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EC number: 202-849-4 | CAS number: 100-41-4
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Acute toxicity data by oral, inhalation and dermal route indicate ethylbenzene is harmful by inhalation
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 3 500 mg/kg bw
Acute toxicity: via inhalation route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Value:
- 17 629 mg/m³ air
Acute toxicity: via dermal route
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 15 400 mg/kg bw
Additional information
Human data on the acute toxicity of ethylbenzene are not available and studies have been limited to assessments of odor and irritation/sensory irritation. In animals ethylbenzene proved to be harmful by inhalation of the vapours (the inhalation LC50 for rats is 4000 ppm or 17.6 mg/l/4 hours) (Union Carbide, 1949). Oral and dermal toxicity is low with LD50 values above 2000 mg/kg: an oral LD50 of 3500 mg/kg was determined for rats in general (Wolf et al., 1956), and an oral LD50 of 5460 mg/kg specifically for male rats (Smyth et al., 1962); the acute dermal toxicity was tested with rabbits and revealed a dermal LD50 of 15.4 g/kg (Union Carbide, 1949). On the basis of the inhalation toxicity results ethylbenzene has to be classified as "Xn, harmful" and labelled with "R 20, harmful by inhalation". Labelling because of the acute oral and dermal toxicity is not warranted.
Gerarde (1960) hypothesized that pulmonary injury resulting in chemical pneumonitis might be the principal cause of the deaths observed after oral administration of ethylbenzene to rats because necropsy after oral administration revealed hyperaemia and haemorrhage of the lungs. As a result of his experiments he concluded that aspiration of even a small amount of ethylbenzene may cause severe lung injury. And due to its low viscosity and surface tension ethylbenzene would spread over a large area of pulmonary tissue, causing oedema and haemorrhage. Therefore, labelling with "R 65, Harmful: May cause lung damage if swallowed" is necessary.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Oral LD50 for rats: 3500 mg/kg bw. In accordance to Directive 67/548/EEC and EU CLP (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008), classification is not required for acute oral toxicity based on the available data. UN GHS defines a fifth category for acute toxicity for chemicals with LD50 values between 2000 and 5000 mg/kg bw. Therefore, in non-EU countries that adopt UN GHS this substance may be allocated to Acute Toxicity Category 5.
Dermal LD50 for rabbits: 15.4 g/kg bw. No classification in accordance to Directive 67/548/EEC, EU CLP (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008) and UN GHS.
Inhalation LC50 for rats: 17.6 mg/l/4h (approx. 4000 ppmV). Xn harmful, R20 (harmful by inhalation) in accordance to Directive 67/548/EEC; Acute Toxicity Cat. 4, H332, harmful if inhaled in accordance to EU CLP (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008) and UN GHS.
Lung toxicity after oral exposure;There is indication from animal experiments that pulmonary injury resulting in chemical pneumonitis might be the principal cause of the deaths observed after oral administration of ethylbenzene to rats because necropsy after oral administration revealed hyperaemia and haemorrhage of the lungs. Therefore aspiration of even a small amount of ethylbenzene may cause severe lung injury. And due to its low viscosity and surface tension ethylbenzene would spread over a large area of pulmonary tissue, causing oedema and haemorrhage.
Therefore, the following classification is proposed:
R 65, Harmful: May cause lung damage if swallowed in accordance to Directive 67/548/EEC. A harmonized classification for ethylbenzene exists, however this hazard category is not included. Recommend is to add R65.
Aspiration Cat 1(b) based on animal and physico-chemical data; H304; may be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways in accordance to EU CLP (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008) and UN GHS.
After reviewing this information, the Committee for Risk Assessment concluded that ethylbenzene may be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways (RAC, 2012 a).
RAC (2012) Opinion proposing harmonised classification and labelling at EU level of ethylbenzene. ECHA/RAC/CLH-O-0000001542-81-03/F. Committee for Risk Assessment, adopted 5 June 2012.
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