Environmental Impact 1,2-Dichloropropane has been released in the past into soil during its former use as a soil fumigant and into air as fugitive emissions and in wastewater during its production and use as a chemical intermediate, solvent, scouring, spotting, and metal degreasing agent. If injected into soil 1,2-dichloropropane will be primarily lost by volatilization. 1,2-Dichloropropane has been detected in groundwater where its fate is unknown. Adsorption to soil and bioconcentration in fish will not be significant. Therefore, there will be ample time for dispersal as is evidenced by its presence in ambient air.
Human exposure is primarily due to inhalation.
Occupation exposure, both dermal and via inhalation, will occur during and after its application as a soil fumigant as well as during its production and other uses. If released on soil 1,2-dichloropropane will rapidly volatilize and readily leach into the ground especially in the sandy soils in areas of CA and the coastal plains of GA, SC, NC, and VA where it is used as a nematicidal fumigant . There is no evidence that it biodegrades in sandy soil although there is some evidence that a minor amount of degradation occurs in medium loam soil in 20 weeks in closed glass containers . During its use as a fumigant for nematodes, 1,2-dichloropropane is injected into the root zone and then the soil compacted to retain the fumigant longer. Leaching into groundwater, is possible especially if there is rain or the fields are irrigated as indicated by ground water contamination in agricultural areas .