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Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Upon contact with water maleic anhydride immediately hydrolyses to maleic acid (DT50 = 0.3 min at pH 7). Maleic acid is expected to be hydrolytically stable in water since there are no functional groups that would lead to further hydrolysis.

Maleic anhydride as well as the hydrolysis product maleic acid are readily biodegradable. The Koc values for both substances suggest that adsorption of the substance to soil and suspended particles is not probable. In addition, both substances are not expected to bioaccumulate.

Based on the physico-chemical properties of maleic anhydride and maleic acid it is assumed to mainly distribute into water; the substances will not evaporate into the atmosphere. Photodegradation in air (as well as in soil and sediment) is not a relevant degradation pathway.

Additional information