2-Methoxyethanol: Environmental effects
Description
2-Methoxyethanol has slight short-term and slight long-term toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to predict the effects of 2-Methoxyethanol on plants, birds or land animals. 2-Methoxyethanol is a volatile organic compound (VOC) and can contribute to photochemical smog.
Entering the environment
Industrial emissions of 2-Methoxyethanol can produce elevated, but still low level concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Since 2-Methoxyethanol is readily broken-down in the air within days, it is not expected to travel very far with wind currents.
Where it ends up
2-Methoxyethanol evaporates when exposed to air and dissolves completely in water. Material released to the water or soil will evaporate when exposed to air. In the air it will breakdown into other chemicals, within a couple of days to a week. In the water it will be broken down by bacteria in between a week and a few months. 2-Methoxyethanol does not bind to soil well, and material that is spilled, and does not evaporate may make its way into the groundwater, which could effect borewater.
Environmental guidelines
No national guidelines.
Key
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