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Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Readily biodegradable: MITI-I-Test (OECD 301C): 94% degradation after 14 days

Additional information

For the evaluation of the biodegradability of methyl methacrylate the following test result is considered:


MITI-I-Test (OECD 301C): 94% degradation after 14 days. (CITI, 1992).


Although in the key-study the criterion of the 10-day window was not assessed, the high degradation rate of 94% within 14 days in the MITI-I-Test indicates that the criterion of the 10 d-window is likely fulfilled.


This result is confirmed by a test according ISO 10707 where methyl methacrylate degraded 62 % after 7 days and achieved 98 % after 28 days (LGU, 2003).


Two additional tests are available where methyl methacrylate did not achieve the criteria readily biodegradable. In an OECD 301 D Closed bottle test methyl methacrylate achieved 88 % degradation after 28 days but failed the 10-day window. The trend of the biodegradation curve of MMA is however implausible in this test due to the simple structure of the substance. Measurements were conducted only on 3 days on day 5, 15 and 28 (Huntingdon, 1992).


A second OECD 301 C modified MITI test is available with methyl methacrylate. After day 5 and ca. 30 % the degradation curve remained static and no further degradation occurred. This result is implausible in contrast to other biodegradation tests with methyl methacrylate. It seems that after 5 days no test substance has been left due to technical reasons (Fraunhofer, 1988).


In summary methyl methacrylate fulfills the criteria readily biodegradability according CLP.