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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY



### WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 14k 

# E01

OFFICEOF PREVENTION, PESTICIDES AND TOXICSUBSTANCES

12-10-96

/ 

### MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Delisting Petition for Methyl Ethyl Ketone :

Environmental Toxicity FROM: J. V . Nabholz, Ph .D.

Health and Environmental Review Division (7403 ) TO : Daniel R . Bushman

Acting Petitions Coordinator ET501B, 202-260-3882 Environmental Assistance Division (7408 ) I have reviewed the delisting petition for methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) (78-93-3] . MEK is of low concern with respect to environmental toxicity based on known measured toxicity data and structure activity relationship (SAR) analysis
. 1 . TOXICITY PROFILE : The toxicity profile for methyl ethyl ketone is : methyl ethyl ketone (78-93-3] MEK ; 2-butanone ; methyl acetone ; smiles : CCC(=O)C; MW72 ; liquid ; log Kow = 0 . 26 (CLOGP) , 0 . 26 (SRC) , 0 . 29 (M-Hansch&Leo 1958) ; water solubility = 24 g/L (M-ICB), 275 .0 g/L (Merck), 95 .3 g/L (M-SRC), 263 g/L @ 20 *C (M-Exxon-SIDS) ; vp = 77 .5 mm Hg @ 20 C (M-ICB, DeLP), 100 mm Hg @ 25 * 3 C (HC&P-CRC) ; and HLC = 5 .6~-5 atm .m /mol (P-EAB) , 3 .98E-1 atm.m /mol (P-SIDS) , 1 . 05E-5 atm . m /mol (DeLP) RM1 ; OECD SIDS ; SARA Sec . 313 TRI ; Lead encapsulant chemical ; Predicted (P) and measured (M) toxicity values in mg/L (ppm) are : fish 96-h LC50 2300 .0 P fish (FHM) 96-h LC50 3220 .0 M FT,M ERL-Dul fish (SHM) 96-h NOEC 400 .0 M S,N Heit8l FLAG daphnid 48-h LC50 2200 .0 P daphnid 48-h LC50 5091 .0 M S,N R&K8 .0 FLAG Page 1 of 3 RecycledlRecyclable Printed with Soy/Canola Ird( on paper that contains atk" 50%recycled fiber 63980000342p. 2

green algal 96-h EC50 1200 .0 P green algal 192-h EC50 4300 .0 M S,N B&K78 FLAG fish Chronic Value (ChV) 220 .0 P fish ChV 300 .0 P ACR10 daphnid ChV 52 .0 P algal ChV = 45 .0 P Biological Fate fish BCF 0 .640 P low concern for toxicity based on SAR ; low concern for toxicity based on known test data ; assessment factor (AsF) 10 . 0 CC (fish) 30 .0 CC (daphnids) 5 .0 CC (green algae) 5 . 0 low concern for bioconcentration potential in aquatic organisms based on SAR; FLAG = Static method with nominal concentrations in open test systems, i .e ., B&K78 used an open test tube over 8 days ; beware of loss of MEK via volatilization
. Abbreviations are : ACR10 = acute-to-chronic ratio = 10 ; ai = active ingredients ; AsF = assessment factor ; BCF = bioconcentration factor ; CC = concern concentration ; ChV = Chronic value ; DeLP = delisting petition ; EC = effective concentration ; M = measured concentrations ; N = nominal concentrations ; NOEC = no-observed-effect concentration ; S = static method ; SAR = structure activity relationship ; TOC = total organic carbon; Prediction were based on SARs for neutral organic chemicals ; MW72 ; log KOW = 0 . 2 6 (CLOGP) ; pH = 7 ; hardness <180 .0 mg/L as CaC03 ; effective concentrations based on 100% active ingredients and mean measured concentrations ; and TOC <2 .0 mg/L; References : B&K78 = Bringmann & Kuhn (1978, Mitt . Int . Ver . Theor . Angew. Limnol . 21 :275-284)
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ERL-Dul = Tested at the Unites States Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, office of Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency on 18 May 1980 and published in Brooke et al (1984, Acute toxicities of organic chemicals to fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), University of Wisconsin-superior, p .99 ; and in Veith et al (1983, Aquatic toxicity and hazard assessment, 6th Symp ., ASTM STP802, Philadelphia, PA, p .90-97) . HC&P = Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Chemical Rubber Company. Heit8l Heitmuller et al (1981 , R&K80 Randall & Knopp, 1980, J. Water Pollut . Contr . Fed
. 52(8) :2117-2130 . 2
. QUESTIONS : If you have any further questions, please call (202-260-1271), fax (202-260-1236 or -1283), LAN mail, email : nabholz .joe@epamail .epa .gov ; or visit (E427) .

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