Some carbon tetrachloride released to the atmosphere is expected to partition into the ocean. Hydrolysis half-life in water is 7000 years at 25 deg C Releases or spills on soil should result in rapid evaporation due to high vapor pressure and leaching in soil resulting in groundwater contamination due to its low adsorption to soil. A measured KOC of 71 was reported. Estimated retardation factor in breakthrough sampling in groundwater is 1.44 - 1.8. Carbon tetrachloride is expected to be highly mobile in soil and only slightly adsorbed to sediment.
Carbon tetrachloride has a low potential to bioconcentrate.
Log of the bioconcentration factor in trout is 1.24, in bluegill sunfish - 1.48.