National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

Methylenebis (phenylisocyanate): Environmental effects

Description

Methylene bis (phenylisocyanate) is known to result in lung damage to humans. Similar results are evident for some other animals but only where the compound has been inhaled as dust particles or an aerosol.

Entering the environment

Methylene bis (phenylisocyanate) is a solid, or less commonly a sticky liquid, and will gradually react with acid or basic compounds in the atmosphere, or in the soil into less complex compounds such as urea, amine and carbon dioxide. It will generally be transported in the atmosphere as dust particles or as a component of an aerosol but that only occurs within or surrounding manufacturing or production plants where it is used.

Where it ends up

It will remain as a solid at normal temperatures and may gradually breakdown as result of contact with organic compounds in the soil or atmosphere. It will give rise to carbon dioxide and other compounds of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen as result of slow gradual breakdown through contact with the atmosphere.

Environmental guidelines

No national guidelines.

Key

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Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist