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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
NA
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study without detailed documentation
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 E (Ready biodegradability: Modified OECD Screening Test)
Deviations:
no
Principles of method if other than guideline:
NA
GLP compliance:
not specified
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
other: effluent from a sewage treatment plant
Details on inoculum:
Culture medium was inoculated by the effluent from a sewage treatment plant (5 mL/2000 mL).
Duration of test (contact time):
ca. 28 d
Initial conc.:
32 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
DOC removal
Details on study design:
The ony carbon source was 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (10 mg C/L).
Reference substance:
aniline
Preliminary study:
NA
Test performance:
NA
Parameter:
% degradation (DOC removal)
Remarks on result:
not determinable
Details on results:
Under test conditions no biodegradation was observed. Percentage degradation is not indicated.
Results with reference substance:
Nearly complete biodegradation after 7 days.

No remarks.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
under test conditions no biodegradation observed
Conclusions:
2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was found not biodegradable in the "Modified OECD-Screening-Test".
Executive summary:

2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was examined for biodegradability according to the "Modified OECD-Screening-Test".

Under test conditions no biodegradation was observed.

Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: inherent biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
NA
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study without detailed documentation
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
reference to same study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 302 A (Inherent Biodegradability: Modified SCAS Test)
Deviations:
no
Principles of method if other than guideline:
NA
GLP compliance:
not specified
Specific details on test material used for the study:
NA
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, non-adapted
Details on inoculum:
usual / no specific inoculum from a sewage treatment plant
Duration of test (contact time):
ca. 3 mo
Initial conc.:
64 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
DOC removal
Details on study design:
- pH = 2
- 64 mg 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid /L is equivalent to 20 mg C/L
- inoculum: 3g/L dry matter
- no addition of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid at day 126 to 131
Reference substance:
not specified
Preliminary study:
NA
Test performance:
NA
Parameter:
% degradation (DOC removal)
Remarks on result:
other: no biodegradation was observed
Details on results:
- The result was evaluated by taken into account the concentration at the end of a cycle used as blank value for the following days (see below).
- Under test conditions no elimination was observed as the degradation is lower than 70% within 3 months.
- Within the first days of the test an apparent elimination of about 60% was observed. This effect was explained by adsorption to activated sludge.
- Sludge was sampled just before day 126 (first day without addition of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid) and microscopically analysed. A lot of microorganisms were adversely affected or dead.
- More realistic eliminations were evaluated when not the DOC values of controls but the DOC concentration at the end of a cycle was used next day as blank value because the degradation of organic compounds in controls and test vessels is not always comparable.
Results with reference substance:
NA

No remarks.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
not inherently biodegradable
Conclusions:
2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was found not inherently biodegradable in the "Modified SCAS-Test".
Executive summary:

2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was examined for inherent biodegradability according to the "Modified SCAS-Test".

Under test conditions no biodegradation was observed.

Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
NA
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study with acceptable restrictions
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
reference to same study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 E (Ready biodegradability: Modified OECD Screening Test)
Deviations:
no
Principles of method if other than guideline:
NA
GLP compliance:
not specified
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
other: effluent from a sewage treatment plant
Details on inoculum:
Culture medium was inoculated by the effluent from a sewage treatment plant (5 mL/2000 mL).
Duration of test (contact time):
ca. 28 d
Initial conc.:
32 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
DOC removal
Details on study design:
The only carbon source was 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (10 mg C/L).
Reference substance:
aniline
Preliminary study:
NA
Test performance:
NA
Parameter:
% degradation (DOC removal)
Remarks on result:
other: no biodegradation observed
Details on results:
Under test conditions no biodegradation was observed. Percentage degradation is not indicated.
Results with reference substance:
Nearly complete biodegradation after 7 days.

No remarks.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
under test conditions no biodegradation observed
Conclusions:
2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was found not biodegradable in the "Modified OECD-Screening-Test".
Executive summary:

2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was examined for biodegradability according to the "Modified OECD-Screening-Test".

Under test conditions no biodegradation was observed.

Description of key information

2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid was examined for biodegradability according to the "Modified OECD-Screening-Test" (Guideline 301 E) and according to the "Modified SCAS-Test as described in OECD Guideline 302 A. In both tests, no (inherent) biodegradation was observed under test conditions (Horstmann, Grohmann, 1988). Also no biodegradation was observed in the "Closed Bottle Test" according to OECD Guideline 301 D (Kästner, Gode, 1983). In another test 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid tetra sodium salt was examined for inherent biodegradability according to the " Zahn-Wellens test". Again, no biodegradation was observed (BUA, 1994).


Thus, 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid is not ready biodegradable in water.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
not biodegradable
Type of water:
freshwater

Additional information