Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 284-892-9 | CAS number: 84989-04-8 The fraction of tar acid rich in 3- and 4-methylphenol, recovered by distillation of low-temperature coal tar crude tar acids.
Biodegradation in water and sediment: simulation tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
All studies available, simulating biodegradation under natural conditions, revealed biodegradation of the cresol isomers. m-Cresol and p-cresol were biodegraded under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in water as well as in different sediment types. o-Cresol was degraded by phenol acclimated activated sludge.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
Although the substances are readily biodegradable and no biodegradation simulation test has to be performed for sediments, there are studies available on biodegradation in sediments.
m-cresol and p-cresol
p-Cresol and m-cresol are biodegraded in aquifer sediment under anaerobic conditions (Smolenski and Suflita 1987) and by anoxic river sediment within 3-4 weeks (Kaminski et al., 1990).
p-Cresol was completely biodegraded within 4 weeks in a freshwater sediment (Haeggblom et al., 1990). p-Cresol was rapidly biodegraded (ca. 90% after 70 h) in water, water-sediment-suspensions, and by intact sediment-water cores (eco-cores) of marine, estuarine, and freshwater origin. No lag-phase was observed. Pre-exposure did not accelerate degradation (Van Veld and Spain 1983, Spain and Van Veld 1983).
o-cresol
The o-cresol metabolic pathway was examined by Masunaga (1986) using phenol-adapted activated sludge. About 90% of o-cresol is degraded after 24 hours and the metabolites also diminish significantly with time. The primary metabolic step is the ring-hydroxylation yielding isomers of dihydroxytoluene (3-methylcatechol, 4-methylresorcinol, methylhydroquinone). Secondary degradation products are formed either by further hydroxylation yielding trihydroxy and tetrahydroxy-toluenes or by cleavage of the aromatic ring system.
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