ABSTRACT
Formamide may be released to the environment as a result of its manufacture and wide use as an intermediate and solvent. If released to the atmosphere, vapor-phase formamide is degraded relatively rapidly by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals. Based on the complete water solubility of formamide, removal by rainout may be important. Several biodegradation screening studies have observed biodegradation of formamide; therefore, if released to soil, formamide may be subject to biodegradation. Based on an estimated Koc value of 3.6, formamide is expected to leach. Based on a low vapor pressure, formamide may volatilize from dry surface soils; however, volatilization from moist soil surfaces is not an important fate process. If released to water, biodegradation is expected to be the predominant fate process. The chemical structure of formamide suggests that it may be susceptible to environmental hydrolysis although no rate data are available that indicate hydrolysis is an important aquatic fate process.
