United Stales EPA 749 F 94 U07
Environmental Protection December 19tM»
Agency
Office of Pollution Prevention and tones (7401)
oERA Chemicals in the
Environment
Repository Material
Permanent Collection
1-BUTANOL
(CAS NO. 71-36-3)
-------
Chemicals can be released to (he envi-
ronment as a result of their manufacture,
processing, and use The EPA has de-
veloped information summaries on se-
lected chemicals to describe how you
might be exposed to these chemicals,
how exposure to them might affect you
and the environment, what happens to
them in the environment, who regulates
them, and whom to contact for addi-
tional information EPA is committed to
reducing environmental releases of
chemicals through source reduction and
other practices that reduce creation of
pollutants
WHAT IS I-BUTANOL, HOW IS
IT I'SED, AND HOW MIGHT I BE
EXPOSED?
l-Butanol (also called butyl
alcohol) is a flammable liquid It occurs
naturally in certain fruits, dried beans,
cheese, nuts, and fried bacon It is
produced in very large amounts (1.3
billion pounds in 1992) by five com-
panies in the United States US demand
is likely to grow at a rate of 2% to 3%
per year The largest users of l-butanol
are companies that make butyl acrylate,
methacrylate, and other related chemi-
cals Companies also add l-butanol to
plastics, hydraulic fluids, and detergent
formulations Drug companies use
l-butanol as an extractant and as an
additive in certain medicines
Exposure to I -butanol can occur
in the workplace or in the environment
-------
following releases to air, water, land, or
groundwater Exposure can also occur
when people use products that contain
l-butanol or when they eat certain foods
l-Butanol enters the body when breathed in
with contaminated ajr or when consumed
with contaminated food or water It can also
be absorbed through skin contact It does
not remain in the body due to its breakdown
and removal
WHAT HAPPENS TO 1-BUTANOL IN
THE ENVIRONMENT?
l-Butanol evaporates when exposed
to air It dissolves when mixed with water
Most direct releases of l-butanol to the
environment are to air or to underground
sites 1 -Butanol also evaporates from water
and soil exposed to ajr Once in air, it breaks
down to other chemicals Microorganisms
that live in water and in soil can also break
down l-butanol Because it is a liquid that
does not bind well to soil, l-butanol that
makes its way into the ground can move
through the ground and enter groundwater
Plants and animals are not likely to store
l-butanol
HOW DOES 1-BUTANOL AFFECT
HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT?
Effects of l-butanol on human
health and the environment depend on how
much l-butanol is present and the length
-------
and frequency of exposure Effects
aJso depend on the health of a person
or the condition of the environment
when exposure occurs
Breathing l-butanol for
short periods of time causes head-
aches in humans Direct contact with
liquid l-butanol irritates the skin
Contact with l-butanol liquid or
vapor irritates the eyes, the nose, and
the throat These effects are not
likely to occur at levels of l-butanol
that are normally found in the envi-
ronment
Human health effects asso-
ciated with breathing or otherwise
consuming small amounts of l-bu-
tanol over long periods of time are
not known Workers repeatedly
exposed to I -butanol have devel-
oped adverse eye effects and hearing
loss Laboratory studies show that
repeat exposure to l-butanol ad-
versely affects the thyroid, the blood,
the lungs, the intestine, the liver, the
kidneys, and the nervous system of
animals
1-Butanol by itself is not
likely to cause environmental harm
at levels normally found in the en-
vironment I-Butanol can contribute
to the formation of photochemical
smog when it reacts with other
volatile organic carbon substances in
air
-------
WHAT EPA PROGRAM omcis KCCULATE 1 -BITANOL, AND vptot* WHAT I.AWI is IT REGI'LATED?
EPA OFFICE
Pollution Prevention & Toxics
Air
Solid Waste &
Emergency Response
LAW
Tone Substances Control Act
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Knov. Act (EPCRA): Regulations (jj 313)
Toxics Release Inventory data
Clean Air Act
Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund)
Resource Conservatjon and Recovery Act / EPCRA (§ 304311312)
A technical support document a available from the TSCA Assistance Information Service, (202) 554-1404
WHAT OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES OR GROUPS CAN I CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ON I-BITANOL?
AGENCY /GROUP
.American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygjerusts
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Food and Drug Administration
National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (EnviroHeahh Clearinghouse)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (MUSH;
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PHONE NUMBER
(202)554-1404
(800) 535-0202
(202)260-1531
(919)541-0888
(800) 535-0202
PHONE NUMBER
(513)742-2020
(301)504-0994
(301)443-3170
(800) 643-4794
(800) 356-4674
(Check your local phone book under U.S Department of Labor)
------- |