4-Bromotoluene

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION. Then, use absorbent paper to pick up all liquid spill material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent wash all contaminated surfaces with 60-70% ethanol followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

RECOMMENDED RESPIRATOR: Where the neat test chemical is weighed and diluted, wear a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with an organic vapor/acid gas cartridge (specific for organic vapors, HCl, acid gas and SO2) with a dust/mist filter. (NTP, 1992)

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 434(SRC), derived from a molecular structure estimation method(2), suggests that 4-bromotoluene will have moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Its high Henry's Law constant, 2.3X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(3), high vapor pressure, 1.15 mm Hg at 25 °C(3), and moderate adsorptivity to soil indicate that volatilization may be an important fate process from both moist and dry soil surfaces(4,SRC). A single pure culture biodegradation study has observed biooxidation of 4-bromotoluene utilizing a bacterium isolated from soil(5); however, sufficient biodegradation data are not available to predict the significance of biodegradation in the environment. No data are available pertaining to abiotic degradation of 4-bromotoluene in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a recommended classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 434(SRC) determined from molecular structure(2), indicates that 4-bromotoluene may adsorb to sediment and particulate matter in the water column(SRC). It is expected to readily volatilize from water based on its Henry's Law constant of 2.3X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(3). Estimated half-lives for a model river and model lake are 4.3 hours and 5.3 days, respectively(4,SRC). Using a model which takes adsorption into account(7), the volatilization half-life of 4-bromotoluene in an environmental pond is estimated to be 14.9 days. According to a recommended classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF value of 230(4,SRC), based on its log Kow(5,SRC), suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderately high(SRC). No experimental data are available pertaining to aquatic biodegradation(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a theory of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(2), 4-bromotoluene, which has a vapor pressure of 1.15 mm Hg at 25 °C(1), should exist entirely in the vapor phase in the ambient atmosphere(2,SRC). Vapor-phase 4-bromotoluene should degrade in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction is estimated to be 9.8 days(3,SRC).

Using an estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc for 4-bromotoluene is estimated to be 430(SRC). According to a suggested classification scheme(2), this Koc value suggests that 4-bromotoluene will have medium mobility in soil(SRC).

A BCF of 230 was estimated for 4-bromotoluene(SRC), using its log Kow of 3.42(1) and a recommended regression-derived equation(2). According to a recommended classification scheme(3), this BCF value suggests that bioconcentration in fish and aquatic organisms is moderately high(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant of 4-bromotoluene is 2.33X10-3 atm-cu m/mole(1) which indicates that volatilization from environmental waters is probably significant, and may be rapid(2). The volatilization half-life of 4-bromotoluene from a model river (1 meter deep flowing 1 m/sec with a wind speed of 3 m/sec) and model lake (1 meter deep flowing at 0.05 m/sec with a wind speed of 0.5 m/sec) is estimated to be 4.3 hr and 5.3 days, respectively(2,SRC); these estimates do not consider the effect of adsorption to sediment which may be important(SRC). The volatilization half-life of 4-bromotoluene in an experimental pond which considers adsorption has been estimated to be 14.9 days(3,SRC).

RESPIRATORY IRRITATION &, IN HIGH CONCN ... /CNS DEPRESSION/ IN EXPTL ANIMALS. /3-BROMOTOLUENE/

p-Bromotoluene tested negative for mutagenicity test in Salmonella assays.

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of 4-bromotoluene with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated to be 1.6X10-12 cu m/molecule-sec at 25 °C(1,SRC); assuming an average atmospheric hydroxyl radical concn of 5X10+5 molecules/cu cm, the half-life for this reaction can be estimated to be 9.8 days(1,SRC). 4-Bromotoluene does not contain any functional groups that are susceptible to aqueous environmental hydrolysis(2); therefore, hydrolysis is not expected to be significant in water(SRC). Irradiation of 4-bromotoluene (in hexane solution) with artificial UV light above 290 nm resulted in a dehalogenation of 1.0% over a two hour period(3).

4-Bromotoluene may be released to the environment through evaporation from solvent uses or from wastes generated at sites of production and use. If released to the atmosphere, 4-bromotoluene is expected to degrade by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction is estimated to be 9.8 days. If released to water, 4-bromotoluene may be removed from the water column by volatilization and adsorption. Using an estimated Henry's Law constant of 2.3X10-3 atm-cu m/mol, volatilization half-lives of 4.3 hr and 5.3 days can be estimated for a model river and model lake, respectively. The potential effect of adsorption to sediment is considered in the half-life from an environmental pond which is estimated to be 14.9 days, but not from the model river or model lake. An estimated Koc value of 430 suggests that if 4-bromotoluene is released to soil, moderate leaching may occur. Based on its estimated Henry's Law constant and measured vapor pressure (1.15 mm Hg at 25 °C), evaporation from dry and moist surface soil may also occur. Data are insufficent to assess the importance of biodegradation in the environment. Its estimated BCF of 230 suggests that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is moderately high. Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation or dermal contact at sites where 4-bromotoluene is manufactured, used as a solvent or used as a chemical intermediate. (SRC)