What happens to methyl isocyanate when it enters the environment?
When released to air, it will exist solely as a gas. Methyl isocyanate gas is degraded rapidly in the air by reacting with substances commonly found in the air. Methyl isocyanate will also be broken down by moisture from clouds and rainfall. It will only persist in the atmosphere a few hours to a few days before being degraded. Methyl isocyanate is rapidly (minutes to a few hours) degraded in water into other compounds.. Most of the methyl isocyanate released to soil will be broken down into other compounds upon contact with moisture. Small amounts of methyl isocyanate may evaporate into air. Methyl isocyanate does not accumulate in the food chain.
