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Environmental fate & pathways

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Sodium (S)-lactate fully dissociates into sodium cations and lactate anions in aqueous environments. Therefore, the transport and distribution behaviour of sodium lactate in the environment can be understood in terms of the transport and distribution behaviour of sodium chloride and lactic acid. Read-across from these two substances is considered feasible.


Sodium lactate does not contain any functional groups that are susceptible to hydrolysis.


Based on an OECD 301B key study and a supporting study investigating the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), lactic acid is considered to be readily biodegradable, and therefore also sodium (S)-lactate is considered to be readily biodegradable. Sodium chloride is inorganic and has a high water solubility. Sodium and chloride ions are essential constituents of the body of all animals and the concentration is maintained in the vertebrate body by fractional excretion. Lactic acid is highly soluble in water, has a low log Kow (-0.54) and is readily biodegradable. Both sodium chloride and lactic acid will not bioaccumulate, therefore sodium (S)-lactate is neither expected to bioaccumulate or bioconcentrate.


Due to its physicochemical properties, lactic acid will be present, remain, or distribute to, aqueous compartments, and will be rapidly degraded or metabolized there.

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