N-carboxymethyliminobis(ethylenenitrilo)tetra(acetic acid)

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

2004

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Cross-reference

Cross-reference 1

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Cross-reference 2

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Occurrence of aminopolycarboxylates in the aquatic environment of Germany

Author:

Schmidt et al

Year:

2004

Bibliographic source:

Environmental Pollution, 131, 107-124

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Method: other

GLP compliance:

no

Type of study / information:

The review evaluated and summarized the results of long-term research projects, monitoring programs, and published papers concerning the pollution of the aquatic environment by aminopolycarboxylates in Germany. Concentrations and loads of aminopolycarboxylates are presented for various types of water including industrial and domestic waste waters, surface waters (rivers and lakes), raw waters, and drinking waters.

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

N-carboxymethyliminobis(ethylenenitrilo)tetra(acetic acid)

EC Number:

200-652-8

EC Name:

N-carboxymethyliminobis(ethylenenitrilo)tetra(acetic acid)

Cas Number:

67-43-6

Molecular formula:

C14H23N3O10

IUPAC Name:

2-[bis({2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl})amino]acetic acid

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): aminopolycarboxylates (EDTA, NTA, DTPA, 1,3-PDTA, ß-ADA and MGDA)

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

none

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The International Association of Waterworks in the Rhine catchment area (IAWR) for DTPA was set as 5 µg/L. Levels of DTPA were less than the set level, except in Ruhr with DTPA concentrations exceeding the IAWR target level of 5 µg/L. Along the Rhine, DTPA levels increase starting with values below the quantification limit of 1 µg/L at Basel to mean values of 1.7 µg/L at Karlsruhe. This value continues to increase till the sampling point Mainz to 2.2 µg/L and then fairly remains constant in the Rhine’s onward journey. Detailed measurements in the longitudinal and cross profile of the Rhine could trace the DTPA input back to certain pulp and paper industries in the regions of Straßbourg, Karlsruhe, and Mannheim.
The Rhine tributaries Neckar, Main, and Ruhr show also comparatively high DTPA concentrations. DTPA concentrations in the Ruhr are in the range of 5- 0 µg/L, the mean concentration level is 14 µg/L (AWWR, 2000, 2001, 2002). According to results of longitudinal measurements along the Ruhr, pollution centers could be connected with regional paper industry plants. Very high DTPA concentrations with top concentrations of up to 60 µg/L were also detected in the Schussen (tributary to Lake Constance). Measurements of the longitudinal section of this river could again demonstrate that DTPA is almost exclusively discharged into the river via sewage treatment plant effluents of two paper industry plants.
DTPA can be detected regularly in Lake Constance, whereby the DTPA input results predominantly from the tributary Schussen, that is influenced by the waste waters of two paper industry plants.
At the Ruhr, DTPA is found at relatively high concentrations in surface (up to 70 µg/L) and raw waters (up to 20 µg/L) and is considerably reduced during drinking water treatment.
In general, maximal DTPA concentrations in drinking water were below 4 µg/L. In drinking waters obtained after treatment of water from the Rhine, Danube, and Lake Constance, DTPA concentrations were regularly below the quantification limit of 1 µg/L