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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water and sediment: simulation tests

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Description of key information

This study showed that [14C]Farnesane did not remain in the water or sediment in either the high or low organic carbon aquatic sediment systems at 12°C; the majority of the applied radioactivity was captured in the volatile traps. Less than 2% of the applied radioactivity was present in the HOC overlying water by day 28, and in the LOC overlying water by day 7. The sediment extracts had a maximum of 2% and 4% of the applied radioactivity for the HOC and LOC sediment extracts, respectively. The mean sediment residue accounted for a maximum of 8% and 3% of the applied radioactivity for the HOC and LOC sediment extracts, respectively. 

The mean maximum % AR observed as a transformational product in the HOC and LOC overlying water samples were 3.4% and < 2%, respectively. No transformational products were observed in the Orbo™ tube extracts. 

Most of the applied radioactivity was measured in either the volatile traps or the sodium hydroxide traps and therefore in the environment could be expected to be in the atmosphere and not present in the water:sediment system. Sampling of the Orbo™ tubes and sodium hydroxide traps on day 21 accounted for a mean 88% and 97% AR in the HOC and LOC vessels, respectively; therefore for the remainder of the study [14C]Farnesane was not present in the test system. The % AR remaining in the water and sediment from day 28 to 100 plateaued between 4.5 – 9.5% in the HOC vessels and between 1.8 – 3.1% in the LOC vessels. Mineralisation accounted for up to 59% and 16% of the applied radioactivity in the HOC and LOC vessels, respectively, therefore Farnesane showed the potential to degrade.

The overlying water DT50 was calculated as 0.289 (DFOP kinetic analysis) and 0.302 (SFO kinetic analysis) days for the high and low organic carbon vessels, respectively.

Using double first-order in parallel (DFOP) kinetic analysis on the combined overlying water and sediment the DT50 was calculated as 1.45 days and 1.3 days for the high and low organic carbon vessels, respectively.

Using double first-order in parallel (DFOP) kinetic analysis on the combined overlying water and Orbo™ tube extractions the DT50 was calculated as 1.86 days and > 10000 days for the high and low organic carbon vessels, respectively. Kinetic analysis on the combined overlying water and Orbo™ tube extractions were used to represent the entire test system, however as most of the radioactivity was captured in the volatile traps, in the environment this could be expected to be in the atmosphere and not present in the water:sediment system. Although in both the HOC and LOC test systems the majority of the radioactivity was captured in volatile traps (Orbo™ tube or sodium hydroxide) in the HOC system most of the radioactivity was captured in the sodium hydroxide traps, and in the LOC system it was mainly in the Orbo™ tubes; this can be used to account for the difference between the DT50 values obtained for the HOC and LOC systems.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Half-life in freshwater:
0.302 d
at the temperature of:
12 °C

Whole System

Half-life in whole system:
1.45 d
at the temperature of:
12 °C
Type of system:
fresh water and sediment

Additional information