1,3-Butadiene

Formula: C₄H₆ | CAS: 106-99-0

Detecting butadiene: Studies have consistently shown an association between occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene and an increased incidence of leukaemia.

Detecting butadiene to limit exposure risks

Exposure to 1,3-butadiene mainly occurs among workers who breath contaminated air on the job. Other sources of exposure include automobile exhaust; tobacco smoke; and polluted air and water near chemical, plastic, or rubber facilities.

Workers who are present in the below industries could be more liable to high exposure levels;

• synthetic elastomer (rubber and latex) production
• petroleum refining
• secondary lead smelting
• water treatment
• agricultural fungicides
• production of raw material for nylon, and the use of fossil fuels.

1,3-butadiene is known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans, including epidemiological and mechanistic studies. 1,3-butadiene was first listed in the Fifth Annual Report on Carcinogens in 1989 as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals. The listing was revised, known to be a human carcinogen in the Ninth Report on Carcinogens in 2000.
– NTP Classification

What happens to 1,3-butadiene when it enters the environment?

1,3-butadiene has high volatility and low-water solubility. When released to the environment from industrial or non-industrial sources, butadiene evaporates to the air, even from water and soil; and butadiene breaks down quickly in sunlight and degrades in the air with a half-life of less than two hours. Environmental sources include industrial releases from butadiene production and use, automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke and other combustion sources.