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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

Nitroethane was not readily biodegradable in the OECD 301D test but did show evidence of biodegradation in a method developed by the GSF Institute for Ecological Chemistry.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
inherently biodegradable, not fulfilling specific criteria

Additional information

The ready biodegradability of nitroethane was examined in the OECD 301D test. The test material was not readily biodegradable under the conditions of this test. Less than 0.1% was degraded after 28 days.

The biodegradation of nitroethane was examined according to a method developed by the GSF Institute for Ecological Chemistry in Munich, West Germany. At a concentration of 50 ug/L of nitroethane, 23.9% of the test material was degraded to CO2 after 5 days under the conditions of this test. These results suggest that nitroethane is inherently biodegradable.