| Environmental Impact | Release of phenanthrene (PHEN) most likely results from the incomplete combustion of
a variety of organic compounds including wood and fossil fuels. Release to the soil will likely
result in biodegradation. Volatilization is not expected to be significant. Phenanthrene is expected
to bind strongly to soil and not leach extensively to groundwater. When released to water,
adsorption of PHEN to suspended sediments is expected to remove most of the compound from
solution. Photolysis is expected to occur near the water surface and biodegradation of
phenanthrene in the water column is expected. Oxidation, volatilization and bioconcentration are
not expected to be significant. Phenanthrene released to the atmosphere is expected to rapidly
adsorb to particulate matter. Phenanthrene adsorbed on fly ash has been shown to photolyze
rapidly (half-life 49 hr) and Phenanthrene adsorbed on particulate matter will be subject to wet
and dry deposition. Vapor phase phenanthrene will react with photochemically gener ated,
atmospheric hydroxyl radicals with an estimated half-life of 1.67 days. PHEN is a contaminant in
air, water, sediment, soil, fish and other aquatic organisms and food. Human exposure results
primarily from ingestion of food contaminated with PHEN.
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