Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

The biodegradability under anaerobic and aerobic conditions as well as the elimination are investigated for 2-mercaptoethanol. In an OECD 310 study evaluating the biodegradability in an STP using non-adapted domestic activated sludge, 2-mercaptoethanol was found to biodegrade 69% after 60 days exposure. In an OECD 309 surface water mineralisation study, 2-mercaptoethanol was found to be rapidly eliminated from surface water, with a half-life of 0.079 days.

Based on the results of the OECD 309 study, the substance degrades in the aquatic environment to a level of >70% within a 28 day period and therefore, the substance is considered to be rapidly biodegradable.