Hydroquinone

Biodegradation in soil

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

biodegradation in soil: simulation testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Degradation test in soil

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test type:

laboratory

Radiolabelling:

no

Oxygen conditions:

aerobic

Details on soil characteristics:

Soil: regular, slightly eroded, average-humus, lightly grained chernozem on hard carbonaceous woody loam (humus content: 5.05-5.09%, hydrolyzed nitrogen: 6.8, mobile phosphorus: 1.0, mobile calcium: 349 mg/kg soil, pH of the aqueous soil extraction: 7.1-7.5)

Duration:

24 h

Initial conc.:

500 mg/kg soil d.w.

Based on:

test mat.

Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:

test mat. analysis

Temp.:

19°C

Humidity:

30%

Temp.:

5°C

Humidity:

30%

Details on experimental conditions:

Experiments conducted in glass vessels with 2 kg soil at a temperature of 19 +/-2°C and 5 +/- 2°C.
Initial substance concentration: 500 mg/kg soil; test substance applied in ether solution on the surface of a thin layer of soil.
Soil moisture was maintained constantly at a level of 30% from absolutely dry soil.

Soil No.:

#1

% Degr.:

100

Parameter:

not specified

Sampling time:

1 d

Remarks on result:

other: not reported

Transformation products:

not measured

Evaporation of parent compound:

not measured

Volatile metabolites:

not measured

Residues:

not measured

Details on results:

Hydroquinone applied at a concentration of 500 mg/kg was degraded within 1 day. One transformation product was detected (substance not specified). The authors classified hydroquinone as a substance which is comparatively slow in destruction, and which does not form stable transformation products in the soil.
Decrease of temperature to 5°C increased the duration of destruction by 3-4 times.

Conclusions:

Hydroquinone was degraded in soil within 1 day under the applied conditions. However, only primary degradation was determined. The detection of a transformation product (which was not identified) indicates that within 1 day mainly primary degradation occurs.

Description of key information

Hydroquinone was degraded in soil within 1 day under laboratory conditions. However, only primary degradation was determined. The detection of a transformation product (which was not identified) indicates that within 1 day mainly primary degradation occurs.
Due to the ready biodegradability observed in the screening tests (5.2.1), hydroquinone is expected to be rapidly biodegraded in soils.