A bromoalkane that is ethane carrying bromo substituents at positions 1 and 2. It is produced by marine algae. California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA): Ethylene dibromide can cause cancer according to state or federal government labeling requirements. It can cause developmental toxicity and male reproductive toxicity according to The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).ChEBI: 1,2-dibromoethane is a bromoalkane that is ethane carrying bromo substituents at positions 1 and 2. It is produced by marine algae. It has a role as a fumigant, a carcinogenic agent, a marine metabolite, an algal metabolite, a mouse metabolite and a mutagen. It is a bromohydrocarbon and a bromoalkane.