Publication of NEG and NIOSH Basis for an Occupational Health
Standard: Ethyl Ether
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) has recently released NEG and NIOSH Basis for an
Occupational Health Standard: Ethyl Ether (1) *. This document was
developed as the result of an agreement between NIOSH and the
Nordic Expert Group for Documentation of Occupational Exposure
Limits (NEG) to exchange occupational safety and health information
and expertise.
The document presents a survey of the literature concerning
occupational exposure limits for ethyl ether. This chemical has a
wide range of uses in the chemical industry, mainly as a solvent
and an extraction medium. Ethyl ether has also been used as an
inhalation anesthetic for surgery, but it has largely been replaced
in this role by more modern anesthetics. More than 125 million tons
of ethyl ether are produced each year in the United States.
The acute and chronic toxicities of ethyl ether are low, and
the principal exposure routes in the occupational setting are
inhalation and skin contact. The critical effect of ethyl ether is
irritation of the upper respiratory passages. Long-term exposure to
low concentrations in air may produce central nervous system
symptoms such as sleepiness, dizziness, irritability, headache, and
psychic disturbances. Ethyl ether is a mild skin irritant,
especially after repeated exposures.
Reference
NIOSH. NEG and NIOSH basis for an occupational health standard:
ethyl ether. Cincinnati: US Department of Health and Human
Services, Public Health Service, CDC, 1993; DHHS publication no.
(NIOSH)93-103.
Single copies of this document are available without charge from
the Publications Office, Division of Standards Development and
Technology Transfer, NIOSH, CDC, Mailstop C-13, 4676 Columbia
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998; telephone (800) 356-4674; fax
(513) 533-8573.
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