1,2-DICHLOROETHANE - EVALUATION OF RISKS TO HEALTH FROM ENVIRONMENTALEXPOSURE IN CANADA

1,2-Dichloroethane was included on the first List of Priority Substanc es to be assessed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Ava ilable data on exposure in the general environment in Canada and poten tial health effects were critically evaluated. Due to the sufficient w eight of evidence of carcinogenicity in toxicological studies in exper imental animals, 1,2-dichloroethane has been classified as ''probably carcinogenic to humans''. Based on the comparison of estimated intake of the general population in Canada to the calculated potency of 1,2-d ichloroethane to induce cancer, the priority for investigation of opti ons to reduce exposure in the general environment is considered to be low to moderate, compared with that of other substances assessed under the Act.