Ethylene Dibromide
Ethylene dibromide (EDB) is a heavy, colourless liquid with a mild, sweet odour and readily volatilises to form toxic vapour concentrations in air. It was principally used in Australia as an agricultural soil fumigant. Other names for EDB include 1,2-dibromoethane, ethylene bromide, and glycol dibromide.
There are no products containing EDB registered for use in Australia.
EDB has been listed as a chemical subject to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention). Australia became a party to the convention on 18 August 2004.
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) is a procedure that promotes a shared responsibility between exporting and importing countries in protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of certain hazardous chemicals that are being traded internationally. It allows countries to make informed decisions about the chemicals they import and contributes to the processes of managing chemical risk.
EDB Review
Status: review completed
The APVMA (formerly the NRA) reviewed the use of EDB because of concerns over possible health risks to the public and workers from short and long-term exposure.
In 1998 the APVMA released the EDB Review Final Report. In the report the APVMA cancelled the registration of all products containing EDB, all label approvals and the active constituent. Read a full history of the review.
| Review report | Date |
|---|---|
| EDB Review Final Report | Mar 1998 |
Contact
For more information contact:
Product Search
Search the PUBCRIS database for registered products that contain ethylene dibromide.
APVMA Ethylene Dibromide Archive
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Gazette Notice* | Apr 1998 |
| Gazette Notice* | Jan 1998 |
| Gazette Notice* | Oct 1997 |
| Gazette Notice* | Jul 1997 |
* Contact the APVMA for copies of this document.