Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

1,2-Dichloropropane is a colorless liquid belonging to a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It has a chloroform-like odor and evaporates quickly at room temperature. It is a man-made chemical and people are probably responsible for all releases of 1,2- dichloropropane into the environment. 1,2-Dichloropropane is now used in the United States only in research and industry. Before the early 1980s, 1,2-dichloropropane was used in farming as a soil fumigant and was found in some paint strippers, varnishes, and furniture finish removers. Most of the 1,2-dichloropropane released into the environment finally ends up in the air or groundwater. When applied to soil in one experiment, all but 1% dispersed in 10 days. Breakdown in both the air and groundwater is slow. The rate at which a chemical breaks down is usually explained by how long it takes for half the chemical to disappear (half-life). The half-life of 1,2- dichloropropane in air is not known exactly, but it is longer than 23 days, which means that 1,2-dichloropropane can spread to areas far from where it is released. In groundwater, the half-life of 1,2 dichloropropane is estimated to be between 6 months and 2 years. For more informatio