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Environmental fate & pathways

Monitoring data

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
monitoring data
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Study period:
1969
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: see 'Remark'
Remarks:
Acceptable, study with sufficient documentation which meets basic scientific principles and contains enough detail to be able to judge the results reliable as a contribution to the understanding of historic environmental distribution of this substance.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Atmospheric hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide measurements at Point Barrow, Alaska.
Author:
Cavanagh, L.A; Schadt, C.F; Robinson, E
Year:
1969
Bibliographic source:
Environ. Sci. Technol. 3, 251 - 257.

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline available
Principles of method if other than guideline:
Monitoring of air in a remote location by passing sampled atmosphere through a cryogenic trap and analysing condensate using GC.
Type of measurement:
background concentration
Media:
air

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Ethanol
EC Number:
200-578-6
EC Name:
Ethanol
Cas Number:
64-17-5
Molecular formula:
C2H6O
IUPAC Name:
ethanol
Details on test material:
not applicable

Results and discussion

Concentration
Country:
United States (the)
Location:
Point Barrow, Alaska
Substance or metabolite:
substance
Conc.:
> 0 - < 2.3 µg/m³ air
Remarks on result:
other: Average 1.0

Any other information on results incl. tables

Ethanol/methanol was detected in 17 of 25 samples. The average concentration over 24 hours was 0.52 ppb (range 0 - 1.2 ppb). Using a conversion of 1.9 ug/m3 - 1 ppb would imply a concentration of 1.0 ug/m3.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Measurements of ambient ethanol and methanol concentrations in the atmosphere at a remote location in Alaska in the late 1960's found average levels of around 1.0ug/m3. The authors of the study felt that the source of the methanol/ethanol was more likely to be of biological origin rather than man made.