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Environmental fate & pathways

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No measured photodegradation data is available for 2 -(2 -butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate The calculated Rate constant (for indirect photolysis via OH radicals) is : 35.2 E-12 cm³/(molecule*sec) with a resultant predicted atmospheric half life of 3.6 hours. An alternative calculation method led to a predicted rate constant of 32.7 E-12 cm3/(molecule*sec).

Degradation by hydrolysis at neutral pH is predicted to proceed at a negligible rate.

In a study which basically followed the methodology of a guideline closed bottle ready biodegradation study (OECD301D) and used non adapted sewage seed, 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate was found to be readily biodegradable, with 14% degradation after 5 days and 73% after 20 days. In a biodegradation study according to OECD 301C, for which only basic details are available, 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate showed 100% degradation within 7 days. The substance is readily biodegradable according to this information. A third ready biodegradation study is reported in a secondary source. This showed biodegradation of 67% in 20 days, which supports the results of the two studies described above. A number of inherent biodegradation studies are available, mainly to OECD302B. These all clearly show that 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate is biodegradable, with levels of degradation between 35% after 60 hours and 97 -100% after 6 -15 days consistently reported. Degradation proceeded at about 7.5% per day after a lag period of around 4 days. Further degradation studies in water and soil are not scientifically justified as the screening tests demonstrate that the substance is readily biodegradable.

This substance has a relatively low Logkow. The predicted BCF calculated from this is 1.99.

Distribution modelling suggests that environmental concentrations of 2 -(2-butoxyethoxy)ethyl acetate are likely to be very low. Based on a worse case assumption of all material being emitted to the environment with no abatement controls, water concentrations are predicted to be less than 50ug/l and air concentrations less than approximately 40ppt.