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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Not readily biodegradable.

Additional information

In the key study (2016 OECD 301B), EC 903-161-3 was shown to undergo biotic and abiotic degredation, but did not fulfil the criteria for ready biodegredability. Due to the test items low water solubility, silica gel was used to enhance the availability to the inoculum, the study was also extended to 60 days to investigate the inherent degradation potential of the test item. A mean total of 49.5% degradation was achieved. The average biotic and abiotic cumulative percent biodegradation for EC 903-161-3 were 6.4% and 43.1% respectively. EC 903-161-3 may not be considered readily biodegradable, since 60% TCO2 was not achieved within 10 days of achieving 10% TCO2. Based on these findings it was concluded that the test item was not readily biodegradable.

In the supporting study, the test item, EC-903-161-3, was not readily biodegradable under the conditions of the test.

The test item, EC-903-161-3, was not readily biodegradable under the conditions of the test as it failed to achieve a transition from 10% to 60% degradation in a 10 day window during the 28 day test (mean % biodegradation - was 21.1 %). The abiotic control data indicate that a significant proportion of the degradation recorded for EC-903-161-3 was a result of abiotic degradation; the acidification of the bioreactors on Day 28 did not result in the generation of CO2from the carbonate component of EC-903-161-3.

Although the supporting study was conducted to GLP standard and in accordance with OECD guideline 301B, the methodology used did not take account of the low water solubility of the test item, therefore the results are not considered indicative of the inherent biodegradation potential of the test item. As such the key study is considered to be more indicative of the inherent biodegradation potential of the test item.

It is concluded that the test item is not readily biodegradable, it does show degradation potential, the majority of which is abiotic given the high levels of inorganic carbon present in the substance. However, even using modifications to the standard protocol (extension to 60 days and silica gel) complete degradation was not achieved, illustrating that there are organic constituents within the UVCB substance that are not readily biodegradable.