3-phenoxybenzylic alcohol

Biodegradation in soil

Description of key information

Biodegradation in soil
Shaohua Chen(2012) presented a study in which  the degradation of 3-PBA in different contaminated soils by strain DG-02 was determined  for 15 days . Study includes both sterile and non sterile soil types .In the case of sterilized soil inoculated with strain DG-02, similar enhanced degradation was observed and 90.2% of added 3-PBA was removed from the soil within 15 days. In contrast, more than 95% of the added 3-PBA remained in the sterilized soil that was not inoculated, and only 4.5% of the added 3-PBA was degraded during the experiment. Without any inoculum, there was a lag period of approximately 3 days before 3-PBA degradation in the soils; whereas apparently no lag phase was observed with the presence of DG-02 Moreover, trace amounts of 3-PBA metabolites protocatechuate, phenol, and 3,4-dimethoxy phenol were also detected in soil inoculated with strain DG-02, but no metabolites were found in the non-inoculated soil.  
The degradation of 3-PBA reached 100% within 72 hr at low initial concentrations of 50 mg/L. Thus indicating the substance to be readily biodegradable in soil.
Another study by Edward G(J. Agric. Food Chem., 34, 880-884 1986) indicated 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol (PBalc) to be 1.0-1.2 % intermediate product of [methylene-14C]-cis-permeth degradation.
EPI prediction model  version 4.1  estimated that 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol is expected to be found not predominantly in soil and its non persistence estimate is based on its transformation in this medium. Its half-life in soil, 30 days (720 hrs), does not exceeds the threshold of 120 days as per Annex XIII of REACH.
The degradation of 3 phenoxybenzylz alcohol was determined in difeerent soil by DG 2 strain of Bacillus sp. , and it  was found to be readily biodegradable in soil considering 100 % degradation in 72hr and non persistant in soil considering the half life to be 30 days.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Half-life in soil:

30 d

Additional information

Biodegradation in soil

Shaohua Chen(2012) presented a study in which the degradation of 3-PBA in different contaminated soils by strain DG-02 was determined for 15 days . Study includes both sterile and non sterile soil types .In the case of sterilized soil inoculated with strain DG-02, similar enhanced degradation was observed and 90.2% of added 3-PBA was removed from the soil within 15 days. In contrast, more than 95% of the added 3-PBA remained in the sterilized soil that was not inoculated, and only 4.5% of the added 3-PBA was degraded during the experiment. Without any inoculum, there was a lag period of approximately 3 days before 3-PBA degradation in the soils; whereas apparently no lag phase was observed with the presence of DG-02 Moreover, trace amounts of 3-PBA metabolites protocatechuate, phenol, and 3,4-dimethoxy phenol were also detected in soil inoculated with strain DG-02, but no metabolites were found in the non-inoculated soil.  

The degradation of 3-PBA reached 100% within 72 hr at low initial concentrations of 50 mg/L. Thus indicating the substance to be readily biodegradable in soil.

EPI prediction model version 4.1 estimated that 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol is expected to be found not predominantly in soil and its non persistence estimate is based on its transformation in this medium. Its half-life in soil, 30 days (720 hrs), does not exceeds the threshold of 120 days as per Annex XIII of REACH.

Based on the above summaries reported in different studies , 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol (CAS NO.-13826-35-2) was found to be readily biodegradable in soil considering 100 % degradation in 72hr and non persistant in soil considering the half life to be 30 days.