Ethyl bromide

Synonyms

Bromic ether; Bromoethane; Bromure d'ethyle; Ethane, bromo-; Ethyl bromide; Etylu bromek [Polish]; Halon 2001; Hydrobromic ether; Monobromoethane; [ChemIDplus] UN1891

Category

Brominated Solvents

Description

Colorless to yellow liquid with an ether-like odor; Note: A gas above 101 degrees F; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in organic synthesis and as a solvent for chemicals and pharmaceuticals; Used in the past as a refrigerant and an anesthetic; [ACGIH]

Comments

Anesthesia and liver toxicity occur in animal inhalation studies; [ACGIH] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression; [ICSC]

Biomedical References

Yes

5 ppm

200 ppm

2000 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Concentrations of 12,000 ppm caused immediate eye irritation in volunteers and 5 minutes at 6,500 ppm resulted in eye irritation, headache, and vertigo [Sayers and Yant 1929]. Workers exposed intermittently to concentrations up to 1,500 ppm complained of no systematic symptoms over a period of several years [Watrous 1947].

467 mm Hg

3.1 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 26,980 ppm/1H

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from CHEMINFO; Flash point = -20 deg C; VP from HSDB;

may ignite at ambient temp

Acute solvent syndrome

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Not classifiable

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Solvents, acute toxic effect