N-methylaniline

Endpoint summary

Additional information

As reported in the summary of environmental fate and exposure in HSDB by Scientific Review Committee N-methylaniline may be released to the environment as a result of its manufacture, transport, disposal and use as a chemical intermediate and solvent. It may also be released from coal gasification plants and waste incinerators. N-Methylaniline is found naturally in some vegetables and fruits.

 

General consideration:

a- Soil:

N-Methylaniline has low adsorptivity to soil and if released on soil may leach. It may photodegrade on the soil surface. N-methylaniline slowly reacts with humic material in soil. It biodegrades in screening studies with acclimated inocula and may be expected to biodegrade in soil. In one study in which high levels of N-methylaniline in sludge was incorporated to soil, N-methylaniline was almost completely degraded from the surface 6 inches of soil in 231 days.

 

b- Water:

N-Methylaniline is estimated to have a relatively high Henry's Law constant and would therefore be expected to volatilize from water. Its volatilization half-life in a model river and model lake is estimated to be 3.5 and 28 days, respectively. It may also photodegrade in surface water or be oxidized by naturally-occurring oxidants in the water body. N-Methylaniline would not be expected to adsorb to sediment or bioconcentrate in fish.

 

c- Air:

N-Methylaniline should exist in the atmosphere as a vapor and react with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals with an estimated half-life of 8.8 hr. It may also photolyze or oxidize while in the vapor phase or inaerosols. N-Methylaniline is soluble in water and therefore should be scavenged by rain. People may be occupationally exposed to N-methylaniline by dermal contact or inhalation. The general population will be exposed by ingesting vegetables in which it naturally occurs.

 

Specific considerations:

 

a- BIODEGRADATION:

N-methylaniline will biodegrade when the degrading microorganisms are acclimated: 46% CO2 produced and 92% DOC removed in 28 days after 14 days acclimation are indicated in the study Gerike et all, Ecotoxicol Environ Saf , 3(2):159-73, 1979 mentioned in HSDB Report of N-methylaniline.

In the soil the degradation rate of N-meythylaniline till a depth of 6 inches is fairly rapid (see Demirjian YA et al; J Water Pollut Control Fed 59: 32-8, 1987).

 

b- BIOACCUMULATION:

As reported in a japanese study (Ogawa et all, J.Hyg.Chem./Eisei Kagaku 29(5):286-291, 1983) N-Methylaniline was found to have very low bioconcentration in fish (2.6 in Killifish). According CLP Regulation (EC n.1272/2008) concern of bioaccumulation raises when BCF ≥500.

 

c- TRANSPORT and DISTRIBUTION

As reported in HSDB Report of N-methylaniline with reference to Von Oepen B et all; Chemosphere 22: 285-304,1991 the substance has low adsorptivity to soil.