Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Diss Factsheets
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 200-467-2 | CAS number: 60-29-7
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data

Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Oral, LD50 = 1200 - 1700 mg/kg bw, rat (Kimura)
Oral, LD50 = 3560 mg/kg bw, rat (Smyth)
Inhalation, LD50 = 97 mg/L, rat, male, 4h (Smyth)
Inhalation, LC50 = 133 mg/L, mouse, 3h (Molitor)
Inhalation, LD50 = 180/200 mg/L, mouse, male/female, 90 min (Kobayashi)
Inhalation, LD50 = 95/98 mg/L, mouse, male/female, 90 min (Kobayashi)
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Endpoint conclusion
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 1 200 mg/kg bw
Acute toxicity: via inhalation route
Endpoint conclusion
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Value:
- 97 000 mg/m³ air
Additional information
Oral
The study by Kimura (1971) is considered to be more reliable than Smyth (1962), based on the greater quantity of information reported on the study, and that it is in effect conducted in triplicate (if the age differences between the test animals ignored). The age dependent differences in sensitivity observed in the rat acute toxicity were also observed in inhalation toxicities in mice (Kobayashi, 1985). Both studies indicated greater tolerance of diethyl ether in young animals. The lowest LD50, for adult rats at 1200 mg/kg bw, is selected as the most conservative value and is carried forward for risk assessment and classification and labelling.
Inhalation
The available data on LT50 (lethal time) is not relevant to the acute toxicity endpoint, but does indicate concentrations which are definitively lethal in the test animal. Older studies for which little experimental information is available are discarded (Klimisch 4). Of the available literature studies for which more information is available (Smyth (1962), Molitor (1936), Kobayashi (1985)), all are in approximate agreement. As a result the longest exposure data (4h) in the rat is taken as a conservative value (LC50 = 97 mg/L) and is taken forward for risk assessment and classification and labelling.
Dermal
Acute toxicity data via the dermal route is not considered necessary as inhalation is the most likely route of exposure due to the high vapour pressure of diethyl ether. Any dermal exposure is likely to be reduced by rapid vapourisation from the skin. Supplied as supporting information, one dermal study reported an LD50 >20 mL/kg bw, the maximum application rate.
Other routes
The toxicity data obtained via other routes was of low quality and not considered relevant to risk assessment or classification and labelling.
The available acute toxicity data is considered to be complete and adequate for risk assessment and classification and labelling, based on a weight-of-evidence approach, according to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex XI, section 1.2.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Directive 67/548/EEC
The oral rat LD50 lies in the range 200 - 2000 mg/kg bw, qualifying for classification as R22. The rat inhalation LC50 lies far above the 20 mg/L/4h upper limit for R20. According to Directive 67/548/EEC, Annex VI, 3.2.3, the substance is classified as R22 Harmful if swallowed. In addition, based on the well known and documented experience in humans of the narcotic effects of diethyl ether, and taking into account it's historical use as an anesthetic, and including it's harmonised Community classification according to Annex I, according to Annex VI, 3.2.8, the substance is classified as R67 Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008
The oral rat LD50 lies in the range 300 - 2000 mg/kg bw, qualifying for classification for Acute Oral Toxicity, Category 4. The inhalation rat LC50 lies far above the 20 mg/L/4h upper limit for Acute Inhalation Toxicity.
In addition, based on the known human and animal narcotic effects, the substance is classified for Specific Target Organ Toxicity, single exposure, Category 3, according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, Annex I, 3.8.2.2.2.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
