Registration Dossier

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Workers - Hazard via inhalation route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Workers - Hazard via dermal route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Workers - Hazard for the eyes

Local effects

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Additional information - workers

No DNELs derived.

General remarks

A category aproach (OECD SIDS 2006) is available for vinyl ethers: methyl vinyl ether (MVE; CAS 107-25-5), ethyl vinyl ether (EVE, CAS 109-92-2), and isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE, CAS 109-53-5) (see chapter 13).

The acute oral LD50 of EVE in rats was determined to be 6150 mg/kg bw. In acute inhalation studies in rats the LC50 (4h) was > 21 mg/L. The LD50 in acute dermal toxicity studies in rabbits was >15100 mg/kg bw.

EVE was not irritant to the skin and only slightly irritant to the eye.

No gene mutagenic activity of EVE was detected in bacteria and mammalian cells and no clastogenic or aneugenic effects were recorded in a chromosome aberration study with mammalian cells.

EVE is classified with H336 ( "May cause drowsiness or dizziness") based on human data (abandoned historical use of EVE as human anesthetic agent).

EVE is a volatile and highly flammable liquid which may form explosive atmospheres. It is practically exclusively used as an industrial intermediate for the manufacture of vinyl ether polymers and co-polymers.

The substance is manufactured and used under strictly controlled conditions over the entire lifecycle. During manufacture and processing of EVE, worker exposure is controlled by the use of closed systems, industrial hygiene controls, and personal protective equipment. Any risk of accumulation is minimized by natural ventilation, as the chemical is produced in closed systems installed in open air. At processing sites, the exposure of workers is minimized by vapor abstraction. Prior to repair and maintenance work, vessels, pipes and other equipment are purged to remove any residual EVE. Dedicated systems designed to handle EVE are used for loading and unloading purposes to prevent the formation of explosive atmospheres and to minimize exposure. The vent gases are either incinerated or cleaned by means of a scrubber. At the production and processing sites, workers wear personal protective equipment which includes gloves, face shields and safety goggles in view of the low pH during processing. During repair and maintenance operations, respiratory protective equipment is additionally used. Exposure to EVE via air is routinely controlled by personal air sampling. Additionally, only a small, well-defined and trained group of workers will perform occasionally sampling tasks for quality control under strictly controlled conditions.

General Population - Hazard via inhalation route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

General Population - Hazard via dermal route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

General Population - Hazard via oral route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

General Population - Hazard for the eyes

Local effects

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Additional information - General Population

No DNELs derived.

General remarks

EVE is practically exclusively used as an industrial intermediate for the manufacture of vinyl ether polymers and co-polymers and is not added intentionally into consumer products (no consumer uses).

Consumer exposure to residual EVE is considered to be negligible, since most of the marketed vinyl ether polymers and co-polymers are heat-treated and potentially existing residual EVE is expected to evaporate during this process.