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Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Administrative data

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Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Reliability:
4 (not assignable)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: According to OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report (2001)
Qualifier:
equivalent or similar to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 D (Ready Biodegradability: Closed Bottle Test)
GLP compliance:
not specified
Inoculum or test system:
other: sewage treatment
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Remarks on result:
not measured/tested
Key result
Parameter:
BOD5*100/ThOD
Value:
ca. 58 - ca. 61 other: %
Remarks on result:
other: data from three publications
Validity criteria fulfilled:
not specified
Conclusions:
In the OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report for citric acid a BOD5/ThOD of 58 - 61% based on the results of three Closed Bottle tests is reported.
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: According to OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report (2001)
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: Directive 84/449/EEC, C.5 „Biotic degradation – modified Sturm test“
GLP compliance:
no
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
other: sewage treatment, non-adapted
Duration of test (contact time):
28 d
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
97
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: no standard deviation given
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (DOC removal)
Value:
100
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: no standard deviation given
Validity criteria fulfilled:
not specified
Interpretation of results:
readily biodegradable
Conclusions:
In the OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report for citric acid 97% degradation based on CO2 evolution in a Modified Sturm test is reported. Thus, the substance is considered to be readily biodegradable.
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: inherent biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
weight of evidence
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: According to OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report (2001)
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: Directive 87/302/EEC, part C, p. 99 "Biodegradation: Zahn-Wellens test"
GLP compliance:
no
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
other: sewage treatment
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (DOC removal)
Value:
85
Sampling time:
1 d
Remarks on result:
other: no standard deviation given
Conclusions:
In the OECD SIDS Initial Assessment Report for citric acid 85% degradation after 1 day based on DOC removal in a Zahn-Wellens test is reported.

Description of key information

In the aquatic compartment, citric acid is expected to be rapidly degraded based on the results from several ready and inherent aerobic biodegradation tests. Since citric acid is formed by the reaction of lithium citrate or lihtium citrate tetrahydrate with water, read-across with citric acid is considered as reasonable.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

Lithium citrate and lithium citrate tetrahydrate completely dissociates in water forming lithium hydroxide and citric acid. Thus, citric acid was found to be a suitable candidate for read-across.

Based on several ready and inherent aerobic degradation tests, citric acid is expected to be rapidly degradable in the aquatic compartment.