1,2-dibromoethane

1,2-dibromoethane	Last updated: 22/01/2023
(Also known as: EDB; glycol bromide; sym-dibromide; ethylene dibromide; glycol dibromide)

SUMMARY

1,2-dibromoethane is a largely obsolete insecticide. It is not approved for use in many countries. It is highly soluble in water and volatile, classified as a POP. It can be very persistent in soil systems depending on soil type and environmental conditions. It also has the potential to leach to groundwater. 1,2-bromoethane tends to have a low to medium toxicity to most biodiversity although there are gaps in data. It has a moderate level of oral toxicity to humans, is a probable carcinogen and may also affect human fertility/reproduction.

Data alerts

The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Very persistent; GUS: High leachability	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Fish chronic ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health High alert: Carcinogen; Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

A largely obsolete post-harvest pesticide, often used in mixtures, to control termites and other insect pests

Example pests controlled

Termites; Ants; Japanese and other beetles; Moths; Nematodes; Wireworms

Example applications

Fruit including citrus, tropical fruit; Vegetables; Cereals

Efficacy & activity

Availability status

Considered obsolete but may be available in some countries; Banned in many countries

Introduction & key dates

UK regulatory status

UK COPR regulatory status

Not approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

Expired, banned

UK LERAP status

No UK approval for use

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Not approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Not applicable

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

Expired, banned

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Not applicable

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece

ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg

LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia

Additional information

Also used in

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

C₂H₄Br₂

Canonical SMILES

C(CBr)Br

Isomeric SMILES

No data

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

PAAZPARNPHGIKF-UHFFFAOYSA-N

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/C2H4Br2/c3-1-2-4/h1-2H2

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

General status

Pesticide type

Insecticide, Fumigant

Substance groups

Bromoalkane insecticide; Halogenated hydrocarbon insecticide; Fumigant insecticide

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Synthetic

Mode of action

Toxin attacking central nervous system

CAS RN

106-93-4

EC number

203-444-5

CIPAC number

125

US EPA chemical code

042002

PubChem CID

7839

CLP index number

602-010-00-6

Molecular mass

187.86

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

ethylene dibromide

CAS name

1,2-dibromoethane

Other status information

Chemical subject to PIC regulations; Potential groundwater contaminant; POP

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Classification (HRAC)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Classification (WSSA)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Classification (IRAC)

Fungicide Resistance Classification (FRAC)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

Colourless liquid

Formulations

Property

Value

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

United Phosphorous Ltd
Dow

Example products using this active

Bromofume
Dowfume
Iscobrome
Soilbrom
Soilfume

Formulation and application details

Fumigant

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

4150

at 25 °C

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

Miscible

Ethanol

Miscible

Diethyl ether

Melting point (°C)

9.8

Boiling point (°C)

131

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

132

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

9.12 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Log P

1.96

Low

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Soluble

Data type

Observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies

Density (g ml⁻¹)

2.17

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

1.49 X 10⁰⁶

at 25 °C

Highly volatile

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

6.59 X 10⁰⁹

at 25 °C

Volatile

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

100

Persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

Moderately persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

7000

Very persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

General literature states DT₅₀ 1.5 to 18 weeks (CA3); In field - small proportion of residues very persistent - 19 years (CA3)

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d

Moderately mobile

K_oc

Notes and range

K_oc range 14-160 mL g⁻¹; Other sources: 66 mL g⁻¹ (P4)

Freundlich

K_f

K_foc

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Fate indices

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

GUS leaching potential index

7.92

Calculated

High leachability

SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate

Value

4.51 X 10⁰¹

Calculated

Note

Potential for particle bound transport index

Medium

Calculated

Potential for loss via drain flow

Moderately mobile

Calculated

Bio-concentration factor

BCF (l kg⁻¹)

Low risk

Based on LogP < 3

Low risk

CT₅₀ (days)

Not available

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

108

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 130

Coturnix japonica

Moderate

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 18

Lepomis macrochirus

Moderate

Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.81

Oryzias latipes 28 day

Moderate

Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 119

Daphnia magna

Low

Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (Class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

108

Rat

Moderate

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

300

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

Dermal penetration studies (%)

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

Risk of exposure from agricultural sources is negligible
Possible risk in some countries via consumption of contaminated drinking water

Occupational

May be absorped through inhalation, ingestion, or the skin

MRLs

European

EU MRL pesticide database

Great Britain

GB MRL Register

Notes

Drinking Water Standards

Non-statutory WHO drinking water guideline 0.0004 mg l⁻¹

UK EA QS database 2018

Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

Possible liver and kidney toxicant
May cause testicular damage and antispermatogenic effects
High does may lead to death

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Corrosive
IMDG Transport Code is usually 6.1

CLP classification 2013

Health: H301, H311, H315, H319, H331, H335, H350
Environment: H411

WHO Classification

O (Obsolete substance)

UN Number

Usually 1605

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group I (great danger)

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

1,2-dibromoethane

French

dibromure d'ethylene

German

1,2-Dibromaethan

Danish

Italian

1,2-dibromoetano

Spanish

Greek

Polish

dwubromoetan

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

1,2-dibroomethaan

Record last updated:	22/01/2023
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242