National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

2-Methoxyethanol acetate: Environmental effects

Description

Methoxyethanol acetate can have an acute toxic effect on aquatic life and is rapidly absorbed, inhaled or ingested by humans by direct contact with skin, swallowing or breathing in vapour.

Entering the environment

Methoxyethanol acetate is stable in water but will readily react with many other organic or acid compounds. Its high solubility in most liquids and moderate rate of evaporation at normal temperatures means that it can persist in the environment for some time.

Where it ends up

It enters the environment when liquid waste is disposed from production plants that use methoxyethanol acetate for making paint, varnish or adhesives products. It can dissolve in water and readily enter the groundwater. It will form reactive peroxide compounds when exposed to air and water in the atmosphere and these will break down in contact with organic and other common substances.

Environmental guidelines

No national guidelines.

Key

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Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist