Ethanol (ethyl alcohol); Evaluation of the health effects from occupational exposure
Ethanol is a clear, colourless liquid with a pleasant characteristic odour. The odour threshold is about 95 mg/m3. Ethanol is miscible with water and organic solvents. It has a high vapour pressure. Ethanol is currently one of the largest-volume organic chemicals utilised in industrial and consumer products, primarily as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals (ie acetaldehyde, ethylacrylate and ethylchloride) and as a solvent. In addition, ethanol is is present in alcoholic beverages. Besides, ethanol is present endogenously in humans, which leads to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.27 (+/- 0.17) mg/l.