Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Diss Factsheets
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 201-853-3 | CAS number: 88-72-2
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Phototransformation in water
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- phototransformation in water
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- other information
- Reliability:
- other: BUA report
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: No reliability is given as this is a summary entry for the BUA report.
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- BUA report
- GLP compliance:
- not specified
- Specific details on test material used for the study:
- - Analytical purity: not specified
- Executive summary:
BUA report (1989):
For the direct photolysis of o-nitrotoluene in water (near the surface, at 40 degrees latitude, throughout the year) a quantum yield of 0.0022 and a corresponding half-life period of 18.9 h was found by Simmons and Zeep, 1986. Photolysis is accelerated by indirect degradation mechanisms (the effects of humic acids, nitrates, etc. in natural waters). This is especially true for o-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6-7.
- Endpoint:
- phototransformation in water
- Type of information:
- other: EU Risk Assessment
- Adequacy of study:
- other information
- Reliability:
- other: EU Risk Assessment
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: No reliability is given as this is a summary entry for the EU RAR.
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- EU Risk Assessment
- GLP compliance:
- not specified
- Specific details on test material used for the study:
- - Analytical purity: not specified
- Executive summary:
EU Risk Assessment (2008):
Chemical hydrolysis and oxidation of 2-nitrotoluene are not expected to be important removal processes. However, 2-nitrotoluene may be susceptible to photolysis. Because nitroaromatic compounds absorb sunlight strongly in the ultraviolet and blue spectral region, they are generally susceptible to photochemical transformation in aquatic systems. In a study by Simmons and Zeep (1986), carried out through the year under full exposure to sunlight and surface conditions at 40 ºN latitude, the photodegradation rates of several nitroaromatic compounds were determined. Saturated solutions of 2-nitrotoluene were made up in distilled water (organic-free water) and were centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 30 min. The supernatant was removed carefully, this stock solution was diluted to concentration levels of 10 -6 - 10 -5 M and then exposed to midday sunlight. The kinetic results for 2-nitrotoluene indicated a half life of 0.79 days.
The effect of humic substances in natural waters on photolysis was investigated in the same study and it was shown that they enhanced the sunlight-induced photodegradation rates compared to distilled water results. This was especially pronounced for 2-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6 - 7.5.
Photoreaction in seawater may differ from those occurring in other aqueous media. The photolysis rate for 2-nitrotoluene in filter-sterilised seawater was 5.3×10-3 min-1 (t1/2 = 130 min). In unsterilised seawater, the rate was not significantly different, 5.5×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2= 126 min), and in neither case any loss of nitrotoluene was observed in the dark. The rate in unsterilised seawater collected from a more polluted site, which was presumed to have a larger microbial population, was also determined. Again, no degradation was observed in the dark, and a half-life of 5.7×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2 = 122 min) was determined in the light, which is within 3% of that calculated in unsterilised seawater (Toole, 1988).
The studies referred above are based on direct photolysis under laboratory conditions. As half life under environmental conditions is not available, it was assumed that only 3.3% of the solved substance is exposed to photodegradation, since the Handbook of Estimation Methods for Chemicals (eds Boethling and Mackay, Lewis Publishers) suggests a diffuse attenuation coefficient of 0.1 cm-1 as an average. For a depth of 3 metres as in the TGD regional model, the average rate over this depth would be 1/30th of the rate at the surface (3.3%). Considering the lowest photodegradation rate (0.79 days) as a worst case, an effective half-life of 24 days is estimated. The corresponding Kphotowater of 1.2×10 -3 h-1 has been used in the risk assessment.
Referenceopen allclose all
BUA report (1989):
For the direct photolysis of o-nitrotoluene in water (near the surface, at 40 degrees latitude, throughout the year) a quantum yield of 0.0022 and a corresponding half-life period of 18.9 h was found by Simmons and Zeep, 1986. Photolysis is accelerated by indirect degradation mechanisms (the effects of humic acids, nitrates, etc. in natural waters). This is especially true for o-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6-7.
EU Risk Assessment (2008):
Chemical hydrolysis and oxidation of 2-nitrotoluene are not expected to be important removal processes. However, 2-nitrotoluene may be susceptible to photolysis. Because nitroaromatic compounds absorb sunlight strongly in the ultraviolet and blue spectral region, they are generally susceptible to photochemical transformation in aquatic systems. In a study by Simmons and Zeep (1986), carried out through the year under full exposure to sunlight and surface conditions at 40 ºN latitude, the photodegradation rates of several nitroaromatic compounds were determined. Saturated solutions of 2-nitrotoluene were made up in distilled water (organic-free water) and were centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 30 min. The supernatant was removed carefully, this stock solution was diluted to concentration levels of 10 -6 - 10 -5 M and then exposed to midday sunlight. The kinetic results for 2-nitrotoluene indicated a half life of 0.79 days.
The effect of humic substances in natural waters on photolysis was investigated in the same study and it was shown that they enhanced the sunlight-induced photodegradation rates compared to distilled water results. This was especially pronounced for 2-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6 - 7.5.
Photoreaction in seawater may differ from those occurring in other aqueous media. The photolysis rate for 2-nitrotoluene in filter-sterilised seawater was 5.3×10-3 min-1 (t1/2 = 130 min). In unsterilised seawater, the rate was not significantly different, 5.5×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2= 126 min), and in neither case any loss of nitrotoluene was observed in the dark. The rate in unsterilised seawater collected from a more polluted site, which was presumed to have a larger microbial population, was also determined. Again, no degradation was observed in the dark, and a half-life of 5.7×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2 = 122 min) was determined in the light, which is within 3% of that calculated in unsterilised seawater (Toole, 1988).
The studies referred above are based on direct photolysis under laboratory conditions. As half life under environmental conditions is not available, it was assumed that only 3.3% of the solved substance is exposed to photodegradation, since the Handbook of Estimation Methods for Chemicals (eds Boethling and Mackay, Lewis Publishers) suggests a diffuse attenuation coefficient of 0.1 cm-1 as an average. For a depth of 3 metres as in the TGD regional model, the average rate over this depth would be 1/30th of the rate at the surface (3.3%). Considering the lowest photodegradation rate (0.79 days) as a worst case, an effective half-life of 24 days is estimated. The corresponding Kphotowater of 1.2×10 -3 h-1 has been used in the risk assessment.
Description of key information
For transported isolated intermediates according to REACh, Article 18, this endpoint is not a data requirement. However, data is available for this endpoint and is thus reported under the guidance of "all available data".
EU Risk Assessment (2008)
Chemical hydrolysis and oxidation of 2-nitrotoluene are not expected to be important removal processes. However, 2-nitrotoluene may be susceptible to photolysis. Because nitroaromatic compounds absorb sunlight strongly in the ultraviolet and blue spectral region, they are generally susceptible to photochemical transformation in aquatic systems. In a study by Simmons and Zeep (1986), carried out through the year under full exposure to sunlight and surface conditions at 40 ºN latitude, the photodegradation rates of several nitroaromatic compounds were determined. Saturated solutions of 2-nitrotoluene were made up in distilled water (organic-free water) and were centrifuged at 15,000 rpm for 30 min. The supernatant was removed carefully, this stock solution was diluted to concentration levels of 10 -6 - 10 -5 M and then exposed to midday sunlight. The kinetic results for 2-nitrotoluene indicated a half life of 0.79 days.
The effect of humic substances in natural waters on photolysis was investigated in the same study and it was shown that they enhanced the sunlight-induced photodegradation rates compared to distilled water results. This was especially pronounced for 2-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6 - 7.5.
Photoreaction in seawater may differ from those occurring in other aqueous media. The photolysis rate for 2-nitrotoluene in filter-sterilised seawater was 5.3×10-3 min-1 (t1/2 = 130 min). In unsterilised seawater, the rate was not significantly different, 5.5×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2= 126 min), and in neither case any loss of nitrotoluene was observed in the dark. The rate in unsterilised seawater collected from a more polluted site, which was presumed to have a larger microbial population, was also determined. Again, no degradation was observed in the dark, and a half-life of 5.7×10 -3 min-1 (t1/2 = 122 min) was determined in the light, which is within 3% of that calculated in unsterilised seawater (Toole, 1988).
The studies referred above are based on direct photolysis under laboratory conditions. As half life under environmental conditions is not available, it was assumed that only 3.3% of the solved substance is exposed to photodegradation, since the Handbook of Estimation Methods for Chemicals (eds Boethling and Mackay, Lewis Publishers) suggests a diffuse attenuation coefficient of 0.1 cm-1 as an average. For a depth of 3 metres as in the TGD regional model, the average rate over this depth would be 1/30th of the rate at the surface (3.3%). Considering the lowest photodegradation rate (0.79 days) as a worst case, an effective half-life of 24 days is estimated. The corresponding Kphotowater of 1.2×10 -3 h-1 has been used in the risk assessment.
BUA report (1989):
For the direct photolysis of o-nitrotoluene in water (near the surface, at 40 degrees latitude, throughout the year) a quantum yield of 0.0022 and a corresponding half-life period of 18.9 h was found by Simmons and Zeep, 1986. Photolysis is accelerated by indirect degradation mechanisms (the effects of humic acids, nitrates, etc. in natural waters). This is especially true for o-nitrotoluene, for which the degradation rate in natural waters was increased by a factor of 6-7.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.