Tribromoacetic Acid

H314 (100%): Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]

P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P321, P363, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 48 reports by companies from 5 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory.

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

FIREFIGHTING. Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and protective clothing to prevent contact with skin and eyes.

EXTINGUISHING MEDIA. Suitable: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, or appropriate foam.

Emits toxic fumes under fire conditions.

Cover with dry lime or soda ash, pick up, keep in a closed container, and hold for waste disposal. Ventilate area and wash spill site after material pickup is complete.

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. Observe all federal, state, and local environmental regulations.

Do not breathe dust. Do not get in eyes, on skin, on clothing. Avoid prolonged or repeated exposure.

Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, rubber boots, and heavy rubber gloves. In case of spill or leak, evacuate the area.

Wash contaminated clothing before reuse. Discard contaminated shoes. Wash thoroughly after handling.

SRP: Contaminated protective clothing should be segregated in such a manner so that there is no direct personal contact by personnel who handle, dispose, or clean the clothing. Quality assurance to ascertain the completeness of the cleaning procedures should be implemented before the decontaminated protective clothing is returned for reuse by the workers. Contaminated clothing should not be taken home at end of shift, but should remain at employee's place of work for cleaning.

For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for TRIBROMOACETIC ACID (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Keep tightly closed. Store in a cool dry place.

ENGINEERING CONTROLS. Safety shower and eye bath. Use only in a chemical fume hood.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. Wear appropriate government approved respirator, chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, other protective clothing.

Faceshield (8-inch minimum).

Solid; [Merck Index] White crystalline solid; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]

Colorless crystals

245 °C (decomposition)

129-135 °C

Soluble in alcohol, ether; slightly soluble in petroleum ether.

In water, 2.0X10+5 mg/L at 25 °C

0.00028 [mmHg]

Henry's Law constant = 3.34X10-9 atm-cu m/mole at 25 °C

Carbon monoxide, Carbon dioxide, Hydrogen bromide gas.

pKa = 0.72 at 25 °C

Decomposes in boiling water to bromoform.

Nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy

Quadrupole coupling

Other Classes -> Organic Acids

Dermatotoxin - Skin burns.

Chlorination of drinking water generates disinfection by-products (DBPs) , which have been shown to disrupt spermatogenesis in rodents at high doses, suggesting that DBPs could pose a reproductive risk to men. ... A cohort study /was conducted/ to evaluate semen quality in men with well-characterized exposures to DBPs. ... The results of the present study do not support an association between exposure to DBPs at levels approaching regulatory limits and adverse sperm outcomes, although /there was/ an association between total organohalides and sperm concentration. ... The lone association of total organohalide exposure with sperm concentration may lend support to findings that have suggested that total organohalide is a stronger risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes than any of the regulated DBP groups or species and that the toxicity of total organohalides is greater than that of the individual or subclasses of DBPs. ... /Disinfection by-products/

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Corrosive.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ ... Symptoms of exposure may include burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Inhalation may result in spasm, inflammation and edema of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonitis, and pulmonary edema. Material is extremely destructive to tissue of the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin.

/EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDIES/ Chlorination of drinking water generates disinfection by-products (DBPs) , which have been shown to disrupt spermatogenesis in rodents at high doses, suggesting that DBPs could pose a reproductive risk to men. ...This study ...assessed DBP exposure and testicular toxicity, as evidenced by altered semen quality. ... A cohort study /was conducted/ to evaluate semen quality in men with well-characterized exposures to DBPs. Participants were 228 presumed fertile men with different DBP profiles. They completed a telephone interview about demographics, health history, water consumption, and other exposures and provided a semen sample. Semen outcomes included sperm concentration and morphology, as well as DNA integrity and chromatin maturity. Exposures to DBPs were evaluated by incorporating data on water consumption and bathing and showering with concentrations measured in tap water. ... Multivariable linear regression /was used/ to assess the relationship between exposure to DBPs and adverse sperm outcomes. ... The mean (median) sperm concentration and sperm count were 114.2 (90.5) million/mL and 362 (265) million, respectively. The mean (median) of the four trihalomethane species (THM4) exposure was 45.7 (65.3) ug/L, and the mean (median) of the nine haloacetic acid species (HAA9) exposure was 30.7 (44.2) ug/L. These sperm parameters were not associated with exposure to these classes of DBPs. For other sperm outcomes, we found no consistent pattern of increased abnormal semen quality with elevated exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) or haloacetic acids (HAAs) . The use of alternate methods for assessing exposure to DBPs and site-specific analyses did not change these results. ... Overall, the results of the present study do not support an association between exposure to DBPs at levels approaching regulatory limits and adverse sperm outcomes, although /there was/ an association between total organohalides and sperm concentration that was in line with /the/ hypothesis.... The lone association of total organohalide exposure with sperm concentration may lend support to findings that have suggested that total organohalide is a stronger risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes than any of the regulated DBP groups or species ... and that the toxicity of total organohalides is greater than that of the individual or subclasses of DBPs. ... Previous studies have suggested that exposures to THMs via bathing and showering may be more strongly associated with adverse reproductive outcomes than other exposure indicators... /These/ results did not support these findings. /Disinfection by-products/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Developmental or Reproductive Toxicity/The potential toxicity of tribromoacetic acid (TBD) was evaluated using a short-term reproductive and developmental toxicity screen. This study design was selected to identify the process (development; female /rat/ reproduction; male /rat/ reproduction; various somatic organs/processes) that is the most sensitive to tribromoacetic acid exposure. ... The results of this study indicate that TBA at up to 400 ppm marginally reduced water consumption and did not affect reproductive function or produce general toxicity. From these data, TBA is not a reproductive toxicant in males or females at doses up to 400 ppm. This conclusion rests heavily on the shortness of the current exposure, and should be replicated using a longer study before the data are relied on.

/GENOTOXICITY/ /Investigators/ examined the genotoxicity of Bromoacetic acid (MBA), dibromoacetic acid (DBA), and tribromoacetic acid (TBA) in the SOS chromotest in Escherichia coli PQ37, the Ames fluctuation assay utilizing Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 and the newt micronucleus assay in larvae at stage 53 of the developmental table. MBA was negative in the SOS chromotest at levels as high as 1000 ug/mL and in the newt micronucleus assay. However, it was active at concentrations as low as 20 ug/mL in the Ames fluctuation assay with S9 fraction added to the incubation medium. DBA was positive with and without S9 fraction in the SOS chromotest, requiring 100 ug/mL in the former case and 200 ug/mL in the latter. Thus, it is about 5 times as potent as DCA in this test. In the Ames fluctuation assay, DBA was active at 10 ug/mL without S9 and at 30 ug/mL with S9. TBA was active in the SOS chromotest at 100 ug/mL with S9 but required 2000 ug/mL for activity in the Ames fluctuation assay without S9.

/GENOTOXICITY/ Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays were used to analyze drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) AS52 cells. ... Data were also available to compare these results with cytotoxicity and mutagenicity studies in Salmonella typhimurium. The rank order in decreasing chronic cytotoxicity measured in a microplate-based assay was bromoacetic acid (BA) >> 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) > dibromoacetic acid (DBA) > chloroacetic acid (CA) > KBrO(3) > tribromoacetic acid (TBA) > EMS (ethylmethanesulfonate, positive control) > dichloroacetic acid (DCA) > trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The induction of DNA strand breaks by these agents was measured by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE, comet assay) and the rank order in decreasing genotoxicity was BA >> MX > CA > DBA > TBA > EMS > KBrO(3), while DCA and TCA were refractory. BA was more cytotoxic (31x) and genotoxic (14x) than MX in CHO cells. BA was over 400x more genotoxic than potassium bromate. The brominated haloacetic acids (HAAs) were more cytotoxic and genotoxic than their chlorinated analogs. The HAAs expressed a statistically significant inverse relationship in CHO cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as a function of increased numbers of halogen atoms per molecule. A quantitative comparison was conducted with results from a previous study with cytotoxicity and mutagenicity in S. typhimurium. There was no correlation between chronic CHO cell and bacterial cell cytotoxicity. DBP-induced CHO cell cytotoxicity was not related to mutagenic potency in S. typhimurium. Cytotoxicity in CHO cells was statistically significant and highly correlated to CHO cell genotoxicity. Finally, ... the DBP genotoxic potency in CHO cells and the mutagenic potency in S. typhimurium were not related. This suggests that toxicity data in S. typhimurium did not quantitatively predict the toxic effects of DBPs in mammalian cell systems.

/GENOTOXICITY/ ... The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs) bromoform (BF), bromoacetic acid (BA), dibromoacetic acid (DBA), tribromoacetic acid (TCA), chloroform (CF), chloroacetic acid (CA), dichloroacetic acid (DCA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), and potassium bromate (KBrO3) /were analyzed/ in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, and RSJ100 +/- S9. Solvent controls of DMSO and ethanol and a positive control of ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) were also analyzed. ... The distributions of the rank order for the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of these DBPs were compared and the structure-function relationships were identified. TA100 -S9 was the most sensitive strain for these DBPs. The rank order of the mutagenic potency adjusted with a cytoxicity factor was MX > BA > EMS > DBA > DCA > CA with TBA, TCA, BF, and CF not mutagenic. From a structure-function perspective, the brominated acetic acids were more cytotoxic and mutagenic than their chlorinated analogs. ...

/GENOTOXICITY/ Three short-term assays (SOS chromotest, Ames fluctuation test and newt micronucleus test) were performed to detect the genotoxic activity of organohalides, compounds likely to be found in chlorinated and/or ozonated drinking water: monochloro-, dichloro- and trichloroacetic acids and monobromo-, dibromo- and tribromoacetic acids. With the SOS chromotest, only three of the chemicals studied (dichloroacetic acid, dibromo- and tribromoacetic acids) were found to induce primary DNA damage in Escherichia coli PQ 37. In the Ames fluctuation test, all the compounds except monochloroacetic acid showed mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100. In these two in vitro tests, a good correlation between increasing number of substituents and decreasing mutagenicity was observed. Namely, the toxicity of brominated and chlorinated acetic acids decreased when the number of substituents increased. The newt micronucleus test detected a weak clastogenic effect on the peripheral blood erythrocytes of Pleurodeles waltl larvae for trichloroacetic acid only.

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Agent Search Results page, which tabulates all of the "Standard Toxicology & Carcinogenesis Studies", "Developmental Studies", and "Genetic Toxicity Studies" performed with this chemical. Clicking on the "Testing Status" link will take the user to the status (i.e., in review, in progress, in preparation, on test, completed, etc.) and results of all the studies that the NTP has done on this chemical. [http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=75-96-7][Available from: http://ntp-apps.niehs.nih.gov/ntp_tox/index.cfm?fuseaction=ntpsearch.searchresults&searchterm=75-96-7]

The potential toxicity of tribromoacetic acid (TBA; CAS No. 75-96-7) was evaluated using a short-term reproductive and developmental toxicity screen. This study design was selected to identify the process (development; female reproduction; male reproduction; various somatic organs/processes) that is the most sensitive to tribromoacetic acid exposure. The dose range-finding study was conducted at concentrations of 0, 30, 100, 300, and 500 ppm of TBA in the drinking water for two weeks. Based on decreased water consumption in the 500 ppm males and females, the dose levels of 0, 10, 70, and 400 ppm (Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) were selected for the main study, which utilized two groups of male rats designated as Group A (non-BrdU treated animals, 10 rats in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4) and Group B (BrdU-treated, 5 rats in Groups 1, 2, and 3, and 8 rats in Group 4), and three groups of female rats designated as Group A (peri-conception exposure, 10 rats in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4), Group B (gestational exposure), and Group C (peri-conception exposure, BrdU-treated, 5 rats in Groups 1, 2, and 3, and 8 animals in Group 4). Control animals received deionized water, the vehicle. During the treatment period, all animals survived to the scheduled necropsy and there were no clinical signs of general toxicity noted at any dose level. There were no treatment-related findings in body weights or feed consumption, but there was a slight and inconsistent decrease in water consumption in the 400 ppm animals. The overall calculated consumption of TBA for Groups 2-4 was 1, 7, and 39 mg/kg/day, respectively. Male and female gross necropsy findings were comparable across dose groups with the exception of a 40% incidence of mottled kidneys in the 400 ppm A males. Female and male reproductive findings were unremarkable. The visceral evaluation of the newborn heart and brain using Wilson's soft tissue free hand slicing technique did not reveal any treatment-related effects. Adult male organ weights, organ-to-body weight ratios, and clinical chemistry and hematology endpoints were unaffected by TBA treatment with the following exceptions: a 14 % increase in liver-to-body weight ratio in the 400 ppm A males, and an increase of 12% and 10%, respectively, in blood urea nitrogen and serum albumin in the 400 ppm A males. The increases in BUN and albumin represent a small, but possible biologically significant indicator of dehydration, probably attributable to decreased fluid consumption. The increase in BUN accompanied by the increase in mottled kidneys may also suggest mild kidney toxicity which could result in morphological changes with a longer term exposure. No treatment-related histopathology was noted in the organs of the A males or in cellular proliferation as measured by BrdU Labeling Index from the liver, kidney, or urinary bladder from the B males or C females. The results of this study indicate that TBA at up to 400 ppm marginally reduced water consumption and did not affect reproductive function or produce general toxicity. From these data, TBA is not a reproductive toxicant in males or females at doses up to 400 ppm. This conclusion rests heavily on the shortness of the current exposure, and should be replicated using a longer study before the data are relied on.

Tribromoacetic acid's formation as a chemical byproduct of chlorination and chloramination of drinking water, and its use as a brominating agent and catalyst for polymerization may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to air, an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist solely as a vapor in the atmosphere. Vapor-phase tribromoacetic acid will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 30.9 days. Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight. If released to soil, tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 5.3. The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72, indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts. Tribromoacetic acid is unlikely to volatilize from dry soil surfaces based upon its vapor pressure. If released into water, tribromoacetic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment based upon the estimated Koc. A pKa of 0.72 indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in the environment. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C. An estimated BCF of 0.63 suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important environmental fate process since this compound lacks functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions. Monitoring data indicate that the general population may be exposed to bromoacetic acid via ingestion of chlorinated or chloraminated drinking water, particularly when source waters contain high concentrations of bromide. (SRC)

Tribromoacetic acid's formation as a chemical byproduct of chlorination and chloramination of drinking water(1), and its use as a brominating agent and catalyst for polymerization(2) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5.3(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(6). Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in soil. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(7).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5.3(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that tribromoacetic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa of 0.72(4) indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(5). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 0.63(SRC), from its water solubility(2) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in water. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), tribromoacetic acid, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase tribromoacetic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 30.9 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 5.2X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

AEROBIC: Tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(1); growth was slight but noticeable.

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of tribromoacetic acid with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 5.2X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 30.9 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(2). Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(3) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

An estimated BCF of 0.63 was calculated for tribromoacetic acid(SRC), using a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Koc of tribromoacetic acid is estimated as 5.3(SRC), using a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5).

A pKa of 0.72(1) indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(2). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(3).

DRINKING WATER: A mean concentration of 0.13 ug/L tribromoacetic acid was measured in post-treatment drinking water from disinfection utilities in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, and Italy(1). Tribromoacetic acid was measured in water samples taken from Barcelona's water treatment plant between November 1997 and March 1998; the compound was detected in prechlorinated water (2.3-10 ug/L), sand-filtered water (3-10 ug/L), ozonated water (3.1-10 ug/L), granulated activated carbon-filtered water (not detected-1.7 ug/L), and postchlorinated water (2.7-4.9 ug/L)(2).

DRINKING WATER: Water taken from 4 treatment plants in The Netherlands contained tribromoacetic acid concentrations between 0.3-2.1 ug/L; concentrations in water taken from 16 other treatment plants were less than 0.1 ug/L(1).

Occupational exposure to tribromoacetic acid may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where it is produced or used. Monitoring data indicate that the general population may be exposed to bromoacetic acid via ingestion of chlorinated or chloraminated drinking water, particularly when source waters contain high concentrations of bromide. (SRC)

Tribromoacetic acid's formation as a chemical byproduct of chlorination and chloramination of drinking water, and its use as a brominating agent and catalyst for polymerization may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to air, an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist solely as a vapor in the atmosphere. Vapor-phase tribromoacetic acid will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 30.9 days. Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight. If released to soil, tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 5.3. The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72, indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts. Tribromoacetic acid is unlikely to volatilize from dry soil surfaces based upon its vapor pressure. If released into water, tribromoacetic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment based upon the estimated Koc. A pKa of 0.72 indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in the environment. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C. An estimated BCF of 0.63 suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important environmental fate process since this compound lacks functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions. Monitoring data indicate that the general population may be exposed to bromoacetic acid via ingestion of chlorinated or chloraminated drinking water, particularly when source waters contain high concentrations of bromide. (SRC)

Tribromoacetic acid's formation as a chemical byproduct of chlorination and chloramination of drinking water(1), and its use as a brominating agent and catalyst for polymerization(2) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5.3(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(6). Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in soil. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(7).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 5.3(SRC), determined from a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(2) and a regression-derived equation(3), indicates that tribromoacetic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa of 0.72(4) indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(5). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 0.63(SRC), from its water solubility(2) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Limited data are available regarding the biodegradation of tribromoacetic acid in water. However, tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), tribromoacetic acid, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase tribromoacetic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 30.9 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 5.2X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

AEROBIC: Tribromoacetic acid (0.1% w/v) was used as a carbon source by Pseudomonas and Nocardia when measured for halide released over a period of 20 days at 30 °C(1); growth was slight but noticeable.

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of tribromoacetic acid with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 5.2X10-13 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 30.9 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(2). Tribromoacetic acid does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(3) and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

An estimated BCF of 0.63 was calculated for tribromoacetic acid(SRC), using a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Koc of tribromoacetic acid is estimated as 5.3(SRC), using a water solubility of 2.0X10+5 mg/L(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc value suggests that tribromoacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil. The pKa of tribromoacetic acid is 0.72(4), indicating that this compound will primarily exist in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(5).

A pKa of 0.72(1) indicates tribromoacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9 and therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(2). Tribromoacetic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 2.8X10-4 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(3).

DRINKING WATER: A mean concentration of 0.13 ug/L tribromoacetic acid was measured in post-treatment drinking water from disinfection utilities in Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, and Italy(1). Tribromoacetic acid was measured in water samples taken from Barcelona's water treatment plant between November 1997 and March 1998; the compound was detected in prechlorinated water (2.3-10 ug/L), sand-filtered water (3-10 ug/L), ozonated water (3.1-10 ug/L), granulated activated carbon-filtered water (not detected-1.7 ug/L), and postchlorinated water (2.7-4.9 ug/L)(2).

DRINKING WATER: Water taken from 4 treatment plants in The Netherlands contained tribromoacetic acid concentrations between 0.3-2.1 ug/L; concentrations in water taken from 16 other treatment plants were less than 0.1 ug/L(1).

Occupational exposure to tribromoacetic acid may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where it is produced or used. Monitoring data indicate that the general population may be exposed to bromoacetic acid via ingestion of chlorinated or chloraminated drinking water, particularly when source waters contain high concentrations of bromide. (SRC)

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. Observe all federal, state, and local environmental regulations.