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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

Cumene hydroperoxide proved to be not readily biodegradable (2-7% biodegradation after 28 d) in two independent studies conducted according to OECD Guideline 301 B.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
under test conditions no biodegradation observed

Additional information

The ready biodegradation of cumene hydroperoxide was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test) over a period of 28 days and using domestic activated sludge as inoculum source. The biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of CO2 evolution. Inoculum blank, procedural/functional control with the reference substance sodium benzoate, and toxicity control using ca. 11 mg TOC/L test substance and 20 mg TOC/L reference compound were performed. The test item proved to be not readily biodegradable under the test conditions employed (3% biodegradation after 28 d). The functional control reached the pass level >60% biodegradation after 14 d. In the toxicity control containing both test and reference item 40% biodegradation based on ThCO2 occurred within 13 d thus indicating that the test substance was not inhibitory at the concentration tested. The ready biodegradability of cumene hydroxide was also investigated in a further study conducted according to OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test). Over a period of 28 days and using activated sludge as inoculum source, the biodegradation rate was determined by measurement of CO2 evolution. Inoculum blank, procedural/functional control with the reference substance sodium benzoate, and toxicity control using 10 and 20 mg/L test item and 2 mg/L reference compound were performed. The test item proved to be not biodegradable under the test conditions employed (7% and 2% biodegradation after 28 d at test substance concentration of 10 and 20 mg/L). The functional control reached the pass level >60% after 14 d. In the toxicity control containing both test and reference item 45% biodegradation based on ThCO2 occurred within 5 d thus indicating that the test item was not inhibitory at the concentration tested.