1,1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis[pentabromobenzene]

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Modeling indicates EBP is expected to partition in the environment to sediment and soil (ca. 99%). Negligible distribution to air and water are expected. High binding to particulates in all media is expected. Photolysis and hydrolysis are not expected to be significant routes of environmental degradation. Sewage treatment plants are expected to remove > 95% of that present in the influent. Removal is expected to be via binding to particulates rather than biodegradation. Volatilization is not expected. Bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification are not expected. EBP's physical and chemical properties will limit exposure and uptake. EBP's characteristic travel distance is expected to be low and long range atmospheric transport is not expected. Its movement in the atmosphere will be governed by the particulates to which it is bound. Atmospheric losses are expected to occur via wet and dry deposition.

Test data demonstrates a lack of biodegradation in 28 d ready biodegradation, 90 d enhanced aerobic biodegradation (pre-exposed soil and sludge), and 60 d anaerobic digester sludge studies. To further investigate EBP's potential for degradation anerobic and anaerobic soil and sediment tests were carried out. For both aerobic and anaerobic transformatio tests (OECD 307) using four types of soils EBP did not appear to degrade in any of the four soils. The mean percentage of radioactivity recovered as EBP at the end of the 6-month test was >93% (aerobic conditions) and >94% (anaerobic conditions) in all soil extracts. There was no clear pattern of decline, and the half-lives were extrapolated well beyond the 6-month test period. The DT50 values were >6 months for all four soils.

In addition a degradation study in four types of aerobic soils with 6 plant species over 60 days in accordance with OECD TG 307 was recently performed to investigate a possible degration of the substance in the presence of plants. No degradation and no metabolite formation was observed in this study. A minor translocation in plant roots but not shoots was observed in one (ryegrass) of the six plant species, No metabolites were detected in soil or plants the analytical method was able to go down to the 0.1% level for metabolite analysis after extensive analytical development using HPLC/ß-RAM analysis (see analytical methods) and non targeted LC/MS analysis.

Test and field data indicates a lack of bioconcentration/bioaccumulation in fish, falcon eggs, polar bear adipose. Bioaccumulation was not observed in rats administered repeated doses. Recent surveys of UK foods did not detect the substance.

Al these studies confirmed that the substance is very persistent in water, sediment and soil and does not degrade to lower brominated compounds under the conditiosn of the standard tests.