene was detected in the expired air from 2 of 8 volunteers (1 smoker) during a test period of approximately 1 hr at quantities of 120 ug (smoker) and 0.91 ug(1).
Emergency Medical Treatment:
Emergency Medical Treatment:
[Rumack BH POISINDEX(R) Information System Micromedex, Inc., Englewood, CO, 2004; CCIS Volume 122, edition expires Nov, 2004. Hall AH & Rumack BH (Eds): TOMES(R) Information System Micromedex, Inc., Englewood, CO, 2004; CCIS Volume 122, edition expires Nov, 2004.]**PEER REVIEWED**
Animal Toxicity Studies:
Evidence for Carcinogenicity:
Evaluation: There is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of ethylene. There is inadequate evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of ethylene. Overall evaluation: Ethylene is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).
A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts:
Treatment of rats with up to 500,000 ppm ethylene for 5 hours had no effects, however if the rats were pretreated with 500 mg/kg of Arochlor and exposed at 100,000 ppm ethylene, an increased serum glutamicpyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity and centrolobular necrosis were observed. Similar effects were not evident with other enzyme inducers such as phenobarbital and 3-methyl cholanthrene.
Ethylene was not found to be mutagenic with or without S-9 activating system in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA1537, TA100, or TA1535.
Inhalation of ethylene by Sprague Dawley rats, in concentrations of 0, 300, 1000, 3000, or 10,000 ppm, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 14 weeks, caused no toxic effects.
A study of 0, 300, 1000, or 3000 ppm ethylene, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week for 106 weeks also yielded no chronic toxicologic or carcinogenic effects.
... In dogs ... at 1.4% ethene was a fast acting anesthetic. It reached alveolar, arterial, brain, muscle, and CNS partial pressure in 2 to 8.2 min, even more rapidly than ethyl ether.
... /Ethylene/ is a plant hormone, effective at concn as low as 0.06 mg/l. At higher concn, it may inhibit plant metabolism.
Ethylene showed no mutagenic properties toward Escherichia coli and several Bacillus species.
Various plants were exposed to different concentrations of ethylene, (0.002 - 40.0 ppm) resulting in causing numerous toxic responses.
The toxicity and oncogenicity of inhaled ethylene were determined in Fischer-344 rats. 960 were randomly divided into 4 groups of 120 animals of each sex and were exposed 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for up to 24 months to concentrations of ethylene in the air of 0, 300, 1000, or 3000 ppm. The maximum tolerated dose was not used as concentrations above 3000 ppm were considered hazardous because of the risks associated with ethylene's explosive properties. The calculated time-weighted average concentrations for the 24 months of exposure were: 0, 301, 1003, and 3003 ppm, respectively. Randomly selected animals were necropsied and examined after 6, 12, and 18 months of exposure. A complete selection of tissues and organs from all animals in the control and 3000 ppm groups were examined for microscopic lesions. All animals were examined for clinical changes throughout the course of the 2 year study. Gross examination of rats dying during the study, or those that were sacrificed as scheduled, did not reveal any lesions attributable to ethylene exposure. Histologically, a variety of proliferative, degenerative, and inflammatory lesions were observed in both control and 3000 ppm groups. These lesions were typical of those seen in this strain of animal and were ... unrelated to ethylene exposure.
Mixtures of aniline/ethylene/NOx were photolyzed in 22.7 cu m Teflon reaction chamber operated in a cyanic mode. Several minor products, including nitrobenzene, azobenzene, alpha-nitraniline, phenol and benzoic acid, were identified. The production of aerosol was also observed. The product mixtures were exposed to Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 both with and without metabolic activation. Exposures of the gas mixtures alone and the aerosol plus gas mixtures were performed. In addition, filters of the aerosol were collected, extracted, and used in a plate incorporation procedure with these strains. The results show the gas phase products from the irradiated mixture to be relatively nonmutagenic in the TA98 and TA100. This same result was found in the aerosol exposure, although the deposition into the media may have been low. However, extracts from the aerosol when directly incorporated into the medium show mutagenic activity for TA98.
Incubation of cut spurs of Hippophae rhamnoides in atmospheres containing 1 ml ethylene/l for 120 hr induced formation of abscission layer and complete abscission of ripe fruit within 1 week. Presence of leaves decreased the abscisic effect of C2H4.
Treating potato tubers with ethylene donors (Hydrel, Dihydrol or Camposan) inhibited the sprouting of the growth points and increased abscisic acid content of the meristem of the growth points and of the cortical parenchyma. However, abscisic acid content of the tubers increased less when Hydrel was used at growth-stimulating (0.05%) than at growth-inhibiting (0.5 and 1%) concentrations. Abscisic acid concentration in the tubers decreased 90-120 days after the treatment resulting in active tuber sprouting after that time when 0.05% Hydrel was used, while when the high Hydrel concentrations were applied, the abscisic acid concentration remained still at a high level inhibiting the sprouting 120-150 days after treatment and even later. Thus, the increase in abscisic acid concentration resulting from treatment with ethylene donors was the main cause of inhibition of tuber sprouting. The other ethylene donors behaved similarly as Hydrel did also increasing the abscisic acid concentration in the tuber tissues. In the control tubers (treated with 0.05% ethylene donors) the abscisic acid decreased 210 days after the treatment to 0.08 ug/g fresh matter while in tubers treated at 0.5% concentration it remained at that time at a level 10-fold that in the control. A direct relation between the concentration of ethylene donors used for treatment and abscisic acid concentration in the tubers was found.
... Ethylene is not a cardiac sensitizer in the dog.
Male rats exposed to 10, 25 and 57x10+3 ppm for 4 hr showed increased serum pyruvate and liver weights.
... Mice repeatedly exposed at minimal /CNS depressant/ concn showed no histopathological changes in kidneys, adrenals, hearts, or lungs.
... Liver mitochondrial volume increased in rats treated with ethylene.
Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) were treated with ethylene or ethephon at several development stages of flower buds. C2H4 hastened flower-bud opening. The earlier C2H4 treatment during the flower-bud development stages, the earlier flowering occurred. C2H4 or ethephon treatment decreased tepal length, but increased degenerated flower buds and distorted flowers. C2H4 also hastened flower senescence to result in earlier wilting and earlier dropping of flowers.
Groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, three to five days of age, were exposed by inhalation to 0 (5 male and 9 female rats) or 10,000 ppm (11,500 mg/cu m, 2 males and 10 females) ethylene (purity unspecified) for 8 hr per day on five days per week for three weeks. One week later, the rats received oral administrations of 10 mg/kg body weight Clophen A 50 (a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (not otherwise specified) by gavage twice a week for up to eight additional weeks (promotion), at which time the experiment was terminated and the livers were examined for ATPase-deficient foci. The number of ATPase-deficient foci in the, rats exposed to ethylene did not exceed the control values. In the same experiment, ethylene oxide, administered as a positive control, produced a significant increase in the incidence of ATPase-deficient foci in females.
Ethylene inhaled at a dose of 11.5 g/cu m (10,000 ppm) for 4 hr is acutely hepatotoxic to rats pretreated with the polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclor 1254 given orally at a dose of 300 umol/kg body wt once daily for 3 days. It is not acutely toxic without such pretreatment.
Male Fischer 344 rats and male B6C3Fl mice (10/species/group) were exposed to ethylene 6 hr/day 5 days/week for 4 weeks. The ethylene target concentrations were 0, 40, 1000 and 3000 ppm. An ethylene oxide control group for each species was exposed under the same conditions at a target concentration of 200 ppm. Bone marrow was collected approximately 24 hr after the final exposure. Polychromatic erythrocyte (PCE) to normochromatic erythrocyte (NCE) ratios were determined and 2000 PCE/animal were scored for the presence of micronuclei. Ethylene did not produce statistically significant exposure related increases in the frequency of micronucleated PCE (MNPCE) in the bone marrow of either rats or mice when compared to air exposed control animals. ...
Metabolism/Pharmacokinetics:
Metabolism/Metabolites:
Dioxolane ... the aliphatic analog of the known cytochrome inhibitor, methylenedioxybenzene ... breaks down to ethylene and carbon dioxide.
Rat liver microsomal monooxygenases transform ethylene to oxirane. ...
MALE CBA MICE EXPOSED TO AIR CONTAINING 19.6 MG/CU M ... (14)C-LABELED ETHYLENE METABOLIZED ETHYLENE TO ETHYLENE OXIDE, WHICH BINDS TO CELLULAR PROTEINS.
Four male CBA mice (average body weight, 31 g) were exposed together for 1 hr in a closed glass chamber (5.6 l) to (14)C-ethylene (22 mCi/mmol) in air at 17 ppm x hr (22.3 (mg/cu m) x hr, equivalent to about 1 mg/kg bw). Blood and organs from two mice were pooled 4 hr after the end of exposure. Radioactivity was about the same in kidney (0.16 uCi/g wet weight) and liver (0.14 uCi/g) but lower in testis (0.035 uCi/g), brain (0.02 uCi/g) and Hb (0.0094 uCi/g Hb). Urine was collected from the two other mice during 48 h, and blood was collected after 21 days. 5-(2-Hydroxyethyl)cysteine was identified as a metabolite of ethylene in urine (3% of (14)C in urine) by thin-layer chromatography. The radioactivity in Hb was 0.011 uCi/g Hb. These data, together with those on specific hydroxyethyl derivatives at amino acid residues of Hb, indicated that ethylene was metabolized to ethylene oxide.
In several experiments, disposition of (14)C-ethylene (free of (l4)C-acetylene or greater than or equal to 97% pure) in male Fischer 344 rats (170-220 g) was determined over 36 hr following 5 hr exposures in a closed chamber (35 l) to 10,000 ppm (11,500 mg/cu m). In each experiment, up to four rats were exposed together in a single chamber. Within about 1 min after the end of exposure, animals were transferred to individual all-glass metabolism cages. Most of the eliminated (14)C was exhaled as ethylene (18 umol (504 ug) per rat exposed to acetylene-containing ethylene); smaller amounts were excreted in urine (2.7 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and feces (0.4 umol) and exhaled as CO2 (0.16 umol). Radioactivity was also found in blood (0.022 umol ethylene equivalents/ml), liver (0.047 umol ethylene equivalents/liver), gut (0.034 umol ethylene equivalents/gut) and kidney (0.006 umol ethylene equivalents/kidney). Pretreatment of animals with a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254; 500 mg/kg bw; single intraperitoneal injection five days before exposure) had no measurable influence on ethylene exhalation but resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in exhaled (14)CO2 (2.04 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and of (14)C in urine (11.1 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and in blood (0.044 umol ethylene equivalents/ml). The organ burden of (14)C was one to two orders of magnitude greater in Aroclor 1254-treated than in untreated animals. Radioactivity also became detectable in lungs, brain, fat, spleen, heart and skeletal muscle. The data were interpreted as indicating that the metabolism of ethylene can be stimulated by an inducer of the mixed-function oxidase system.
Absorption, Distribution & Excretion:
ETHYLENE IS EXCRETED ALMOST QUANTITATIVELY IN THE EXHALED AIR & UNDERGOES LITTLE CHEMICAL CHANGE IN THE BODY. PARTITION COEFFICIENTS AT BODY TEMPERATURE: BLOOD:GAS= 0.15; HEART:BLOOD= 1.0; FAT:BLOOD= 6. BLOOD:AIR PARTITION RATIO= 0.14 AT 37 DEG C.
GASES WITH LOW BLOOD/GAS SOLUBILITY LIKE ETHYLENE ARE RAPIDLY EXCRETED.
ETHYLENE HAS BEEN DETERMINED IN EXPIRED AIR OF 2/8 HUMAN SUBJECTS AT RATE OF 0.91 & 120 UG/HR.
... EXCRETED IN URINE ...
The inhalation pharmacokinetics of ethylene have been investigated in human volunteers at atmospheric concentrations of up to 50 ppm (157.5 mg/cu m) by gas uptake in a closed spirometer system. The uptake, exhalation and metabolism of ethylene can be described by first-order kinetics. Uptake of ethylene into the body is low. Clearance due to uptake, which reflects the transfer rate of ethylene from the atmosphere into the body, was 25 l/hr for a man of 70 kg. This value represents only 5.6% of the experimentally obtained alveolar ventilation rate of 150 l/hr. The majority (94.4%) of ethylene inhaled into the lungs is exhaled again without becoming systemically available via the blood stream. Maximal accumulation of ethylene in the same man, determined as the thermodynamic partition coefficient whole body:air was 0.53. The concentration ratio at steady state was even smaller (0.33), owing to metabolic elimination. Clearance due to metabolism, in relation to the concentration in the atmosphere, was calculated to be 9.3 l/hr for a man of 70 kg. This indicates that at steady state about 36% of systemically available ethylene is eliminated metabolically and 64% is eliminated by exhalation as the unchanged substance, as can be calculated from the values of clearance of uptake and of clearance of metabolism. The biological half-life of ethylene was 0.65 hr. The alveolar retention of ethylene at steady state was calculated to be 2%. From theoretical considerations of the lung uptake of gases and vapors, it can be deduced that the low uptake rate of ethylene is due to its low solubility in blood: Ostwald's solubility coefficient for human blood at 37 deg C, 0.15.
Four male CBA mice (average body weight, 31 g) were exposed together for 1 hr in a closed glass chamber (5.6 l) to (14)C-ethylene (22 mCi/mmol) in air at 17 ppm x hr (22.3 (mg/cu m) x hr, equivalent to about 1 mg/kg bw). Blood and organs from two mice were pooled 4 hr after the end of exposure. Radioactivity was about the same in kidney (0.16 uCi/g wet weight) and liver (0.14 uCi/g) but lower in testis (0.035 uCi/g), brain (0.02 uCi/g) and Hb (0.0094 uCi/g Hb). Urine was collected from the two other mice during 48 h, and blood was collected after 21 days. 5-(2-Hydroxyethyl)cysteine was identified as a metabolite of ethylene in urine (3% of (14)C in urine) by thin-layer chromatography. The radioactivity in Hb was 0.011 uCi/g Hb. These data, together with those on specific hydroxyethyl derivatives at amino acid residues of Hb, indicated that ethylene was metabolized to ethylene oxide.
In several experiments, disposition of (14)C-ethylene (free of (l4)C-acetylene or greater than or equal to 97% pure) in male Fischer 344 rats (170-220 g) was determined over 36 hr following 5 hr exposures in a closed chamber (35 l) to 10,000 ppm (11,500 mg/cu m). In each experiment, up to four rats were exposed together in a single chamber. Within about 1 min after the end of exposure, animals were transferred to individual all-glass metabolism cages. Most of the eliminated (14)C was exhaled as ethylene (18 umol (504 ug) per rat exposed to acetylene-containing ethylene); smaller amounts were excreted in urine (2.7 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and feces (0.4 umol) and exhaled as CO2 (0.16 umol). Radioactivity was also found in blood (0.022 umol ethylene equivalents/ml), liver (0.047 umol ethylene equivalents/liver), gut (0.034 umol ethylene equivalents/gut) and kidney (0.006 umol ethylene equivalents/kidney). Pretreatment of animals with a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254; 500 mg/kg bw; single intraperitoneal injection five days before exposure) had no measurable influence on ethylene exhalation but resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in exhaled (14)CO2 (2.04 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and of (14)C in urine (11.1 umol ethylene equivalents/rat) and in blood (0.044 umol ethylene equivalents/ml). The organ burden of (14)C was one to two orders of magnitude greater in Aroclor 1254-treated than in untreated animals. Radioactivity also became detectable in lungs, brain, fat, spleen, heart and skeletal muscle. The data were interpreted as indicating that the metabolism of ethylene can be stimulated by an inducer of the mixed-function oxidase system.
Biological Half-Life:
The biological half-life of ethylene was 0.65 hr.
Mechanism of Action:
CURRENTLY, GENERAL ANESTHETICS ARE THOUGHT TO ACT BY FLUIDIZING LIPID (CRITICAL VOL HYPOTHESIS) IN MEMBRANES OF NERVE CELLS, WHICH INTERFERES WITH NORMAL PHYSIOLOGIC FUNCTIONS OF MEMBRANES. THIS THEORY IS COMPATIBLE FOR ALL GENERAL ANESTHETICS ... /GENERAL ANESTHETICS/
Ethylene interferes with the activities of plant hormones causing growth retardation.
An angular transducer has been used to measure the short-term growth response in submerged and ethylene-treated deep-water rice plants. The lag time between the start of submergance and the onset of the response is 200 minutes, indicating that growth-related biosynthetic processes take place before internodal elongation starts. The level of endogenous ethylene in the internodes rises steeply prior to the onset of growth, which is further support for the hypothesis that accumulation of ethylene is a prerequisite for the growth response in submerged plants. The growth rate plotted against time shows a 1st peak after 6 hr, followed by a decrease and subsequent increase in the growth rate. Similar growth curves have also been found in other plants after application of IAA and gibberellic acid. Partial adaption of plants to growth hormones may be the reason for biphasic growth-response curves.
Interactions:
THE RATE OF RISE OF ALVEOLAR ETHYLENE CONCN WILL BE ACCELERATED WHEN ADMIN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH 70% NITROUS OXIDE.
Pharmacology:
Therapeutic Uses:
Humans exposed to as much as 50% ethylene in air, whereby the oxygen availability is decreased to 10%, experience loss of consciousness, and death may follow at 8% /oxygen/ ... . Therefore, ethylene used as an anesthetic agent /SRP: Former use/ should be supplemented with the appropriate oxygen concn.
/SRP: Former use/ It is one of the preferred anesthetic agents; its advantages over comparable human anesthetics are rapid onset and recovery time after exposure termination and little or no effect on cardiac and pulmonary functions. That is, respiration, blood pressure, and pulse rates are rarely changed, even under anesthetic conditions. Cardiac arrhythmias occur infrequently and affect little the renal and hepatic functions. ... However, the disadvantage as an anesthetic is its explosion and flammability properties, which may coincide with the most commonly applied concentration ranges.
/SRP: Former use/ ... FOR ANALGESIA, FEW INHALATIONS OF 25-35% MIXT WITH OXYGEN. FOR INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA, 80-90% CONCN OF ETHYLENE WITH 10-20% OXYGEN ... . HOWEVER, 90% CONCN ... SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR NO LONGER THAN 2-3 MIN. PATIENTS USUALLY CAN BE MAINTAINED ON MIXT OF 80% ETHYLENE & 20% OXYGEN. IF SATISFACTORY ANESTHESIA CANNOT BE ATTAINED WITH ETHYLENE, GAS MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH BARBITURATE, STRONG ANALGESIC, OR OTHER ANESTHETIC VAPOR (EG, ETHER, HALOTHANE).
/SRP: Former use/ ... SPEED OF INDUCTION IS RAPID, EXCEEDING THAT OF NITROUS OXIDE. AFTER PATIENT HAS TAKEN SIX OR MORE DEEP INHALATIONS, MENTAL CLOUDING SUPERVENES & UNCONSCIOUSNESS SOON FOLLOWS.
/SRP: Former use/ IN ORDER TO SPEED INDUCTION, HYPOXIC MIXTURES OF ETHYLENE & OXYGEN (EG 85:15) ARE SOMETIMES ADMIN FOR FEW MIN AT THE BEGINNING OF ANESTHESIA.
/SRP: Former use/ WHEN AN ANESTHETIC MIXT OF ETHYLENE & OXYGEN IS INHALED, SURGICAL ANESTHESIA ... OCCURS IN 2 TO 5 MIN. AFTER ADEQUATE PREANESTHETIC MEDICATION, ETHYLENE CAN CARRY ANESTHESIA TO LOWER BORDER OF PLANE ONE ...
/SRP: Former use/ ... SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS CAN OFTEN BE ANESTHETIZED WITH ETHYLENE-OXYGEN MIXT ALONE. SUBANESTHETIC CONCN OF ETHYLENE ARE ANALGESIC, AND INHALATION OF 25 TO 35% OF GAS PRODUCES MAXIMAL ANALGESIA WITHOUT LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR COOPERATIVENESS.
/SRP: Former use/ THE RESPIRATORY MECHANISM OF FETUS & ACTIVITY OF UTERUS ARE NOT DEPRESSED WHEN ETHYLENE IS USED IN OBSTETRICS, PROVIDED PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN TO AVOID HYPOXIA.
/SRP: Former use/ IT PERMITS RAPID INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA. EXCITEMENT & STRUGGLE ARE MINIMAL, & RECOVERY ... IS RAPID. MYOCARDIUM IS NOT "SENSITIZED" TO CATECHOLAMINES BY ETHYLENE.
Drug Warnings:
CHIEF DISADVANTAGE ... IS THAT IT IS EXPLOSIVE. ... EXPLOSIVE RANGE OF ETHYLENE-OXYGEN MIXT IS BROAD, MOST EASILY IGNITED RANGE BEING 5 TO 25% ... DIL WITH AIR OR OXYGEN; MOST CRITICAL TIME ... IS AT END OF ANESTHESIA ... THIS FACT MAKES ... /IT/ UNSUITABLE WHEN IT MUST BE USED INTERMITTENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE DURING LABOR.
POSTANESTHETIC NAUSEA & VOMITING ARE LESS FREQUENT & LESS SEVERE THAN AFTER ETHER.
IT HAS DISADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING INADEQUATE MUSCLE RELAXATION. CONCENTRATIONS SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO INDUCE HYPOXIA MUST BE EMPLOYED AND THE GAS-OXYGEN MIXTURES ARE EXPLOSIVE; FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED DURING ETHYLENE ANESTHESIA. CONSEQUENTLY, ITS USE HAS DECLINED MARKEDLY IN RECENT YEARS.
Interactions:
THE RATE OF RISE OF ALVEOLAR ETHYLENE CONCN WILL BE ACCELERATED WHEN ADMIN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH 70% NITROUS OXIDE.
Environmental Fate & Exposure:
Environmental Fate/Exposure Summary:
Ethylene's release to the environment is wide spread since it is a ubiquitous product of incomplete combustion and it is produced by all plant tissue in significant amounts and acts as an endogenous plant growth regulator. In the atmosphere, gas-phase ethylene may be degraded by ozone (half-life of 6.5 days), nitrate radicals (half-life of 190 days), or photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals (estimated half-life of 1.9 days). Hydrolysis, bioconcentration, adsorption, and biodegradation are not expected to be important fate processes of ethylene in soil or aquatic ecosystems. In soil and water, ethylene may oxidize to ethylene oxide. The high vapor pressure suggests that the gas may permeate through soil and sediment. Volatilization is expected to be the primary environmental fate process in soil and water. Volatilization half-lives from a model river and a model environmental lake have been estimated to be 1.6 and 50 hr, respectively. The most probable route of human exposure to ethylene is by inhalation of contaminated air. (SRC)
Probable Routes of Human Exposure:
Under environmental conditions, ethylene is a gas; therefore, the most probable route of human exposure to ethylene is by inhalation. (SRC)
THERE IS LITTLE OPPORTUNITY OF EXPOSURE ... DURING ITS MFR BECAUSE PROCESS TAKES PLACE IN CLOSED SYSTEM. EXPOSURES MAY OCCUR AS RESULT OF LEAKS, SPILLS OR OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT RESULT IN RELEASE OF GAS INTO AIR. EMPTY TANKS ... THAT HAVE CONTAINED ETHYLENE ARE ... POTENTIAL SOURCE OF EXPOSURE.
... Cigarette smoke ...
NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 12,280 workers are potentially exposed to ethylene in the USA(1).
On July 30, 1992, a human operating a walk-behind alkylate-fuelled lawn mower was exposed to ethylene a concn of 70 ug/cu-m(1). On September 23, 1992, a human driving a car in urban traffic was exposed to ethylene at a concn of 9 ug/cu-m(1).
Body Burden:
Ethylene was detected in the expired air from 2 of 8 volunteers (1 smoker) during a test period of approximately 1 hr at quantities of 120 ug (smoker) and 0.91 ug(1).
Natural Pollution Sources:
Ethylene is produced by all plant tissues in significant amounts and acts as an endogenous plant growth regulator(1). It has been found in the gaseous metabolites released by germinating bean, corn, cotton, and pea seeds, from fading morning glory flowers and from ripening avocadoes and apples(1,3). Ethylene is produced by soil microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria(1). Ethylene is released to the atmosphere in emissions from biomass combustion and volcanos(2). Photodegradation of dissolved organic material possibly released from plankton is expected to be the primary production mechanism of ethylene in the mid-Atlantic ocean(4).
Artificial Pollution Sources:
Exhaust gases from jet engines ... The combustion products of burning white pine wood ... .
... In cigarette smoke ... .
Emission of burning woodchips and green brush ... /and/ burning wheat straw ... .
Emissions from burning agricultural wastes ... .
Flue gas of municipal incinerator ... .
Ethylene is released in emissions from acrylonitrile, chemical and petroleum manufacture, auto and diesel exhaust, polymer, refuse, wood(1) and polyethylene(2) combustion, foundries, sewage treatment plants, turbine engines, veneer drying, wood pulping, tobacco smoke, and some solvents(1).
Environmental Fate:
TERRESTRIAL FATE: Volatilization is expected to be the primary fate process of ethylene in soil(SRC) based on a measured vapor pressure of 5.213X10+4 mm Hg at 25 deg C(1) and a Henry's Law constant of 0.228 atm-cu m/mole at 25 deg C(2). Calculated Kocs of 100 and 300(3,SRC) indicate a medium to high mobility class for ethylene in soils(4); however, its high vapor pressure would suggest that the gas may permeate through soil(SRC). Pure culture studies suggest that ethylene may be susceptible to microbial degradation; however, it is expected to oxidize to ethylene oxide which is not metabolized and may accumulate in the environment(5-6).
AQUATIC FATE: Ethylene may oxidize to ethylene oxide in water(4-5). Hydrolysis of ethylene is not expected to be an important fate process in aquatic environments(3,SRC). Estimated Kocs of 100 and 300(3,SRC) and a high vapor pressure of 5.213X10+4 mm Hg at 25 deg C(1) indicate that the gas may permeate through organic matter contained in sediments and suspended material(SRC). The experimental Henry's Law constant of 0.228 atm-cu m/mole at 25 deg C(2) suggests rapid volatilization of ethylene from environmental waters(3). Based on this Henry's Law constant, the volatilization half-life from a model river has been estimated to be 1.6 hr(3,SRC)
ATMOSPHERIC FATE: Based on the experimental vapor pressure of 5.213X10+4 mm Hg at 25 deg C(1), ethylene is expected to exist almost entirely in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere(2). Vapor-phase ethylene will degrade rapidly in the ambient atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals with a half-life of about 1.9 days(3,SRC). Vapor-phase ethylene will also degrade in the ambient atmosphere by reaction with ozone and nitrate radicals with respective half-lives of 6.5 and 190 days(4,5,SRC).
Environmental Biodegradation:
Pure culture studies suggest that ethylene may be susceptible to microbial degradation(1-3).
Environmental Abiotic Degradation:
Estimated lifetime under photochemical smog conditions in S.E. England: 7.2 hours.
The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylene with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals is measured to be 8.52X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 deg C which corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 1.9 days at an atmospheric concn of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1,SRC). The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylene with ozone in the troposphere is measured to be 1.75X10-18 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 deg C which corresponds to a half-life of about 6.5 days at an atmospheric concn of 7X10+11 molecules per cu cm(2,SRC). The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of ethylene with nitrate radicals (NO3) is measured to be 2.14X10-16 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 deg C(3) which corresponds to a half-life of about 190 days at an atmospheric concn of 2X10+8 NO3 radicals per cu cm(4,SRC). Alkenes are generally resistent to environmental hydrolysis(5); therefore, hydrolysis is not expected to be an important aquatic fate process of ethylene(SRC).
Environmental Bioconcentration:
No bioaccumulation.
Based on a measured water solubility of 131 mg/l at 25 deg C(3), a measured log octanol/water partition coefficient of 1.13(2), and recommended regression-derived equations(1), BCFs for ethylene can be estimated to be 40 and 4, respectively(SRC). These BCF values indicate that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms will not be an important fate process for ethylene(SRC).
Soil Adsorption/Mobility:
Based on a measured water solubility of 131 mg/l at 25 deg C(3), a measured log octanol/water partition coefficient of 1.13(2), and recommended regression-derived equations(1), Kocs for ethylene can be estimated to be 300 and 100, respectively(SRC). According to a suggested classification scheme(4), these Kocs indicate that ethylene will have medium to high mobility in soil(SRC).
Volatilization from Water/Soil:
The Henry's Law constant for ethylene has been measured to be 0.228 atm-cu m/mole at 25 deg C(1). According to a suggested classification scheme(2), this Henry's Law constant indicates that volatilization is rapid from all bodies of water. Based on this Henry's Law constant, the volatilization half-life from a model river (1 m deep flowing 1 m/sec with a wind velocity of 3 m/sec) can be estimated to be about 1.6 hours(2,SRC). The volatilization half-life from a model lake (1 meter deep flowing 0.05 m/sec with a wind velocity of 0.5 m/sec) can be estimated to be about 50 hours(2,SRC).
Environmental Water Concentrations:
SURFACE WATER: Ethylene was found at a concn range of 63-246 pMol/l in sea water from the mid- Atlantic ocean during September and October of 1988(2). In April of 1985, ethylene was detected in several water samples taken from the Indian Ocean along the coast of Madagascar and Africa at a concn range of 6-36 ppbV(1). In June of 1976, ethylene was found in South Texas Coastal waters at a concn range of 5.8-13.2 nl/l; the major source of ethylene in this area is expected to be offshore petroleum operations(3). In 1977, concns of ethylene (20.1 and 20.7 nl/l) were detected in the Gulf of Mexico near the outflow of the Mississippi River and the discharge of formation waters and hydrocarbon venting from offshore oil production; other concns monitored in the Gulf of Mexico ranged from 0.6-5 nl/l(4). Ethylene concns in the Caribbean Sea were monitored to be 3.7-4.7 nl/l in 1977(4).
SURFACE WATER: During 1966-1973, ethylene was found in several surface waters (concn): Gulf of Mexico (1.7-35 nl/l), Caribbean Sea (2.2-12 nl/l), Atlantic Ocean (1.1-11 nl/l), Pacific Ocean (2-11 nl/l), York River, VA (13 nl/l), Potomac River (11 nl/l), and the lower Chesapeake Bay (9 nl/l)(1).
Effluent Concentrations:
In May of 1983, emissions of ethylene from automobile exhaust ranged from 4.45 to 7.44 %TNMHC (total non- methane hydrocarbon) at 6 sites on U.S. Highway 70, Raleigh, NC(1). Emissions of ethylene from various gasoline fueled engines ranged from 108-135 mg/km driven(2). In another study, emissions of ethylene from various gasoline fueled engines averaged 211.94 mg/km driven in an urban area, 123.2 mg/km driven in a suburban area, 93.39 mg/km driven in a rural area, and 82.58-102.26 mg/km driven on a motorway(3). Furthermore, emissions of ethylene increased from about 6.2 to about 13 % of total hydrocarbon content (THC) when the speed increased from 20 km/hr to about 115 km/hr(3). Ethylene concns ranged from 0.04-1.06 ppm in air containing automotive emissions(4). Ethylene was qualitatively identified in emissions from burning polyethylene(5) and it has been detected in emissions from alkylate-powered lawn mowers and mopeds(7). The average concn of ethylene in the Lincoln Tunnel (connecting Weehawhen, NJ with Manhattan Island, NY) was 1,374.9 ppbC in 1970 and 408.7 ppbC in 1982(6).
Ethylene was detected in 9 jet engine emission samples at a concn range of 0.27-731.3 ppmC(1). Ethylene was detected at a concn range of 537-847 ppb in 3 wood combustion emissions(2). Ethylene was qualitatively identified in stack emissions from waste incineration(3). Emissions of ethylene from various gasoline fueled cars were: 3.02-5.31 % of total hydrocarbon content (THC) in a 1987 Toyota Camry, 3.55-7.04 %THC in a 1986 GM Grand Am, 3.8-5.91 %THC in a 1986 Ford Mustang, 5.32-9.27 %THC in a 1984 GM Cavalier, 3.13-4.75 %THC in a 1986 Chrysler Omni, 2.84-5.61 %THC in a 1987 Nissan Sentra, 4.04-6.71 %THC in a 1985 Honda Accord, 3.42-5.82 %THC in a 1987 Toyota Corolla, and 4.27- 6.37 %THC in a 1987 Dodge Caravelle(4).
Sediment/Soil Concentrations:
In 1977, respective ethylene concns in core samples taken from the Bearing shelf, Bearing slope, and Aleutian basin were: 10- 131, 11-91, and 9-150 ml/l interstitial water(1).
Atmospheric Concentrations:
... Detected in average community air at very low levels, but is more prevalent in the air of large metropolitan areas.
Urban air: 12-250 ppb; downtown Los Angeles, California: 20-102 ppb; East San Gabriel Valley: 15-37 ppb.
RURAL/REMOTE: In January of 1980, ethylene was detected at concns of 50 and 200 parts per trillion in trace gases from the South Pole and the Pacific Northwest (approximately 45 deg N), respectively(1). Ethylene was detected at an average concn range of 0.6-1.7 ppb in ambient air samples taken in Exelberg, Austria during July 15-August 22, 1987(2). Ethylene was detected at a concn range of 2.7-16.2 in 15 of 15 ambient air samples from both picnic and interior forest sites taken at Jones State Forest, TX in January of 1978(3). Ethylene was detected in the ambient air of Tulsa, OK at a concn range of 6.5-11.5 ppbC on July 27, 1978; 37 km downwind from this site, in a rural atmosphere, ethylene was detected at a concn of 1 ppbC(4). Ethylene was detected in the ambient air of Smoky Mountain National Park, TN at a concn range of 1.4-7.4 ppbC in September of 1978(4). Ethylene was detected in the ambient air of Rio Blanco county, CO at a concn range of 1.2-1.4 ppbC in September of 1978(4).
URBAN/SUBURBAN: In September of 1969, ethylene was detected in the ambient air of Pt. Barrow, AK at an average concn of 0.5 ppb(1). Ethylene was detected in the ambient air of Jetmore, KA and San Jose, CA at respective concns of 383 and 6796 parts per trillion(2). The average ethylene concn monitored in the ambient air of Harwell, England was 2.3 ppb(3). The concn range of ethylene in Houston air, which includes industrial locations and tunnels, was monitored to be 3.15-682 ppb during September of 1973-April of 1974(4).
INDOOR AIR: Ethylene was qualitatively identified in trace amounts in nuclear submarine atmospheres(1). Ethylene was detected at an average concn of 490 ppbV in the indoor air of a house in Sundarijal, Nepal during December of 1982-January of 1983; the use of biomass fuels is expected to be responsible for the high ethylene concn(2).
Food Survey Values:
Ethylene was detected at concns of 2.27 and 9.32 uL/l in internal samples of Bisbee Delicious apples from 2 orchards during fruit growth and maturation in 1990(1). Ethylene has been found in the gaseous metabolites released by germinating bean, corn, cotton, and pea seeds(2).
Plant Concentrations:
Ethylene is produced by all plant tissue in significant amounts and acts as an endogenous plant growth regulator(1).
Other Environmental Concentrations:
The average airborne yield of ethylene was measured to be 1,200 ug/cigarette(1).
Environmental Standards & Regulations:
FIFRA Requirements:
Ethylene is exempted from the requirement of a tolerance for residues when: (a) Used as a plant regulator on fruit and vegetable crops in conformity with good agricultural practice before or after harvest, or (b) Injected into the soil to cause premature germination of witchweed in bean (lima and string), cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, okra, onion, pasture grass, pea (field and sweet), peanut, pepper, potato, sweet potato, sorghum, soybean, squash, tomato, turnip, and watermelon fields as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture witchweed control program.
Chemical/Physical Properties:
Molecular Formula:
C2-H4
Molecular Weight:
28.05
Color/Form:
COLORLESS GAS
MONOCLINIC PRISMS WHEN IT SOLIDIFIES AT -181 DEG C
Odor:
SWEET
Olefinic, hedonic tone: unpleasant to neutral
Taste:
SLIGHTLY SWEET
Boiling Point:
-102.4 DEG C @ 700 MM HG
Melting Point:
-169 DEG C
Corrosivity:
Ethylene is a noncorrosive gas.
Critical Temperature & Pressure:
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE: +9.6 DEG C; CRITICAL PRESSURE: 50.7 ATM
Density/Specific Gravity:
567.37 kg/cu m (-103.8 deg C)
Heat of Combustion:
-11,272 cal/g = -471.94x10+5 J/kg
Heat of Vaporization:
207.7 Btu/lb = 115.4 cal/g = 4.832x10+5 J/kg
Octanol/Water Partition Coefficient:
Log Kow= 1.13
Solubilities:
1 VOL DISSOLVES IN ABOUT 4 VOL WATER @ 0 DEG C, IN ABOUT 9 VOL WATER @ 25 DEG C, IN ABOUT 0.5 VOL ALCOHOL @ 25 DEG C, IN ABOUT 0.05 VOL ETHER @ 15.5 DEG C
SOL IN ACETONE, BENZENE
131 mg/l at 20 deg C; 256 cu cm/l at 0 deg C
Water solubility: 131 mg/l at 25 deg C
Spectral Properties:
MAX ABSORPTION (GAS): 161.5 NM (LOG E= 3.92)
INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.363 @ 100 DEG C/D
IR: 1131 (Sadtler Research Laboratories Prism Collection)
UV: 3-3 (Organic Electronic Spectral Data, Phillips et al, John Wiley & Sons, New York)
MASS: 4 (Atlas of Mass Spectral Data, John Wiley & Sons, New York)
Surface Tension:
16 dynes/cm = 0.016 N/m at -104 deg C
Vapor Density:
0.978 (AIR= 1)
Vapor Pressure:
Vapor pressure 4,040 kPa (-1.5 deg C)
Viscosity:
0.01 mPa.s 20 deg C
Other Chemical/Physical Properties:
1 mg/cu m = 0.86 ppm; 1 ppm = 1.17 mg/cu m
BURNS WITH A LUMINOUS FLAME
Specific gravity: 0.57 at -130.8 deg C
Latent heat of fusion 3.33 kj/mole (-169.4 deg C)
Latent heat of vaporization 13.6 kj/mole (-103.8 deg C)
Heat of formation 52.47 kj/mole (25 deg C)
Ionization potential 10.51 eV
Heat capacity, constant pressure: 1.516 J/g deg C; Heat capacity, constant volume: 1.220 J/g deg C
Coefficient of thermal expansion 3.7x10-3 at 20 deg C
Heat of combustion 1,411 Kj/mole
POLYMERIZES @ HIGH PRESSURES
Henry's Law constant = 0.228 atm-cu m/mole at 25 deg C
Chemical Safety & Handling:
DOT Emergency Guidelines:
Fire or explosion: EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Health: Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning. Some may be irritating if inhaled at high concentrations. Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Public safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number ... . Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 50 to 100 meters (160 to 330 feet) in all directions. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Many gases are heavier than air and will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Keep out of low areas. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Protective clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing will only provide limited protection. Always wear thermal protective clothing when handling refrigerated/cryogenic liquids. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Evacuation: ... Fire: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for l600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Fire: DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. Small fires: Dry chemical or CO2. Large fires: Water spray or fog. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk. Fire involving Tanks: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Spill or leak: ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Prevent spreading of vapors through sewers, ventilation systems and confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. CAUTION: When in contact with refrigerated/cryogenic liquids, many materials become brittle and are likely to break without warning. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
First aid: Move victim to fresh air. Call 911 or emergency medical service. Apply artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. Clothing frozen to the skin should be thawed before being removed. In case of contact with liquefied gas, thaw frosted parts with lukewarm water. Keep victim warm and quiet. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect themselves. /Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)/
Fire or explosion: EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Silane will ignite spontaneously in air. Those substances designated with a "P" may polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Health: Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning. Some may be toxic if inhaled at high concentrations. Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Public safety: CALL Emergency Response Telephone Number ... . Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions. Keep unauthorized personnel away. Stay upwind. Many gases are heavier than air and will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Keep out of low areas. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Protective clothing: Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Structural firefighters' protective clothing will only provide limited protection. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Evacuation: ... Fire: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Fire: DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. Small fires: Dry chemical or CO2. Large Fires: Water spray, fog or regular foam. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk. Fire involving tanks: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles, if this is impossible withdraw from area and let fire burn. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Spill or leak: ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
First aid: Move victim to fresh air. Call 911 or emergency medical service. Apply artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with liquefied gas, thaw frosted parts with lukewarm water. Keep victim warm and quiet. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, and take precautions to protect themselves. /Ethylene; Ethylene, compressed/
Odor Threshold:
Odor Index at 20 deg C = 57,100
Detection in air by odor (purity not specified) 2.60x10+2 ppm.
Fire Potential:
Flammable gas
VERY DANGEROUS, WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT OR FLAME.
NFPA Hazard Classification:
Health: 1. 1= Materials that, on exposure, would cause irritation, but only minor residual injury, including those requiring the use of an approved air-purifying respirator. These materials are only slightly hazardous to health and only breathing protection is needed.
Flammability: 4. 4= This degree includes flammable gases, pyrophoric liquids, and Class IA flammable liquids. The preferred method of fire attack is to stop the flow of material or to protect exposures while allowing the fire to burn itself out.
Reactivity: 2. 2= This degree includes materials that are normally unstable and readily undergo violent chemical change, but are not capable of detonation. This includes materials that can undergo chemical change with rapid release of energy at normal temperatures and pressures and materials that can undergo violent chemical changes at elevated temperatures and pressures. This also includes materials that may react violently with water or that may form potentially explosive mixtures with water. In advanced or massive fires involving these materials, fire fighting should be done from a safe distance or from a protected location.
Flammable Limits:
Lower flammable limit: 2.7% by volume; Upper flammable limit: 36.0% by volume
Autoignition Temperature:
914 deg F (490 deg C)
Fire Fighting Procedures:
STOP FLOW OF GAS, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL OR FINE WATER SPRAY.
If material on fire or involved in fire: Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. /Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid/
Evacuation: If fire becomes uncontrollable or container is exposed to direct flame; consider evacuation of one-third (1/3) mile radius. /Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid/
Stop flow of gas before extinguishing fire. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Use fine spray or fog to control fire by preventing its spread and absorbing some of its heat. Dry chemical or carbon dioxide may be appropriate. Fight fire from protected location or maximum possible distance. Use remote equipment wherever possible.
Firefighting Hazards:
Flashback along vapor trail may occur.
Closed containers may rupture violently when heated.
Ethylene floats and boils on water.
Explosive Limits & Potential:
3.1-32%
ETHYLENE-AIR MIXT OF FROM 3-28% ETHYLENE & ETHYLENE-O2 MIXTURE OF FROM 3-80% ETHYLENE ARE EXPLOSIVE.
Explosive decomposition occurred at 350 deg C under a pressure of 170 bar.
The limiting pressures and temperatures for explosive decomposition of ethylene with electric initiation were determined in the ranges 100-250 bar and 120-250 deg C.
Hazardous Reactivities & Incompatibilities:
Reacts vigorously with oxidizing materials.
CAN REACT VIGOROUSLY WITH ALCL3, (CCL4 + BENZOYL PEROXIDE), (BROMOTRICHLOROMETHANE + ALCL3), O3.
In absence of nitrogen as a diluent, interaction with /trifluoromethyl hypofluorite/ ... /and/ ethylene is explosive on mixing.
EXPLOSIVE REACTION WITH CHLORINE IS POSSIBLE.
A violent explosion occurred when a mixture of tetrafluoroethylene and excess ethylene was heated at 160 deg C and 480 bar. Traces of oxygen must be vigorously excluded.
Hazardous Polymerization:
Hazardous polymerization may occur.
Polymerization of ethylene in presence of metallic copper becomes violent above a pressure of 54 bar at about 400 deg C, much carbon being deposited.
Preventive Measures:
Personnel protection: Avoid breathing vapors. Keep upwind. ... Do not handle broken packages unless wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Approach fire with caution. /Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid/
If material not on fire and not involved in fire: Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Attempt to stop leak if without undue personnel hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors. /Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid/
Evacuation: If material leaking (not on fire) consider evacuation from downwind area ased on amount of material spilled, location and weather conditions. /Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid/
Shipment Methods and Regulations:
No person may /transport,/ offer or accept a hazardous material for transportation in commerce unless that person is registered in conformance ... and the hazardous material is properly classed, described, packaged, marked, labeled, and in condition for shipment as required or authorized by ... /the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR 171-177)./
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations are published by the IATA Dangerous Goods Board pursuant to IATA Resolutions 618 and 619 and constitute a manual of industry carrier regulations to be followed by all IATA Member airlines when transporting hazardous materials.
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code lays down basic principles for transporting hazardous chemicals. Detailed recommendations for individual substances and a number of recommendations for good practice are included in the classes dealing with such substances. A general index of technical names has also been compiled. This index should always be consulted when attempting to locate the appropriate procedures to be used when shipping any substance or article.
Storage Conditions:
STORE IN COOL DRY, WELL-VENTILATED LOCATION. PROTECT AGAINST STATIC ELECTRICITY & LIGHTNING. ISOLATE FROM OXIDIZING MATERIALS, HALOGENS, AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES.
FOR USE AS AN ANESTHETIC, ETHYLENE IS PURIFIED & STORED AS A GAS IN STEEL CYLINDERS.
Protect containers against physical damage. Outdoor or detached storage is preferred. For indoor storage, use a fireproof, well-ventilated, area isolated from any sources of ignition.
Cleanup Methods:
Spills on land: Contain if possible, by forming mechanical and/or chemical barriers to prevent spreading.
Spills on water: Contain if possible. If solubilized in water, apply activated carbon at 10% of the spill amount over the region occupied by 10 mg/l or greater concentrations. Mechanical dredges or lifts may then be used to remove immobilized masses of pollutants. Peat moss is also recommended as a sorbent.
By forced ventilation, maintain concentration of gas below the range of explosive mixture. Remove the tank or cylinder to an open area. Leave to bleed off in the atmosphere.
Disposal Methods:
Do not discharge ethylene directly into sewers or surface waters. Dispose of by incineration. If necessary, a flammable solvent may be added to aid in burning. Occupational Exposure Standards:
Threshold Limit Values:
Simple asphyxiant - inert gas or vapor. A TLV may not be recommended for each simple asphyxiant because the limiting factor is the available oxygen.
A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Manufacturing/Use Information:
Major Uses:
OXYETHYLENE WELDING & CUTTING METALS; MFR MUSTARD GAS AND MANY OTHER ORGANICS; MEDICATION: INHALATION ANESTHETIC
REFRIGERANT
PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR
CHEM INT FOR ETHYLENE OXIDE, ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE, ETHYLBENZENE, ETHYL ALCOHOL, ACETALDEHYDE, LINEAR PRIMARY ALCOHOLS & VINYL ACETATE MONOMER; MONOMER FOR POLYETHYLENE
Manufacture of ethyl chloride
Raw material for anesthetics
Cooling medium
Solvent
Manufacture of tetraethyl lead
THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIAL USE OF ETHYLENE IS AS A "BUILDING BLOCK" FOR CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS WHICH IN TURN ARE USED TO MFR A LARGE VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES AND PRODUCTS. SOME OF MAJOR CHEM & MATERIALS DERIVED FROM ETHYLENE ARE: VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER OR 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE ... STYRENE MONOMER ... ACETALDEHYDE ...
COMPRESSED GAS USED TO INITIATE DEGREENING & RIPENING OF BANANAS, CITRUS FRUITS, HONEYDEW MELONS, PEARS, & PINEAPPLES. APPLIED BEFORE HARVEST OF PINEAPPLES TO INDUCE FLOWERING.
MEDICATION
Manufacturers:
Amoco Chemical Company, 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, (312) 856-3200; Chemical & Specialty Product Group; Production site: Alvin, TX 77512-1488
Lyondell Petrochemical Co, One Houston Center, 1221 McKinney, Suite 1600, PO Box 3646, Houston, TX 77253-3646 (713) 652-7200; Production site: Channelview, TX 77530
Chevron Chemical Co, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583 (510) 842-5500; Olefins and Derivatives Division, PO Box 3766, Houston, TX 77253; Production sites: Cedar Bayou, TX 77520; Port Arthur, TX 77640
Dow Chemical USA, Hq, 2020 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48674, (517) 636-1000; Production sites: Freeport, TX 77541; Plaquemine, LA 70764
Du Pont, 1007 Market St, Wilmington, DE 19898, (302) 774-1000; Du Pont Chemicals (800) 441-9442; Production site: Orange, TX 77630
Eastman Chemical Company, PO Box 431, Kingsport, TN 37662 (615) 229-2000; Texas Eastman Co; Production site: Longview, TX 75607
Exxon Chemical Co, 13501 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079 (713) 870-6000, division; Exxon Chemical Americas, PO Box 3272, Houston, TX 77253-3272; Production sites: Baton Rouge, LA 70821; Baytown, TX 77520
The BFGoodrich Co, Hq, 3925 Embassy Parkway, Akron, OH 44313, (216) 374-2000; BFGoodrich Chemical Group, 6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44131; Production site: Calvert City, KY 42029
Koch Refining Co, PO Box 2256, Wichita, KS 67201, (316) 832-5259; Production site: Corpus Christi, TX 78403
Mobil Oil Corp, 3225 Gallows Rd, Fairfax, VA 22037-0001 (703) 846-3000; Mobil Chemical Company, division, 100 First Stamford Place, PO Box 10070, Stamford, CT 06904-2070; Petrochemicals Division, Intercontinental Center, Suite 906, 15600 JF Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, TX 77032-2343; Production sites: Beaumont, TX 77704-2295; 9822 La Porte Freeway, Houston, TX 77017
Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Hq, 10889 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90024, (310) 879-1700; Petrochemical, Occidental Tower, 5005 LBJ Freeway, PO Box 809050 (75380), Dallas, TX 75244 (214) 404-3800; Production sites: Chocolate Bayou, TX 77511; Corpus Christi, TX 78410; Lake Charles, LA 70629
Sun Co, Inc (R&M), 1801 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, (215) 977-3451; Production sites: Brandenburg, KY 40108 (Doe Run Works); Claymont, DE 19703
Phillips Petroleum Company, Hq, Phillips Building, Bartlesville, OK 74004, (918) 661-6600; Chemicals Division; Olefins and Cyclics Branch; Production site: Sweeny, TX 77480
Quantum Chemical Co, 11500 Northlake Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45249 (513) 530-6500; Production sites: Clinton, IA 52732; Morris, IL 60450; Deer Park, TX 77536
Rexene Corp, Hq, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Occidental Tower, Dallas, TX 75244, (214) 450-9000; Production site: Odessa, TX 79760
Shell Oil Co, Hq, One Shell Plaza, PO Box 2463, Houston, TX 77252-2463, (713) 241-6161; Shell Chemical Co, division (address same as Hq); Production sites: Deer Pk, TX 77536 (Houston plant); Norco, LA 70079
Texaco Chemical Co, 3040 Post Oak Blvd, PO Box 27707, Houston, TX 77056 (713) 961-3711; Company's sale to Huntsman Chemical Corp is anticipated during the first quarter, 1994; Huntsman Chemical Corp, 2000 Eagle Gate Tower, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 532- 5200; Production sites: Port Arthur, TX 77640; Port Neches, TX 77651
Formosa Plastics Corporation U.S.A., 9 Peach Tree Rd, Livingston, NJ 07039 (201) 992-2090; Production site: Point Comfort, TX 77978
Union Carbide Corporation, Hq, Old Ridgeway Road, Danbury, CT 06817, (203) 794-2000; CIndustrial Chemicals Division; Production sites: Seadrift, TX 77983; Taft, LA 70057; Texas City, TX 77590
Javelina Gas Processing, 5314 I-37 Frontage Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78407 (512) 289-4900; Production site: Corpus Christi, TX 78407
Sweeny Olefins Limited Partnership, 820B Adams Bldg, Bartlesville, OK 74004 (918) 661-4011; Production site: Sweeny, TX 77480
Methods of Manufacturing:
CRACKING OF ETHANE, PROPANE AND BUTANE RECOVERED FROM PROCESSING OF NATURAL GAS AND OF HEAVIER FEEDSTOCKS SUCH AS NAPHTHA. RECLAMATION FROM THE BY PRODUCT OFF-GASES GENERATED DURING THE CRACKING OF PETROLEUM IN GASOLINE REFINING
BY ABSTRACTING 1 MOLECULE OF WATER FROM 1 MOLECULE OF ETHYL ALCOHOL. THIS MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PASSING ALCOHOL THROUGH A RED-HOT TUBE CONTAINING ALUMINUM OXIDE OR THROUGH A TOWER OF COKE IMPREGNATED WITH GLACIAL PHOSPHORIC ACID (METAPHOSPHORIC ACID).
Although ethylene is produced by various methods as follows, only a few are commercially proven: thermal cracking of hydrocarbons (the principal route for the industrial production of ethylene), catalytic pyrolysis, membrane dehydrogenation of ethane, oxydehydrogenation of ethane, oxidative coupling of methane, methanol to ethylene, dehydration of ethanol, ethylene from coal, disproportionation of propylene, and ethylene as a by-product.
General Manufacturing Information:
ETHYLENE, NF /IS/ MARKETED UNDER GENERIC NAME AS COMPRESSED GAS @ 750 PSI IN RED (WHO, VIOLET) METAL CYLINDERS.
6th highest-volume chemical produced in US (1979)
Formulations/Preparations:
GRADES: TECHNICAL (95% MIN); 99.5 MIN; 99.9 MOLE %; NF.
Impurities:
PURITY NOT LESS THAN 96% ETHYLENE BY GAS VOL, NOT MORE THAN 0.5% ACETYLENE, NOT MORE THAN 4% METHANE & ETHANE.
Consumption Patterns:
40.5% FOR POLYETHYLENE; 19.5% FOR ETHYLENE OXIDE; 14% FOR ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE; 8.5% FOR ETHYLBENZENE; 5.5% FOR ETHYL ALCOHOL; 4% FOR ACETALDEHYDE; 2% FOR LINEAR PRIMARY ALCOHOLS; 2% FOR VINYL ACETATE MONOMER; 4% FOR MISC APPLICATIONS (1973)
... LESS THAN 0.5 MILLION KG ETHYLENE ARE USED ANNUALLY TO RIPEN FRUITS & VEGETABLES.
Polyethylene resins, 48%; Ethylene oxide, 18%; Ethylene dichloride, 13%; Ethylbenzene, 8%; Linear alcohols, 5%; Vinyl Acetate, 2%; Ethyl alcohol, 2%; Miscellaneous, 4% (1984)
CHEMICAL PROFILE: Ethylene. Low-density polyethylene (including linear low-density polyethylene), 28%; high-density polyethylene, 24%; ethylene oxide, 14.8%; ethylene dichloride, 12.3%; ethylbenzene, 8%; linear olefins and alcohols, 6%; vinyl acetate monomer, 2.6%; acetaldehyde, 1.3%; ethyl alcohol, 1%; ethylene-propylene elastomers, 1%; miscellaneous, 1%.
CHEMICAL PROFILE: Ethylene. Demand: 1987: 35.1 billion lb; 1988: 36 billion lb; 1991 /projected/: 40 billion lb (Foreign trade is negligible).
Uses: Low-density polyethylene (including linear low-density polyethylene), 28%; high-density polyethylene, 25%; ethylene oxide, 14 %; ethylene dichloride, 13%; ethylbenzene, 7%; linear olefins and alcohols, 6%; vinyl acetate monomer, 3%; acetaldehyde, 1%; ethyl alcohol, 1%; ethylene-propylene elastomers, 1%; miscellaneous, 1%.
U. S. Production:
(1972) 9.47X10+12 GRAMS
(1975) 9.31X10+12 GRAMS
(1985) 1.39X10+12 g
(1990) 36.47 billion lb
(1991) 39.96 billion lb
(1992) 40.93 billion lb
(1993) 41.25 billion lb
U. S. Imports:
(1972) NEGLIGIBLE
(1984) 1.50X10+9 g
Imports grew from 20 million pounds in 1991 to 95 million pounds in 1992.
U. S. Exports:
(1972) NEGLIGIBLE
(1975) 1.41X10+9 GRAMS
Exports rose from barely 1 million pounds in 1991 to over 35 million pounds in 1992.
Laboratory Methods:
Clinical Laboratory Methods:
ASSAY METHOD INTENDED FOR MEDICINAL USE INVOLVES GC & THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY DETECTOR (CARSON, NA; J ASSOC OFF ANAL CHEM; 55, 1067 (1972)).
Analytic Laboratory Methods:
METHODS OF DETECTING UNSATURATED HYDROCARBONS, INCL ETHYLENE, IN AIR ... INFRA-RED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY HAS BEEN USED TO DETECT ETHYLENE IN GASEOUS MIXTURES, WITH LIMIT OF DETECTION OF 50 UG. GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY COMBINED WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY ...
Nondispersive IR: Minimum full scale: 500 ppm.
... /The/ ethane and ethylene formed and expired into hydrocarbon-purified air were sampled and analyzed by gas chromatography.
ASTM Method D4490; Toxic gas vapor detector tube, Detection limit = 0.1 ppm.
Sampling Procedures:
UNICO detector tube: 0.5 ppm; AVER detector tube: 10 ppm; DRAGER detector tube: 5,000 ppm.
Special References:
Special Reports:
Toxicology Review: Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 8: 91 (1967)
Environment Canada; Tech Info for Problem Spills: Ethylene (Draft) (1981)
Hopkins J; Food Chem Toxicol 32 (2): 191-3 (1994). Review of the carcinogenic potential of ethylene.
Synonyms and Identifiers:
Synonyms:
ACETENE
ATHYLEN (GERMAN)
BICARBURRETTED HYDROGEN
ELAYL
ETHENE
ETILENO
LIQUID ETHYLENE
OLEFIANT GAS
Formulations/Preparations:
GRADES: TECHNICAL (95% MIN); 99.5 MIN; 99.9 MOLE %; NF.
Shipping Name/ Number DOT/UN/NA/IMO:
UN 1962; Ethylene, compressed
IMO 2.1; Ethylene, compressed; ethylene, refrigerated liquid
UN 1038; Ethylene, refrigerated liquid
Standard Transportation Number:
49 057 34; Ethylene, compressed
49 057 35; Ethylene, refrigerated liquid
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