Current Intelligence Bulletin 27: Chloroethanes Review of Toxicity

The purpose of this bulletin is to recommend that it would be prudent to handle 1,2-dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride); 1,1,2- trichloroethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; and hexachloroethane in the workplace as if they were human carcinogens. This recommendation is based primarily on consideration of National Cancer Institute data indicating that laboratory animals administered these compounds experienced a statistically significant excess of cancer as compared to control animals. Additionally, NIOSH recommends that five other chloroethane compounds: chloroethane* (ethyl chloride); 1,1-dichloroethane; 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methyl chloroform); 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane; and pentachloroethane be closely monitored for carcinogenic effects in humans and/or laboratory animals. These five should also be treated in the workplace with caution because of their relation to the four chloroethanes shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals.

Current Intelligence Bulletin 27: Chloroethanes Review of Toxicity