Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 200-839-4 | CAS number: 75-10-5
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Based on its physico-chemical properties and according to distribution modelling, when released to the environment, the majority of difluoromethane will partition into the air compartment (99.99%). It will then degrade in the lower atmosphere by reaction with hydroxyl radicals to yield C(=O)F2 as an intermediate product, which will be further converted to HF and CO2 by hydrolysis in atmospheric water. The calculated atmospheric lifetime of difluoromethane is 4.9 years corresponding to a 1/2-lifetime of 3.39 years (WMO, 2002).
Due to its structure without chlorine or bromine, difluoromethane is not expected to have an impact on the stratospheric ozone layer (ODP = 0). Because of its low reactivity with OH, difluoromethane is not expected to contribute significantly to the formation of ground ozone (POCP = 0.2). Its Global warming potential is 675. Its contribution to the greenhouse effect can be considered as small (IPCC 4th Assessment Report).
In water, difluoromethane is not dissociated and not expected to hydrolyse owing to the lack of hydrolysable functional group in its chemical structure. It is not readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions (about 5 % of biodegradation after 28 days) and is not expected to sorb significantly to soil and sediment. Difluoromethane has a low potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic species based on a measured log Kow of 0.21.
Difluoromethane, when released to the environment, will partition almost exclusively into the ambient air; it has little tendency to partition to aquatic or terrestrial compartments. Because of its moderate sorption affinity, difluoromethane is expected to be mobile in soil. The most significant degradation process occurs in the atmospheric compartment.
Additional information
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