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Ethanol is present in alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, spirits) when diluted. It is used as a topical agent to prevent skin infections, in pharmaceutical preparations (e.g. rubbing compounds, lotions, tonics, colognes), cosmetics, and in perfumes. Ethanol may be present in fuels, labelled as ethanolblended fuels, and is used as an industrial solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, and hydrocarbons. It is used to make many chemical compounds, lacquers, plastics and plasticizers, rubber and rubber accelerators, aerosols, mouthwash products, soaps and cleaning preparations, polishes, surface coatings, dyes, inks, adhesives, preservatives, pesticides, explosives, petrol additives/substitutes, elastomers, antifreeze, yeast growth medium, human and veterinary medicines and as a dehydrating agent.
Ethanol is a clear, colourless liquid with a characteristic pleasant odour and burning taste. It is highly flammable. Ethanol is used to dissolve other chemical substances and mixes readily with water and many organic liquids. Ethanol is considered a volatile organic compound by the National Pollutant Inventory.
Symptoms of exposure to ethanol may include irritation to the eyes, skin and nose, drowsiness and headache. Other symptoms may include stupor, nausea, mental excitement or depression, vomiting, flushing and coma. Exposure to high concentrations of ethanol vapours may cause irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, loss of coordination (ataxia), sleepiness, narcosis (stupor or unconsciousness), impaired perception and lack of coordination. It can also cause lowered inhibitions, dizziness, shallow respiration, unconsciousness and death. Ethanol is harmful by ingestion, inhalation or by skin absorption.
Consumption of ethanol during pregnancy may affect the unborn child, resulting in spontaneous abortion, developmental problems, or birth defects. This is known as 'foetal alcohol syndrome'. Chronic ingestion of ethanol may cause liver cirrhosis, affect the nervous system and affect the glands in humans.
Exposure to ethanol can be from the intake of food or beverages containing alcohol or from a wide range of consumer products containing ethanol, or in from a wide range of industries that use or produce ethanol.
At low concentrations and amounts, ethanol is rapidly metabolised without apparent harm. At higher concentrations, such as a result of leaks or spills, ethanol can have acute effects on a wide range of biota, where it may cause microbial death (ethanol is a disinfectant).
Ethanol will oxidise quickly (less than a few days), with carbon dioxide and water as the final products. However, ethanol can act as a precursor, leading to the formation of photochemical smog. Water or snow can wash the ethanol out of the atmosphere, but due to its volatility, ethanol will quickly re-enter the vapour phase. Ethanol present in soil or water will decompose in the presence of oxygen. Ethanol is a good nutrient and energy source for microbes. In the absence of oxygen, this can lead to the formation of methane.
Ethanol is produced as a result of manufacturing basic chemicals, beverages, food, bakery products, iron and steel products, plastic products, motor vehicles and vehicle parts, and industrial machinery and equipment.
Domestic and commercial solvents and aerosols are thought to be the highest sources of emissions of ethanol. Ethanol is present in architectural surface coatings, as a product of burning or fuel combustion activities (including fuel reduction and bushfires) and from landfill sites.
Ethanol is present in alcoholic beverages, a wide range of cosmetic and personal grooming products, household cleaners and polishes, pharmaceutical products, disinfectants and insecticides, paints and paint products (such as thinners), products made from particle board, lubricating oils, household and industrial inks (including printed materials), and pet products.
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