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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

The substance is regarded as readily biodegradable. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

The ready biodegradability of DV6850 was assessed in the CO2 Evolution Test (Modified Sturm Test), Procedure C.4-C of the Annex to Directive 92/69/EEC, OECD Procedure 301B and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, (OPPTS) Method 835.3110 (m) (adopted January 1998). In addition, the biodegradability of DV6850 in seawater of DV6850 was assessed in two tests using OECD Method 306 (Biodegradability in Seawater) and the US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS) Method 835.3160.

In the readily biodegradability test, substances are considered to be readily biodegradable if CO2 production is equal to or greater than 60% of the theoretical value within ten days of the level achieving 10%. As 62% degradation was achieved at the end of the 10 -day window, DV6850 can be considered to be readily biodegradable.

The biodegradability in seawater was assessed in an unstirred, 'Closed Bottle test' assay system. As the test substance is known to adsorb onto membrane filters and surfaces, which precludes the employment of a test to assess Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) removal, the extent of biodegradation of the test substance by seawater microorganisms was assessed in addition using a stirred, respirometric assay system. DV6850 achieved about 45% degradation at the end of both of the tests and can therefore not be regarded as biodegradable in seawater under the test conditions which indicates that further study is required, as such substances may not necessarily be non-biodegradable under environmental conditions. Biodegradation may occur under more favourable conditions, such as exposure to a larger and more diverse mixture of microorganisms in a system more suited to an assessment of degradation of a poorly soluble substance.

The methods used to assess the biodegradability of the test substance in seawater are not tests for biodegradability since no inoculum is added in addition to the micro-organisms already present in seawater. Neither do the tests simulate the marine environment since nutrients are added and the concentration of the test substance is very much higher than would be present in the sea. For these reasons, the results of the biodegradability tests in seawater are not further considered and the substance is regarded to be readily biodegradable.