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EC number: 203-632-7 | CAS number: 108-95-2
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
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Biodegradation in water and sediment: simulation tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Based on the results obtained in the tests on photolysis and biodegradation in water systems, biodegradation was the primary removal process for phenol in winter as well as in summer. An average rate constant of ksurface water = 0.05/d can be determined. Simulation testing on degradation in sediment need not be conducted since the substance is readily biodegradable. Calculation of kbio sediment according to the TGD using an experimental value for kbio soil resulted in a rate constant for sediment of 0.01/d.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Half-life in freshwater:
- 14 d
- Half-life in freshwater sediment:
- 69 d
Additional information
Several investigations exist for the estimation of the biodegradability of phenol in surface waters.
The most relevant study is that of Hwang et al. (1986). The rates of microbial degradation of 14C-labelled phenol in estuarine water samples using phenol concentrations of 25 μg/L was investigated in summer (24°C) and in winter (10°C). Half-lives for the mineralisation of phenol were 7 days (k = 0.095/d) in summer and 73 days (k = 0.01/d) in winter. As the experiments were conducted in sun light the rate constants are both due to biodegradation and photolysis. The authors could show however, that biodegradation was the primary removal process for phenol in both winter and summer. Calculating the arithmetic mean of the rate constants of 0.095/d and 0.01/d result in an average rate constant of 0.05/d, equivalent to a DT50 of 14 days. This value is in good agreement with the default rate constant of 0.047/d (DT50 15 days) proposed in the TGD for readily biodegradable substances.
Simulation testing on degradation in sediment need not be conducted since the substance is readily biodegradable and direct and indirect exposure of sediment is unlikely. However, as in the EU RAR (2006) in Section 3.1.2.1.1. the calculation of kbio sediment according to TGD using an experimental value for kbio soil of 0.1/d (DT50 soil 7 d) results in a rate constant for sediment of 0.01/d, equivalent to a DT50 of 69 days.
Biodegradation of phenol in sediment under anaerobic conditions was shown by several authors (supporting study of Horowitz et al., 1982). However, a longer adaptation phase than under aerobic conditions and therefore a slower degradation of phenol was found.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
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