Sulfuric acid, diethyl ester (Diethyl sulfate)
CAS Registry Number 64-67-5
What is it?
- Sulfuric acid, diethyl ester, also known as diethyl sulfate, is an industrial chemical.
How is it used?
- In Canada, Diethyl sulfate is mainly used to make other chemicals which are then used in the manufacturing of softeners used to increase absorbency of tissue paper.
- Diethyl sulphate may also be used to make products used in the manufacturing of a variety of other substances and products, including dyes, fragrances, and quaternary ammonium salts used as surfactants or flocculants in water treatment.
- It may also be used as an ethylating agent in the manufacture of commercial products such as sanitizers and organoclays.
- Based on the most recent data available, diethyl sulfate is not manufactured in Canada, but is imported into Canada.
Why did the Government of Canada assess it?
- Diethyl sulfate was identified as a potential concern to human health based on its classification by international organizations as a substance which was found to cause cancer and genetic damage in some studies with laboratory animals, and based on what was believed to be a moderate potential for exposure to Canadians.
How are Canadians exposed to it?
- Exposure to diethyl sulfate is expected to be very low and occur predominantly through inhalation of air.
What is the Government of Canada doing?
- The Government of Canada has conducted a science-based evaluation of diethyl sulfate, called a screening assessment.
- The Government of Canada has concluded that diethyl sulfate is considered to be harmful to human health at current levels of exposure.
- Canadians' exposure is very low and the Government is taking action so that exposure remains low.
- The Government of Canada will investigate the utility of implementing a future use notification. This would require that any proposed new uses of diethyl sulfate be subject to further assessment before considering whether to allow such activities.
- It is also being proposed that diethyl sulfate be added to the Cosmetic Ingredient "Hotlist" which will prevent its future use in cosmetics.
- The final screening assessment and the proposed risk management approach were published on August 1, 2009. The proposed risk management approach will be followed by a 60-day comment period, ending September 30, 2009.
What should Canadians do?
- The health risks associated with a chemical depend on the hazard (its potential to cause health effects) and the dose (the amount of chemical to which you are exposed).
- Because exposure to diethyl sulfate is very low, the Government of Canada is not currently recommending specific actions to reduce Canadians' exposure.
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