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Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

The biodegradation behaviour of 1H-Benzotriazole was investigated in several studies according OECD guidelines 301 and 302. In total, the substance showed no or low degradation. Only in one study according to OECD 302 Benzotriazole was almost completely degraded. Due to the missing information on the adaption status of the inoculum this study was not considered in the assessment.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
not biodegradable
Type of water:
freshwater

Additional information

In summary the screening data on readily biodegradation show no biodegradation under test conditions in fresh and marine water. An OECD 302B (Kanne, 1988) indicated a significant potential for inherent biodegradation. However, due to missing information on the adaptation status of the inoculum, a conclusion on the reliability of the substance is not possible.


Trenholm et al. identified four potential degradation products in simulation studies according to OECD 314B test guideline. Under aerobic conditions more than 99 % and under anoxic conditions about 50 % Benzotriazole was degraded within seven days of incubation. By using LC/Q-TOF and standard substances 4-hydroxybenzotriazole and 5-hydroxybenzotriazole as well as the 4- and 5-methoxy isomers were identified.


Considering all available data on the readily biodegradation, 1H-Benzotriazole does not fulfil the passing criteria of the OECD guidelines. Thus, the substance is considered non-readily biodegradable in the context of the assessment.



Trenholm et al., Identification of Transformation Products for Benzotriazole, Triclosan, and Trimethoprim by Aerobic and Anoxic-Activated Sludge, J. Environ. Eng., 2020, 146(9):04020094