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[Concentration
<br /> Sensitivity CHARACTERIZED AS MOST SEVERE IRRITANT OF THE BENZENE SERIES.A conn of 200 ppm causes eye
<br /> irritation.A concn of 100 ppm for 8 hr caused irritative effects in a human.EXPOSURE TO C0NCN OF 5000 PPM 24.6
<br /> Data
<br /> MG/L CAUSES INTOLERABLE IRRITATION OF EYES,MUCOUS MEMBRANES&NOSE. '
<br /> Ethylbenzene will enter the atmosphere primarily from fugitive emissions and exhaust connected with its use in gasoline.
<br /> More localized sources will be emissions,waste water and spills from its production and industrial use.If ethylbenzene is
<br /> ireleased to the atmosphere,it exist predominantly in the vapor phase based on its vapor pressure where it will
<br /> photochemically degrade by reaction with hydroxyl radicals(half-life 0.5 to 2 days)and partially return to earth in rain. It
<br /> Environmental will not be subject to direct photolysis.Releases into water will decrease in concn by evaporation and biodegradation.The
<br /> Impact time for this decrease and the primary loss processes will depend on the season,and the tuzbuleace and microbial
<br /> populations in the particular body of water.Representative half-lives are several days to 2 weeks.Some ethylbenzene may
<br /> be adsorbed by sediment but significant bioconcentration in fish is not expected to occur based upon its octanol/water
<br /> partition coefficient Ethylbenzene is only adsorbed moderately by soil.It will not significantly hydrolyze in water or soil.
<br /> The primary source of exposure is from the air especially in areas high traffic.However,exposure from drinking water is
<br /> not uncommon.
<br /> TERRESTRIAL,PATE;When released onto soil,part of the ethylbenzene will evaporate-into the atmosphere.It has a
<br /> moderate adsorption in soil.While there are no direct data concerning its biodegradability: soil,itis likely that it may
<br /> biodegrade slowly after acclimation of ambient microorganisms. It will not hyrolyze in soil or groundwater.AQUATIC
<br /> FATE:When released into water,ethylbenzene will evaporate fairly rapidly into the atmosphere with a half-life ranging
<br /> from bus to a few wks.Biodegradation will also be rapid (half-life 2 days)after a population of microorganisms capable o
<br /> :�virOnmeatal degrading toluene becomes established which will depend on the particular body o€water and the temperature.In one
<br /> Fate study, this acclimation took 2 days and 2 wks in summer and spring,respectively.Some ethylbenzene will be adsorbed by
<br /> the sediment but significant bioconcentration in fish is not expected to occur based upon its octanol/water partition
<br /> coefficient.There is evidence that ethylbenzene slowly biodegrades in groundwater.It will not significantly photolyze or
<br /> hydrolyze.ATMOSPHERIC FATE:If ethylbenzene is released to the atmosphere,it will exist predominantly in the vapor
<br /> phase based on its vapor pressure.It will be removed from the atmosphere•principally by reaction with photochemically
<br /> produced hydroxyl radicals(half-life,0.5 hr to days). Additional quantities will be removed by rain.It will not be
<br /> expected to directly photolyze.
<br /> DRINKING WATER:In surveys of representative US municipal water supplies, ethylbenzene has been detected in most
<br /> cases(1,2,4-8,10).Values for 3 New Orleans finished drin1drig waters ranged 1.6 to 2.3 ppb(6).Chicago Central Water
<br /> Works on Lake Michigan measured 4 ppb(8).It has been found in the water supply for Evansville,IN on the Ohio River
<br /> (7). 6 of 10 US cities were found to be positive(1,4).One US city had 1 of 4 samples pos with a 1 ppb avg,while another
<br /> reported no positive samples.Tap water from bank infiltrated Rhine River water in the Netherlands ineasured 30 ppb in
<br /> one study.Zurich,Switzerland tap water detected not quantified(9). 1982 US groundwater supply survey,random
<br /> samples of finished water supplies using groundwater as a source,466 random samples,0.6%;pos(0.5 ppb detection
<br /> A-
<br /> limit),0.8 ppb median, 1.1 ppb max(10).GROUNDWATER:A well in Ames,IA measured 15 ppb 50 yr after tar
<br /> residues were buried at a nearby coal gas plant.Conens of 82-400 ppb were detected in two aquifers near the Hoe Creek
<br /> underground coal gasification site in Wyoming, 15 mo after gasification was complete.In'a U5 survey, 1970-76,it was
<br /> detected but not quantified in well waters;.In Jackson Township,NJ, drinking water wells measured 2000 ppb.Chalk
<br /> aquifer in East Anglia,England-210 m from petroleum storage-0.15 ppb, 10 m distance'- 1110 ppb,and 100-200 in-
<br /> <250 ppb.SURFACE WATER:Ethylbenzene,has been detected but not quantified in a 1970-76 US survey(1,4). 14
<br /> Drinking heavily industrialized US river basins, 5 of 204 sites pas- 1-4 ppb;Chicago area and Illinois River Basin, 5 of 31 sites pos
<br /> Water Impact - 1-4 ppb(6).Two representative US cities,city A-41%of 28 samples pos,5.0 ppb avg,city B-40%of 48 samples pos
<br /> 3.2 ppb avg .Lower Tennessee River near Calvert City,KY reported 4.0 ppb(7).Lake Michigan, Chicago Sanitary and
<br /> Ship Channel measured 1-2 ppb .River Glatt,Switzerland-detected,not quantified. USEPA STORET database, 1,101
<br /> data points, 10%pas,<5.0 ppb median(8). SEAWATER:Gulf of Mexico,unpolluted areas-0.4 to 5 ppb(1,3),while an
<br /> area of anthropogenic influence ranged from 5 to 15 ppb .Cape Cod,MA measured a trace to 22 ppb(2,4)with I 1 ppb
<br /> avg . Conn(parts/trillion)Dutch North Sea coastal waters, 108 samples, not detected(<5)-20,avg 4 .RAIN WATER:
<br /> t West Los Angeles,CA-9 parts/trillion. Concn(parts/trillion)dissolved in rain,Portland,OR,Feb-April 1984,7 rain
<br /> events, 100%pas,6.9-72,34 avg.EFFL:Industries with mean raw wastewater concentrations>2000 ppb: gum and wood
<br /> chemicals (11,000 ppb),pharmaceutical manufacturing(10,000 ppb),paint and ink formulation, and auto and other
<br /> laundries.Effluents from representative water treatment plants in Southern California were variable<10 ppb at San
<br /> Diego City to 130 ppb at Los Angeles Co(both measurements following primary treatment);<10 ppb detected following
<br /> secondary treatment.In a US city survey, 17%of 6 samples were positive,6.0 ppb avg,Lake Michigan,North Side
<br /> sewage treatment plant- 1 ppb.USEPA STORET database, 1,368 data points,7.4%pos,c3.0 ppb median.MN
<br /> municipal solid waste landfills,leachates,6 sites, 100%pos, 12-820 ppb, contaminated groundwater(by inorganic
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