What: On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the draft risk evaluation for 1,2-Dichloroethane.
Why: 1,2-Dichloroethane is a volatile, colorless, oily liquid with a chloroform-like odor that is used primarily in the synthesis of vinyl chloride. Over 90 percent of 1,2-dichloroethane is manufactured to be converted to vinyl chloride. It is soluble in water (8,600 mg/L) and is miscible in most organic solvents.
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the purpose of a risk evaluation is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment.
While the EPA is taking comments on the entire draft risk evaluation, it is also seeking input on these specific issues:
- The approach taken to evaluate the byproducts in the Draft Byproducts Assessment for 1,2-Dichloroethane.
- The conditions of use (COU) names and descriptions for “Industrial use—other use—process solvent,” particularly whether there is overlap between this use as a process solvent in chemical reactions (including a proprietary use in pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical manufacturing) and other processing or industrial and commercial COUs that may duplicate this newly added COU (e.g., Processing—incorporated into a formulation, mixture, or reaction product).
- Whether the delineation of occupational exposure scenarios (OESs) associated with the Disposal COU is clear and accurate.
- Whether and how exposure controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) are used during the manufacture, processing, and use of 1,2-dichloroethane for each of the COUs. Although EPA has test order data, additional information on when and where exposure controls and PPE are used would be informative.
- All aspects of the approach for assessing ambient air inhalation exposure for the general population, including exposure input assumptions, uncertainties, as well as the calculation and interpretation of additional cancer cases based on the population exposed.
- Information on environmental releases for OESs for which releases were modeled (Repackaging, Application of adhesives and sealants, Industrial and commercial non-aerosol cleaning/degreasing, Application of lubricants and greases, Industrial and commercial aerosol products, and Laboratory use).
- Information on OESs for which EPA has slight confidence on exposures to workers and ONUs (Repackaging, Industrial and commercial aerosol products, and Waste handling, treatment, and disposal [landfills]), including on the degree to which 1,2-dichloroethane is used in Industrial and commercial aerosol products.
- Information (e.g., safety data sheet (SDS) documents) to inform the level of 1,2-dichloroethane in adhesives. The concentration evaluated for the dermal exposure for the industrial application of adhesives and sealants OES is 91.8 percent based on an SDS for an adhesive containing 1,2-dichloroethane.
Action: Comments are due January 20, 2026.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE:
RISK EVALUATION:
Draft Risk Evaluation for 1,2-Dichloroethane
CONTACT:
Nick Goldstein
EMAIL:
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