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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER (BCEE) 

CAS#: 111-44-4 

Division of Toxicology December 1989 

This Public Health Statement is the summary 

chapter from the Toxicological Profile for Bis(2-

chloroethyl) ether. It is one in a series of Public 

Health Statements about hazardous substances and 

their health effects. A shorter version, the 

ToxFAQsTM is also available. This information is 

important because this substance may harm you. 

The effects of exposure to any hazardous substance 

depend on the dose, the duration, how you are 

exposed, personal traits and habits, and whether 

other chemicals are present. For more information, 

call the ATSDR Information Center at 1-888-422-

8737. 

1.1 WHAT IS BCEE? 

Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether (BCEE) is a colorless 

nonflammable liquid with a strong, unpleasant odor. 

It does not occur naturally, but is manufactured by 

humans for use in the production of pesticides and 

other chemicals. Limited amounts of BCEE will 

dissolve in water, and it also will slowly evaporate 

into air. In the environment, BCEE is broken down 

by bacteria in soil and water and by chemical 

reactions in the air, so it does not tend to persist for 

long periods. 

1.2 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO BCEE? 

Exposure to BCEE is most likely to occur in or near 

chemical plants where it is made or used, or near 

waste sites where it has been improperly disposed 

of. One way exposure might occur is through 

consumption of drinking water that contains BCEE. 

Low levels (0.01 to 0.5 parts per billion [ppb]) of 

BCEE have been detected in the drinking water 

supplies of several cities, and higher levels (840 

ppb) have been detected in underground water near 

some chemical waste sites. Although BCEE 

evaporates relatively slowly, exposure might also 

occur through breathing BCEE vapors near areas 

where it is used or stored. However no information 

exists on the levels of BCEE in outdoor air. 

1.3 HOW CAN BCEE ENTER AND LEAVE 

MY BODY? 

BCEE enters the body easily after being swallowed 

in food or water, or after being inhaled in air. It may 

also enter by crossing the skin when dermal contact 

occurs. Once inside the body, BCEE is broken 

down to a number of different chemicals, and these 

are eliminated in the urine or the breath. Most 

BCEE which enters the body is removed in this way 

within two to three days, so BCEE does not tend to 

accumulate in the body. 

1.4 HOW CAN BCEE AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

People exposed to BCEE vapors report that it is 

highly irritating to the eyes and the nose. Animal 

studies show that BCEE vapors can cause severe 

injury to the lungs, and may lead to death. Mice 

given repeated doses of BCEE through the mouth 

developed liver tumors. This suggests that BCEE 

might cause cancer in humans, although no cases of 

cancer due to BCEE have been reported in people 

and BCEE was also not found to induce excess 

cancer after feeding to rats. Effects of BCEE on 

other organs and body functions have not been well 

studied, and it is not known if BCEE impairs 

reproduction or the development of fetuses. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER (BCEE) 

CAS#: 111-44-4 

Division of Toxicology December 1989 

1.5 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO 

DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN 

EXPOSED TO BCEE? 

Although there are chemical tests that can identify 

and measure BCEE, these have not been developed 

for measuring BCEE in humans. 

1.6 WHAT LEVELS OF EXPOSURE HAVE 

RESULTED IN HARMFUL HEALTH 

EFFECTS? 

Irritation to the eye and nose has been seen in 

people at levels of 35 parts per million (ppm) and 

above of BCEE in air. In animals, lung injury and 

death were noted at levels of 105 ppm in air, while 

nose irritation occurred at levels of 35 ppm. 

Decreased weight gain was seen in guinea pigs and 

rats at levels of 69 ppm in air. 

No information is available on the levels of BCEE 

that have caused adverse health effects when people 

or animals ingested the chemical. 

1.7 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The EPA recommends that levels in lakes and 

streams should be limited to 0.03 parts per billion 

parts of water (0.03 ppb) to prevent possible health 

effects from drinking water or eating fish 

contaminated with bis(2-chloroethyl) ether. Any 

release to the environment greater than 10 pounds 

of BCEE must be reported to the EPA. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA) has set a limit of 15 parts per million (15 

ppm) over an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek. 

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH) recommends that workplace air 

should not exceed 5 ppm BCEE averaged over a 10-

hour workday or 40-hour workweek. Their 

recommended short-term exposure limit (up to 15 

minutes) is 10 ppm averaged over an 8-hour period. 

The federal recommendations have been updated as 

of July 1999. 

1.8 WHERE CAN I GET MORE 

INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, 

please contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department or: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

Division of Toxicology 

1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop F-32 

Atlanta, GA 30333 

Information line and technical assistance: 

Phone: 888-422-8737 

FAX: (770)-488-4178 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of 

occupational and environmental health clinics. 

These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, 

and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to 

hazardous substances. 

To order toxicological profiles, contact: 

National Technical Information Service 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

Phone: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER (BCEE) 

CAS#: 111-44-4 

Division of Toxicology December 1989 

Reference 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

(ATSDR). 1989. Toxicological profile for Bis(2-

chloroethyl) ether. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-888-422-8737 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: atsdric@cdc.gov