Abstract : Available data on macroinvertebrates, fish, and algae indicate nitrocellulose is not very toxic for most aquatic species. In most evaluations the EC50 and LC50 values were >1,000 mg/L. Only for the effect on chlorophyll a content of Selenastrum capricornutum was a lower value estimated, an EC50 of 579 mg/L. Available data on human health effects and mammalian toxicity suggest nitrocellulose is virtually nontoxic. The LD50 values were in excess of 5,000 mg/kg. Chronic toxicity studies in mice demonstrated only physical effects (fiber impaction) in the digestive tract (presumably because of the small size of the mouse digestive tract). Genotoxicity and developmental toxicity studies did not demonstrate any other significant toxic effects. Carcinogenicity data generated by an epidemiology study of occupational exposure during production of nitrocellulose suggest some association between nitrocellulose and rectal/ digestive tract cancers; this should be researched further. Metabolism data in rats indicate no absorption from the GI tract. However, nitrocellulose does appear to produce significant abiotic environmental effects. Because of its fibrous nature, it blankets benthic habitats (limiting available oxygen) and fill in interstitial spaces used as cover for benthic organisms. This habitat alteration is compounded by the resistance of nitrocellulose to environmental degradation. Habitat alteration becomes a significant aspect of regulatory control. Keywords: Munitions products.