Halogenated Alkanes

Ethylene Dibromide

Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) is a volatile halogenated organic and as such is subject to most standard characterization and analytical techniques used on this class of chemicals. Methods such as vertical profiling, membrane interface probe, and standard GC/MS are discussed in the main section for DNAPLs detection and site characterization.

Diffusion Samplers

While Diffusion Samplers have been used mostly for chlorinated ethenes and BTEX, they have been found to work for EDB (ITRC 2004).

Laboratory Methods

The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for EDB is 0.05 µg/L. Special handling procedures for GC and GC/MS methods likely will be needed to obtain this detection level.

Method 504.1: 1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB), 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloro-Propane (DBCP), AND 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (123TCP) in Water by Microextraction and Gas Chromatography
Munch, J.
U.S. EPA, 20 pp, 1995

SW-846 Method 8011: 1,2-Dibromoethane and 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane by Microextraction and Gas Chromatography

This method is applicable to the determination of 1,2-dibromoethane and 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane in drinking water and groundwater.

Analytical Methods for EDB
Toxicological Profile for 1,2-Dibromoethane
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), p 99-105, 1992

Field Screening Methods

No commercially available EDB-specific methods were found. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for EDB in drinking water is 0.05 µg/L, which generally is too low for screening methodologies.

References

Technical and Regulatory Guidance for Using Polyethylene Diffusion Bag Samplers to Monitor Volatile Organic Compounds in Groundwater
Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC). DSP-3, 78 pp, 2004

Toxicological Profile for 1,2-Dibromoethane
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 173 pp, 1992

Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods
U.S. EPA, SW-846 on line.