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EC number: 206-992-3 | CAS number: 420-04-2
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Study period:
- 1988
- Reliability:
- 1 (reliable without restriction)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- guideline study
- Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
- reference to other study
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 301 E (Ready biodegradability: Modified OECD Screening Test)
- Deviations:
- yes
- Remarks:
- The medium contained a buffer of higher capacity than the described one in the OECD Guideline. But this deviation has no effect on the validity of the study.
- GLP compliance:
- yes
- Oxygen conditions:
- aerobic
- Inoculum or test system:
- activated sludge (adaptation not specified)
- Details on inoculum:
- Not indicated
- Duration of test (contact time):
- 28 d
- Initial conc.:
- 14.7 mg/L
- Based on:
- act. ingr.
- Initial conc.:
- 29.4 mg/L
- Based on:
- act. ingr.
- Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
- DOC removal
- Details on study design:
- - The nutrient medium was inoculated with activated sludge. A stock solution of aqueous hydrogen cyanamide solution was prepared in nutrient medium
- A stock solution of aqueous hydrogen cyanamide solution was prepared in nutrient medium. Two concentrations of 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide (30 and 60 mg/L corresponding to 4 and 9 mg DOC/L and to 14.7 and 29.4 mg as/L) were tested by adding the respective amounts of stock solution to inoculated nutrient media
- Control flasks without test substance and a sterile control (test medium autoclaved for 20 minutes at 120 °C) were included in the test
- Sodium acetate was used as a positive control
- The test samples were incubated for 28 days at 20°± 2 °C and aliquots were collected from each flask after 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks
- The residual dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured using a TOC-Analyser after persulphate oxidation to assess the percent of biodegradation. - Reference substance:
- acetic acid, sodium salt
- Preliminary study:
- No preliminary study
- Test performance:
- No special remarks on test performance
- Key result
- Parameter:
- % degradation (DOC removal)
- Value:
- 0
- Sampling time:
- 28 d
- Remarks on result:
- other: Same biodegradadble result (%) was obtained also before the 28th day sampling time (after 0,7, 14, 21 days of exposure).
- Details on results:
- Cyanamide was not degraded in the inoculated medium within 28 days. Therefore, cyanamide is regarded as not readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. No degradation was found in the sterile control confirming the stability of the test substance.
- Results with reference substance:
- The biodegradability of sodium acetate was used as a measure for the microbial activity of the inoculum, and to detect any inhibition of this activity due to the presence of high concentrations of cyanamide. Sodium acetate was completely degraded within one week i.e. biodegradation reached a level of 97 to 100 % indicating that sodium acetate is readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. The sodium acetate degradation was not influenced by cyanamide present in the medium.
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- yes
- Interpretation of results:
- under test conditions no biodegradation observed
- Conclusions:
- Cyanamide is regarded as not readily biodegradable by the terms of this test.
- Executive summary:
The nutrient medium was prepared as described in OECD 301 E with one exception: solution (a) contained 1.5 g NH4Cl/1000 mL instead of 0.5 g/1000 mL. The nutrient medium was inoculated with activated sludge. A stock solution of aqueous hydrogen cyanamide solution was prepared in nutrient medium. Two concentrations of 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide (30 and 60 mg/L corresponding to 4 and 9 mg DOC/L and to 14.7 and 29.4 mg as/L) were tested by adding the respective amounts of stock solution to inoculated nutrient media. Control flasks without test substance and a sterile control (test medium autoclaved for 20 minutes at 120 °C) were included in the test. Sodium acetate was used as a positive control. The test samples were incubated for 28 days at 20 ± 2 °C and aliquots were collected from each flask after 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. The residual dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured using a TOC-Analyser after persulphate oxidation to assess the percent of biodegradation. The biodegradability of sodium acetate was used as a measure for the microbial activity of the inoculum, and to detect any inhibition of this activity due to the presence of high concentrations of cyanamide. Sodium acetate was completely degraded within one week i.e. biodegradation reached a level of 97 to 100 % indicating that sodium acetate is readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. The sodium acetate degradation was not influenced by cyanamide present in the medium. Cyanamide was not degraded in the inoculated medium within 28 days. Therefore, cyanamide is regarded as not readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. No degradation was found in the sterile control confirming the stability of the test substance. As literature data indicated that cyanamide should be readily biodegradable (in contrast to the results of this study), the influence of some limiting factors (i.e. nitrogen source, test substance and inoculum concentrations) on the biodegradability of cyanamide was determined in another study (Matla, 1990 Doc. No.713-002).
- Endpoint:
- biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Study period:
- 1990
- Reliability:
- 1 (reliable without restriction)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- guideline study
- Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
- reference to other study
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 301 B (Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test)
- Version / remarks:
- Modified Sturm Test (1981)
- Deviations:
- yes
- Remarks:
- The medium contained a buffer of higher capacity than the described one in the OECD Guideline. But this deviation has no effect on the validity of the study.
- GLP compliance:
- yes
- Oxygen conditions:
- aerobic
- Inoculum or test system:
- activated sludge (adaptation not specified)
- Details on inoculum:
- Activated sludge was added to the medium to reach inoculum concentrations of approximately 30 mg (dry weight) and approximately 100 mg (dry weight) per litre.
- Duration of test (contact time):
- 56 d
- Initial conc.:
- 1 mg/L
- Based on:
- act. ingr.
- Initial conc.:
- 15 mg/L
- Based on:
- act. ingr.
- Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
- CO2 evolution
- Details on study design:
- - Nutrient medium was prepared as described in OECD 301 B with one exception: solution (a) contained 1.5 g NH4Cl/1000 mL instead of 0.5 g/1000 mL. One nitrogen free medium was prepared leaving out NH4Cl and yeast extract for the testing of Cyanamide as nitrogen source
- The media were aerated for 24 hours with CO2-free air before use
- Activated sludge was added to the medium to reach inoculum concentrations of approximately 30 mg (dry weight) and approximately 100 mg (dry weight) per liter
- The test samples were incubated for 56 days at 20 ± 2°C and aliquots were collected from each flask after 0, 13, 28 and 56 days
- Evolving CO2 was trapped in NaOH traps and its amount determined by titration with 0.1 M HCL
- The following tests were performed:
Nitrogen limitation: A 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide was added to the inoculated medium at a concentration of 1 mg/L in order to serve as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. In additional flasks the inoculated medium was incubated with cyanamide (as possible nitrogen source) and sodium acetate (100 mg/L), as carbon source.
Test substance and inoculum concentration: To nutrient medium with an inoculum concentration of 30 mg (d.w.)/L and 100 mg (d.w.)/L, respectively, a 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide was added at concentrations of 1.0 and 15 mg as/L, respectively. - Reference substance:
- other: was not used
- Preliminary study:
- No preliminary study
- Test performance:
- No special remarks on test performance
- Key result
- Parameter:
- % degradation (CO2 evolution)
- Value:
- 100
- Sampling time:
- 13 d
- Remarks on result:
- other: Cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate).
- Key result
- Parameter:
- % degradation (CO2 evolution)
- Value:
- 22
- Sampling time:
- 56 d
- Remarks on result:
- other: Cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source. The obtained result was therefore slower (22% within 8 weeks) than the result obtained when cyanamide served only as a nitrogen source.
- Details on results:
- Nitrogen limitation:
Cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as a nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate). When cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source it was degraded slowly with about 22 % within 8 weeks.
Test substance and inoculum concentration:
Neither the test substance concentration nor the inoculum concentration influenced the ready biodegradability of cyanamide. - Validity criteria fulfilled:
- yes
- Interpretation of results:
- other: The biodegradation of cyanamide in a standard ready biodegradability test is prevented by the presence of another easily available nitrogen source.
- Conclusions:
- Cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate), whereas the cyanamide degradation was rather slow when cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source.
It can be concluded that the biodegradation of cyanamide in a standard ready biodegradability test is prevented by the presence of another easily available nitrogen source. - Executive summary:
The study was performed in order to determine the influence of some limiting factors (i.e. nitrogen source, test substance and inoculum concentrations) on the biodegradability of cyanamide. For this purpose a nutrient medium was prepared as described in OECD 301 B with one exception: solution (a) contained 1.5 g NH4Cl/1000 mL instead of 0.5 g/1000 mL. One nitrogen free medium was prepared leaving out NH4Cl and yeast extract for the testing of cyanamide as nitrogen source. The media were aerated for 24 hours with CO2-free air before use. Activated sludge was added to the medium to reach inoculum concentrations of approximately 30 mg (dry weight) and approximately 100 mg (dry weight) per liter. The test samples were incubated for 56 days at 20 ± 2 °C and aliquots were collected from each flask after 0, 13, 28 and 56 days. Evolving CO2 was trapped in NaOH traps and its amount determined by titration with 0.1 M HCL.
The following tests were performed
Nitrogen limitation
A 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide was added to the inoculated medium at a concentration of 1 mg/L in order to serve as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. In additional flasks the inoculated medium was incubated with cyanamide (as possible nitrogen source) and sodium acetate (100 mg/L), as carbon source.
Test substance and inoculum concentration: To nutrient medium with an inoculum concentration of 30 mg (d.w.)/L and 100 mg (d.w.)/L, respectively, a 49 % (w/w) aqueous solution of cyanamide was added at concentrations of 1.0 and 15 mg as/L, respectively.
Nitrogen limitation
Cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as a nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate). When cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source it was degraded slowly with about 22 % within 8 weeks.
Test substance and inoculum concentration: Neither the test substance concentration nor the inoculum concentration influenced the ready biodegradability of cyanamide.
It can be concluded that the biodegradation of cyanamide in a standard ready biodegradability test is prevented by the presence of another easily available nitrogen source.
Referenceopen allclose all
No remarks
Description of key information
The result of the study of van der Hoeck showed that cyanamide can be regarded as not readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. A following study (Malta, 1990) showed that cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate), whereas the cyanamide degradation was rather slow when cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source.
It can be concluded that the biodegradation of cyanamide in a standard ready biodegradability test is prevented by the presence of another easily available nitrogen source. But, as rapid degradation of cyanamide could clearly be demonstrated under environmentally realistic conditions in two aerobic water/sediment model systems (see IUCLID section 5.2.2), the substance can thus be considered as rapidly degradable according to the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Annex I sections 4.1.2.9.2 and 4.1.2.9.3 and therefore cyanamide was concluded to be "readily biodegradable".
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
- Type of water:
- freshwater
Additional information
Two ready biodegradable studies were conducted in which the newer study (Malta, 1990) examined the influence of some limiting factors on the biodegradability of cyanamide that might explain the not readily biodegradadble result obtained by the former study (van der Hoeck, 1988).
In the study of van der Hoeck (1988) a stock solution of aqueous Hydrogen cyanamide solution was prepared in nutrient medium inoculated with activated sludge in two concentrations corresponding to 14.7 and 29.4 mg ai cyanamide/L. Control flasks without test substance and a sterile control (test medium autoclaved for 20 minutes at 120 °C) were included in the test. Sodium acetate was used as a positive control. The test samples were incubated for 28 days at 20°± 2 °C. The residual dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured using a TOC-Analyser after persulphate oxidation to assess the percent of biodegradation. The biodegradability of sodium acetate was used as a measure for the microbial activity of the inoculum, and to detect any inhibition of this activity due to the presence of high concentrations of cyanamide.
Sodium acetate was completely degraded within one week i.e. biodegradation reached a level of 97 to 100 % indicating that sodium acetate is readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. The sodium acetate degradation was not influenced by cyanamide present in the medium. Cyanamide was not degraded in the inoculated medium within 28 days. Therefore, cyanamide is regarded as not readily biodegradable by the terms of this test. No degradation was found in the sterile control confirming the stability of the test substance. As literature data indicate that cyanamide should be readily biodegradable (in contrast to the results of this study), the influence of some limiting factors (i.e. nitrogen source, test substance and inoculum concentrations) on the biodegradability of cyanamide was determined in another study (Malta, 1990).
For this purpose in the study of Malta (1990), one nitrogen free medium was prepared leaving out NH4Cl and yeast extract for the testing of cyanamide as nitrogen source. Activated sludge was added to the medium and the test samples were incubated for 56 days at 20 ± 2°C. Evolving CO2 was trapped in NaOH traps and its amount determined by titration with 0.1 M HCL.
Results showed that in the nitrogen limitation samples the cyanamide was completely degraded within two weeks when it served as a nitrogen source for degradation of a carbon-containing compound (sodium acetate). When cyanamide served as both carbon and nitrogen source it was degraded slowly with about 22 % within 8 weeks. Results of the samples that examined the influence of the test substance and the inoculum concentrations showed that neither the test substance concentration nor the inoculum concentration influenced the biodegradability of cyanamide.
But, as rapid degradation of cyanamide could clearly be demonstrated under environmentally realistic conditions in two aerobic water/sediment model systems (see IUCLID section 5.2.2), the substance can thus be considered as rapidly degradable according to the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, Annex I sections 4.1.2.9.2 and 4.1.2.9.3 and therefore cyanamide was concluded to be "readily biodegradable".
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