Key Points

Fire

• Highly flammable
• Reacts violently with aluminium, alkali metals, alkali amides, ammonia, bases, and strong oxidants
• Emits toxic and corrosive fumes of phosgene and hydrogen chloride when heated to decomposition
• In the event of a fire involving dichloroethane, use fine water spray and normal fire kit with breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxic via inhalation, ingestion or dermal contact
• CHIP: Highly flammable, carcinogenic, harmful and irritant
• Inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption can cause systemic effects including initial excitement, headache and dizziness followed by drowsiness and coma. Cardiac arrhythmias and renal and hepatic effects may also occur.
• Ingestion also causes 'burning' in the mouth and throat, epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting.
• Irritating to the skin and eyes

Environment

• Avoid release into the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial incidents

 

All sections are available to download in PDF format.

• Incident Management (PDF, 122 KB)
  Dichloroethane - Incident Management
  Added/updated: 24 May 2011