Nitrobenzene can evaporate when exposed to air. It dissolves when mixed with water. Most releases of nitrobenzene to the U.S. environment are to underground injection sites. It can also evaporate slowly from water and soil exposed to air. Once in air, nitrobenzene breaks down to other chemicals.
Microorganisms living in water and in soil also break down nitrobenzene.
Because it is a liquid that does not bind well to soil, nitrobenzene that makes its way into the ground can move through the ground and enter groundwater. Nitrobenzene may be stored in plants, but is not expected to accumulate in fish. Effects of nitrobenzene on human health and the environment depend on how much nitrobenzene is present and the length and frequency of exposure. Effects also depend on the health of a person or the condition of the environment when exposure occurs. Workers exposed to large amounts of nitrobenzene in air have experienced headaches, muscle spasms, nausea, convulsions, and coma.