When spilled on land or applied to land during soil fumigation, ethylene dibromide will exhibit low to moderate adsorption and has been found in groundwater. Little bioconcentration into the food chain is expected. Humans are exposed to EDB from the air especially in areas of high traffic. With current restrictions on the use of leaded gasoline and EDB fumigation, exposure to this substance should decrease. Biodegradation can be a primary degradation process in soil.
Persistence can vary greatly from soil to soil.
In one laboratory screening study using 100 soils, half-lives ranging from 1.5 to 18 weeks were determined . Low Koc values and detection in various ground waters indicate that ethylene bromide will leach in soil. The primary removal process for ethylene bromide in surface water is volatilization. Direct photolysis is not expected to be im ortant. The Netherlands 0.1 ppb max .