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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

Administrative data

Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: The study is recent and has been carried out according to OECD TG 301F, OPPTS 835.3110. and method C.4-D, Part V of 440/2008/EC. It is in compliance with GLP.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
study report
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
2012

Materials and methods

Test guidelineopen allclose all
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 301 F (Ready Biodegradability: Manometric Respirometry Test)
Deviations:
no
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EU Method C.4-B (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Modified OECD Screening Test)
Deviations:
no
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EPA OPPTS 835.3110 (Ready Biodegradability)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
yes (incl. QA statement)

Test material

Constituent 1
Reference substance name:
Ursodeoxycholic acid
EC Number:
204-879-3
EC Name:
Ursodeoxycholic acid
Cas Number:
128-13-2
IUPAC Name:
3,7-dihydroxycholan-24-oic acid
Test material form:
solid: particulate/powder
Remarks:
migrated information: powder

Study design

Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge (adaptation not specified)
Duration of test (contact time):
>= 1 - <= 28 d
Initial test substance concentration
Initial conc.:
100 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimationopen allclose all
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
other: BOD
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
other: ThOD
Reference substance
Reference substance:
benzoic acid, sodium salt

Results and discussion

% Degradationopen allclose all
Parameter:
other: BOD
Value:
53.4
Sampling time:
12 d
Remarks on result:
other: end of the 10-d window
Parameter:
other: BOD
Value:
82
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: Maximum value of biodegradation
Details on results:
The test item Ursodeoxycholic Acid, has showed to be not ready biodegradable under the conditions applied in a Manometric Respirometry test, having not reached the pass level (60% biodegradation) during the 10-days window, but showing a maximum value of degradation of 53.4% during this period.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
readily biodegradable, but failing 10-day window
Conclusions:
The susbtance is considered to be readily biodegradable although the pass level of the 10-d window has not been respected, because ursodeoxycholic acid is a surfactant. After 28 days, ursodeoxycholic acid reached 82% of biodegradation.
Executive summary:

The test item, although it is not used in a detergent, can be considered a surfactant as defined in Regulation 648/2004/EC: “any organic substance and/or mixture used in detergent, which has surface-active properties and which consist of one or more hydrophilic and one or more hydrophobic groups of such a nature and size that is capable of reducing the surface tension of water, and of forming spreading or adsorption monolayers at the water-air interface, and of forming emulsions and /or microemulsions and/or micelles, and of adsorption at water-solid interfaces”. Therefore, a surfactant shall be considered as biodegradable if the level of biodegradability is at least 60% within 28 days, irrespectively from 10-day window principle.In this test carried out according to OECD TG 301F, ursodeoxycholic acid reached 53.4% of degradation after the 10-d window, and 82% after 28 days. Therefore the substance is considered readily biodegradable.