ABSTRACT
Methyl acetate, which is used as a solvent, may be released in fugitive emissions during its manufacture, formulation, or use in commercial products. Methyl acetate is also a naturally occurring compound. If released to soil, methyl acetate will display very high mobility and it has the potential to leach into ground water. Rapid volatilization is expected to occur from both moist and dry soils. Methyl acetate may undergo atmospheric removal by wet deposition. The probable routes of exposure to methyl acetate are by inhalation and dermal contact during the production and use of this compound. Pure cultures of Alcaligenesfaecalis, isolated from activated sludge, were found to oxidize methyl acetate after a short lag period. From the water solubility and log octanol/water partition coefficient of methyl acetate, bioconcentration factors of 0.57 and 0.81, respectively, can be calculated by a regressional analysis.
