Risk Evaluation for 1,2-Dichloroethane

In July 2024, EPA released the draft human health hazard assessment for 1,2-dichloroethane for public comment and peer review. EPA will use this assessment to inform the draft risk evaluation, which will be released for public comment and peer review at a later date. EPA designated 1,2-dichloroethane as a high priority chemical in December 2019.

Find information about other chemicals undergoing risk evaluations under TSCA.

On this page:

Hazard Assessment for 1,2-Dichloroethane
Background on 1,2-Dichloroethane
Uses of 1,2-Dichloroethane
Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment
Supporting Documents

Hazard Assessment for 1,2-Dichloroethane

EPA is requesting public comment and peer review on the draft 1,2-dichloroethane hazard assessment before releasing the full draft risk evaluation for public comment and peer review.

EPA has preliminarily determined that exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane may increase the risk of kidney and other cancers, as well as harmful non-cancer renal, nasal, immune system, and reproductive effects.

Background on 1,2-Dichloroethane

1,2-Dichloroethane (CASRN 107-06-2) is a colorless liquid, with a pleasant, chloroform-like odor, and is highly flammable. The primary use of 1,2-dichloroethane is in plastic material manufacturing to manufacture vinyl chloride. Information from the 2016 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) for 1,2-dichloroethane indicates the reported volume is between 20 and 30 billion lbs/year.

Uses of 1,2-Dichloroethane

In the final scope, EPA identified conditions of use associated with the manufacturing (including importing); processing; distribution in commerce; industrial, commercial and consumer uses; and disposal of 1,2-dichloroethane, for example:

In the manufacturing of petrochemical, plastic material and resin, and other basic organic chemicals;
In the manufacturing of petroleum and coal products, and petroleum production;
In adhesives and sealants, and heat transferring agents;
In lubricants and greases;
In solvents (for cleaning and degreasing);
As an industrial oxidizing inhibitor;
As a lead scavenger in fuels; and
In plastic and rubber products.

The above listed conditions of use are ways that a person or the environment could be potentially exposed to this chemical. However, when conducting a TSCA risk evaluation, EPA also considers the hazards (i.e., health effects or environmental impacts) that could occur from coming in contact with a chemical.

Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment

In July 2024, EPA released the draft human hazard assessment technical support document for public comment and peer review. EPA will accept public comments on the draft assessment for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0114 at www.regulations.gov.

EPA will hold a virtual public meeting of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) to discuss the draft assessment on September 17-20, 2024. EPA will also hold a virtual preparatory public meeting on August 27, 2024, for the SACC and the public to consider and ask questions regarding the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions. View the SACC website for more information on these meetings.

In August 2020, EPA published a final scope document outlining the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations the agency expects to consider in its risk evaluation. The agency released the draft scope in April 2020 and took public comments on the draft document.

As EPA continues to move through the risk evaluation process there will be additional opportunities for public comment, including a public comment period on the draft risk evaluation. In addition to public comment periods, EPA will continue to engage with stakeholders as it refines the risk evaluation and stakeholders should reach out to EPA via the staff contact to engage with the agency.

Supporting Documents

Read the Federal Register notice.

View the supporting documents in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2024-0114.

1,2-Dichloroethane Draft Human Health Hazard Assessment July 2024 (pdf) (2.78 MB)