Benzimidazole-2-thiol

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Biodegradation in water

28-days Closed Bottle test following the OECD guideline 301 D to determine the ready biodegradability of the test chemical (Experimental study report, 2018). The study was performed at a temperature of 20°C. The test system included control, test item and reference item. Polyseed were used for this study. The concentration of test and reference item (Sodium Benzoate) chosen for both the study was 4 mg/L, while that of inoculum was 32 ml/l. OECD mineral medium was used for the study. ThOD (Theoretical oxygen demand) of test and reference item was determined by calculation. % degradation was calculated using the values of BOD and ThOD for test item and reference item. The % degradation of procedure control (reference item) was also calculated using BOD & ThOD and was determined to be 75.3%. Degradation of Sodium Benzoate exceeds 46.38 % on 7 days & 61.44 % on 14th day. The activity of the inoculum was thus verified and the test can be considered as valid. The BOD28 value of test chemical was observed to be 0.77 mgO2/mg. ThOD was calculated as 1.81 mgO2/mg. Accordingly, the % degradation of the test item after 28 days of incubation at 20 ± 1°C according to Closed Bottle test was determined to be 42.54%. Based on the results, the test item, under the test conditions, was considered to be ultimate inherently biodegradable in nature.

Biodegradation in water and sediment

Estimation Programs Interface (2018) prediction model was run to predict the half-life in water and sediment for the test chemical. If released in to the environment, 24.8% of the chemical will partition into water according to the Mackay fugacity model level III and the half-life period of test chemical in water is estimated to be 15 days (360 hrs). The half-life (15 days estimated by EPI suite) indicates that the chemical is not persistent in water and the exposure risk to aquatic animals is moderate to low whereas the half-life period of test chemical in sediment is estimated to be 135 days (3240 hrs). However, as the percentage release of test chemical into the sediment is less than 1% (i.e, reported as 0.36%), indicates that test chemical is not persistent in sediment.

Biodegradation in soil

The half-life period of test chemical in soil was estimated using Level III Fugacity Model by EPI Suite version 4.1 estimation database (2018). If released into the environment, 74.7% of the chemical will partition into soil according to the Mackay fugacity model level III. The half-life period of test chemical in soil is estimated to be 30 days (720 hrs). Based on this half-life value of test chemical, it is concluded that the chemical is not persistent in the soil environment and the exposure risk to soil dwelling animals is moderate to low.

Additional information

Biodegradation in water

Various experimental key and supporting studies for the test chemical and supporting study for its structurally similar read across substance were reviewed for the biodegradation end point which are summarized as below:

 

In an experimental key study from study report (2018),28-days Closed Bottle test following the OECD guideline 301 D to determine the ready biodegradability of the test item. The study was performed at a temperature of 20°C. The test system included control, test item and reference item. Polyseed were used for this study. The concentration of test and reference item (Sodium Benzoate) chosen for both the study was 4 mg/L, while that of inoculum was 32 ml/l. OECD mineral medium was used for the study. ThOD (Theoretical oxygen demand) of test and reference item was determined by calculation. % degradation was calculated using the values of BOD and ThOD for test item and reference item. The % degradation of procedure control (reference item) was also calculated using BOD & ThOD and was determined to be 75.3%. Degradation of Sodium Benzoate exceeds 46.38 % on 7 days & 61.44 % on 14th day. The activity of the inoculum was thus verified and the test can be considered as valid. The BOD28 value of test chemical was observed to be 0.77 mgO2/mg. ThOD was calculated as 1.81 mgO2/mg. Accordingly, the % degradation of the test item after 28 days of incubation at 20 ± 1°C according to Closed Bottle test was determined to be 42.54%. Based on the results, the test item, under the test conditions, was considered to be ultimate inherently biodegradable in nature.

 

In a supporting study from peer reviewed journal (Masahiro Kawasaki, 1980) and authoritative database, biodegradation study was conducted for 14 days for evaluating the percentage biodegradability of test chemical. The study was performed according to OECD Guideline 301 C (Ready Biodegradability: Modified MITI Test (I). Activated sludge was used as a test inoculum for the study. Concentration of inoculum i.e, sludge used was 30 mg/l and initial test substance conc. used in the study was 100 mg/l, respectively. The percentage degradation of test chemical was determined to be 0, 2.5 and 0.9% by BOD, TOC removal and UV-Vis parameter in 14 days. Thus, based on percentage degradation, test chemical is considered to be not readily biodegradable in nature.

 

Another biodegradation study was conducted according to OECD Guideline 302 C (Inherent Biodegradability: Modified MITI Test (II)) for evaluating the percentage biodegradability of test chemical (from peer reviewed journal Kondo, M et. al., 1988 and secondary source, 2017). Initial test substance conc. used in the study was 20 mg/l. Namely, a water, acetone or DMSO solution (0.1 ml) of the test chemicals was added to a mixture of river/sea water (4.9 ml) from an unpolluted area and an autoclaved solution (5.0ml) of 0.2% peptone in a sterile test tube with a tight plug. After sealed with film and fixed at an angle of 30°in a dark box, the test tubes were incubated at 30°C and shaked at 120rpm. Inoculum used for the study was mixed culture obtained from different sources (Sea water from Mino river and River water from Akashi Beach).The percentage degradation of test chemical in river and sea water was determined to be 0 and 7% by BOD parameter after 14 days. Thus, based on percentage degradation, test chemical is considered to be not readily biodegradable in nature.

 

For the test chemical, biodegradation experiment was conducted for 28 days for evaluating the percentage biodegradability of test chemical. The study was performed according to simulation test method. Test inoculum i.e, micro-organisms was taken from river water. Initial test substance conc. used in the study was 36 mg/l. Artificial river water containing the test chemical as the sole carbon source with 20 mg/l of carbon was used as the growth medium for the study. Test vessel was shaken in the dark during the period of 28 days. Samples were drawn periodically and biodegradation was determined by measuring the remaining TOC. Although %degradation of test chemical was not known, but it was reported that chemical is difficult to undergo degradation. Thus, based on this, test chemical is considered to be not readily biodegradable in nature.

 

Although other studies from peer reviewed journal, authoritative database and secondary source indicates that the test chemical is not readily biodegradable, but on the basis of detailed experimental study result from study report (K1) and as per the OECD guideline, it has been concluded that the test chemical is considered to be ultimate inherently biodegradable in nature.

Biodegradation in water and sediment

Estimation Programs Interface (2018) prediction model was run to predict the half-life in water and sediment for the test chemical. If released in to the environment, 24.8% of the chemical will partition into water according to the Mackay fugacity model level III and the half-life period of test chemical in water is estimated to be 15 days (360 hrs). The half-life (15 days estimated by EPI suite) indicates that the chemical is not persistent in water and the exposure risk to aquatic animals is moderate to low whereas the half-life period of test chemical in sediment is estimated to be 135 days (3240 hrs). However, as the percentage release of test chemical into the sediment is less than 1% (i.e, reported as 0.36%), indicates that test chemical is not persistent in sediment.

Biodegradation in soil

The half-life period of test chemical in soil was estimated using Level III Fugacity Model by EPI Suite version 4.1 estimation database (2018). If released into the environment, 74.7% of the chemical will partition into soil according to the Mackay fugacity model level III. The half-life period of test chemical in soil is estimated to be 30 days (720 hrs). Based on this half-life value of test chemical, it is concluded that the chemical is not persistent in the soil environment and the exposure risk to soil dwelling animals is moderate to low.

On the basis of available information, the test chemical can be considered to be ultimate inherently biodegradable in nature.