Data Summary for Nitrocellulose.
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Department of the Army (DA) established a cooperative agreement to develop Health Advisories (HA) on chemical substances associated with munitions that may be found as drinking water contaminants. This text summarizes information about nitrocellulose (NC) that was provided by DA to the USEPA. Nitrocellulose is a principal ingredient of propellants and some explosives, and is produced for military use at selected Army Ammunition Plants (AAP). It is produced by nitrating cellulose, e.g., treating cotton linters or wood pulp with mixed nitric and sulfuric acids. NC fines suspending in wastewater leave the production facility and remain suspended in receiving waters or settle substrate. NC measurements in waters downstream from AAP discharge have ranged up to 14 mg/L. Because of its resistance to biodegradation, it may persist in the environment and remain in aquatic sediments indefinitely. Keywords: Drinking water quality, Environmental contaminants, Health advisory, Health effects, Nitrocellulose, Pollution abatement, Mammalian toxicology, Aquatic toxicology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA186413
Entities
People
- Welford C. Roberts
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command