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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

Two studies are available for C14 AO showing that it is readily biodegradable meeting the 10-day window. These findings are supported by the results of studies performed using C12-14 AO.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

In the key study [Hirschen M (2008)] the ready biodegradability of the substance was assessed according to OECD TG 301B (CO2 evolution test) under GLP. 67.5 % degradation (based on CO2 evolution) was observed after 28 days when the inoculum (domestic sewage sludge) was exposed to the substance at a concentration of approximately 11.6 mg C/L. The test was performed in duplicate. The substance reached 9.5 % degradation on Day 2 and 61 % degradation on Day 12, hence meeting the 10-day window requirement for ready biodegradability. The reference substance, sodium benzoate, reached 25 % degradation on Day 2 and > 60 % by Day 7, meeting the validity criteria established in the guideline for a reference substance.

Two supporting studies using C14 AO are available. In the first of these [Casteel K (2007)] the substance was tested following OECD TG 301B at 14 mg C/L and an inoculum of activated sewage sludge solids. 10 % biodegradation of the test material was reached at Day 3 and 60% biodegradation was reached at Day 11 in all replicates. Hence the test material met the 10 d window requirement for ready biodegradability. The final level of biodegradation at 28 days was 91.7%. The reference substance, sodium benzoate, reached 17.4 % degradation on Day 1 and 61.6 % degradation on Day 5, meeting the validity criteria. In the second supporting study performed using C14 AO [van Dievoet F (2004)] the substance reached a biodegradation level of 65 % after 28-days when tested according to OECD TG 301B, however it failed to meet the 10-day window.

Several studies where C12 -14 AO was tested to OECD TG 301 B [Clarke (2005] [Casteel (2007)] [Hirschen (2001)], OECD TG 301 D [Balk & Hantink-De Rooij (1987)] or DIN 38 412 [Klein (1986)] are available. The substance was found to be readily biodegradable in all of these studies.

Based on these studies it is concluded that C14 AO is readily biodegradable.