Ethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrabromo-

RTECS #
KI8225000
CAS #
79-27-6
See: NMAM or OSHA Methods
Updated
September 2013
Molecular Weight
345.68
Molecular Formula
C2H2Br4
Synonyms
1,1,2,2-Tetrabromaethan (German)
1,1,2,2-Tetrabromoetano (Italian)
1,1,2,2-Tetrabromoethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrabroomethaan (Dutch)
Acetylene tetrabromide
Acetylene tetrabromide (ACGIH:OSHA)
Muthmann's liquid
s-Tetrabromoethane
TBE
Tetrabromoacetylene

Skin and Eye Irritation and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
eye /rabbit 100 mg mildAIHAAP 24,28,1963
skin /rabbit 500 mg/24H moderateAIHAAP 24,28,1963

Mutation Data and Reference

System TestRoute/Organism/TissueDoseReference
DNA repair/Escherichia coli29640 µg/discMUREAV 41,61,1976
mutation in microorganisms/Salmonella typhimurium10 µg/plate (+/-enzymatic activation step)TECSDY 15,101,1987
sister chromatid exchangeovary/hamster158 mg/LEMMUEG 10(Suppl 10),1,1987

Tumorigenic Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
skin/mouse lowest published toxic dose: 130 gm/kg/74W- intermittentTumorigenic: Neoplastic by RTECS criteria

Lung, Thorax, or Respiration: Tumors

Skin and Appendages: Tumors
JJIND8 63,1433,1979

Acute Toxicity Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/mouse lowest published toxic concentration: 500 mg/m3/3HBehavioral: General anestheticVCVGH* -,591,1990
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 549 mg/m3/4H85GMAT -,107,1982
inhalation/rat lethal concentration (50 percent kill): 550 mg/m3VCVGH* -,572,1990
intraperitoneal/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 443 mg/kgABMGAJ 41,945,1982
oral/guinea pig lethal dose (50 percent kill): 400 mg/kgAIHAAP 30,251,1969
oral/mouse lethal dose (50 percent kill): 269 mg/kg85GMAT -,107,1982
oral/rabbit lethal dose (50 percent kill): 400 mg/kgBehavioral: General anesthetic

Liver: Fatty liver degeneration

Blood: Hemorrhage
AMIHBC 2,407,1950
oral/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 1200 mg/kgVCVGH* -,572,1990
skin/rat lethal dose (50 percent kill): 5250 mg/kg85GMAT -,107,1982

Other Multiple Dose Data and References

Route/OrganismDoseEffectReference
inhalation/guinea pig lowest published toxic concentration: 14 ppm/7H/14W- intermittentNutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gainAIHAAP 24,28,1963
inhalation/guinea pig lowest published toxic concentration: 4 ppm/7H/26W- intermittentNutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gainAIHAAP 24,28,1963
inhalation/mouse lowest published toxic concentration: 14 ppm/7H/15W- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weightAIHAAP 24,28,1963
inhalation/rabbit lowest published toxic concentration: 14 ppm/7H/15W- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weightAIHAAP 24,28,1963
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 100 mg/m3/4H/17W- intermittentLiver: Liver function tests impaired

Liver: Changes in liver weight

Blood: Hemorrhage
VRDEA5 (3),80,1967
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 14 ppm/7H/14W- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weightAIHAAP 24,28,1963
inhalation/rat lowest published toxic concentration: 4 ppm/7H/26W- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weightAIHAAP 24,28,1963
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 10920 mg/kg/13W- intermittentLiver: Liver function tests impaired

Liver: Changes in liver weight

Blood: Other changes
VRDEA5 (3),80,1967
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 1400 mg/kg/14D- intermittentBlood: Other changesJTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 2800 mg/kg/14D- intermittentBlood: Other changes

Blood: Changes in other cell count (unspecified)

Blood: Changes in erythrocyte (RBC) count
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 2800 mg/kg/14D- intermittentKidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight

Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)

Blood: Changes in erythrocyte (RBC) count
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 1400 mg/kg/14D- intermittentKidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight

Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 700 mg/kg/14D- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weightJTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 5600 mg/kg/28D- intermittentEndocrine: Other changes

Blood: Changes in platelet count
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 560 mg/kg/28D- intermittentLiver: Other changes

Blood: Changes in serum composition (e.g. TP, bilirubin, cholesterol)
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 560 mg/kg/28D- intermittentLiver: Other changesJTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 5600 mg/kg/28D- intermittentEndocrine: Other changesJTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 3600 mg/kg/18D- intermittentLung, Thorax, or Respiration: Respiratory depression

Liver: Changes in liver weight

Endocrine: Changes in spleen weight
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 3600 mg/kg/18D- intermittentLiver: Changes in liver weight

Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder: Changes in kidney weight

Endocrine: Changes in spleen weight
JTSCDR 30,29,2005
oral/rat lowest published toxic dose: 1600 mg/kg/8D- intermittentNutritional and Gross Metabolic: Weight loss or decreased weight gainJTSCDR 30,29,2005

Reviews

OrganizationStandardReference
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)Threshold Limit Value-time-weighted average 1 ppm (inhal, vapor)DTLVS* TLV/BEI,2013

Standards and Regulations

OrganizationStandardReference
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) STANDARD-airtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3)DTLVS* 3,248,1971
Occupational Exposure Limit IN ARGENTINA, BULGARIA, COLOMBIA, JORDAN check ACGIH TLV;
Occupational Exposure Limit IN SINGAPORE, VIETNAM check ACGIH TLV
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRALIAtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), JUL2008
Occupational Exposure Limit-AUSTRIAMAK-TMW 1 ppm (14 mg/m3);KZW 4 ppm (56 mg/m3), 2007
Occupational Exposure Limit-BELGIUMtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), MAR2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-DENMARKtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), MAY2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FINLANDtime-weighted average 0.5 ppm (7 mg/m3), short term exposure limit 3 ppm (43 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-FRANCEVME 1 ppm (15 mg/m3), FEB2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-ICELANDtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), NOV2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-KOREAtime-weighted average 1 ppm (15 mg/m3), 2006
Occupational Exposure Limit-MEXICOtime-weighted average 1 ppm (15 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 1.5 ppm (20 mg/m3), 2004
Occupational Exposure Limit-NEW ZEALANDtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), JAN2002
Occupational Exposure Limit-PERUtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), JUL2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWEDENtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3);short term exposure limit 2 ppm (30 mg/m3), JUN2005
Occupational Exposure Limit-SWITZERLANDMAK-week 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), KZG-week 2 ppm (28 mg/m3), JAN2011
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE NETHERLANDSMAC-TGG 7 mg/m3, Skin, 2003
Occupational Exposure Limit-THE PHILIPPINEStime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-TURKEYtime-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3), JAN1993
Occupational Exposure Limit-UNITED KINGDOMtime-weighted average 0.5 ppm (7.2 mg/m3), skin, OCT2007
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Construction)8H time-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1926.55,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Federal Contractors)8H time-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3)CFRGBR 41,50-204.50,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (General Industry)8H time-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1910.1000,1994
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (Shipyards)8H time-weighted average 1 ppm (14 mg/m3)CFRGBR 29,1915.1000,1993

NIOSH Documentation and Surveillance

OrganizationStandardReference
National Occupational Exposure Survey 1983Hazard Code 71401; Number of Industries 5; Total Number of Facilities 172; Number of Occupations 5; Total Number of Employees Exposed 2516
National Occupational Hazard Survey 1974Hazard Code 71401; Number of Industries 2; Total Number of Facilities 39; Number of Occupations 3; Total Number of Employees Exposed 440

Status in Federal Agencies

OrganizationReference
EPA GENETOX PROGRAM 1988, Positive: E coli polA without S9
EPA TSCA Section 8(b) CHEMICAL INVENTORY
EPA TSCA Section 8(d) unpublished health/safety studies
EPA TSCA TEST SUBMISSION (TSCATS) DATA BASE, JANUARY 2001
NIOSH Analytical Method, 1994: 1,1,2,2-Tetrabromoethane, 2003
NTP Toxicity studies, RPT# TOX-45, October 2000
Page last reviewed: November 16, 2018