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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Reference
Endpoint:
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
16 Mar - 13 Apr 2011
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
guideline study
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 310 (Ready Biodegradability - CO2 in Sealed Vessels (Headspace Test)
GLP compliance:
yes (incl. QA statement)
Remarks:
Staatliches Gewerbeaufsichtsamt, Hildesheim, Germany
Oxygen conditions:
aerobic
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, domestic, non-adapted
Details on inoculum:
- Source of inoculum/activated sludge: Municipal sewage treatment plant, Hildesheim, Germany
- Initial cell/biomass concentration: 10E+5 - 10E+8 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/L
- Pretreatment: Activated sludge was washed twice with autoclaved tap water; settled sludge resuspended in mineral salt medium; maintained under aerobic condition by aeration for 4 hours; homogenized with a blender; supernatant decanted and maintained under aerobic conditions by aeration with CO2-free air for 2 days; 10 mL/L used to initiate inoculation
Duration of test (contact time):
28 d
Initial conc.:
20 mg/L
Based on:
test mat.
Initial conc.:
14.3 mg/L
Based on:
other: Carbon
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
inorg. C analysis
Details on study design:
TEST CONDITIONS
- Composition of medium: Mineral salts medium according to guideline
- Test temperature: 21 - 23 °C, down to 20 °C for 18 h
- Continuous darkness: No, low light conditions

TEST SYSTEM
- Culturing apparatus: Headspace flasks / 120 mL; ratio headspace to liquid 1/2
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 3 replicates (test end 5 replicates)
- Method used to create aerobic conditions: Shaker, 150 - 200 rpm
- Measuring equipment: Carbon analyser, Multi N/C 3000 (analysis according to DIN EN 1484)
- Test performed in closed vessels: yes (septum)
- Test performed in open system: no

SAMPLING
- Sampling frequency: Sampled on day 0, 2, 5, 7, 12, 14, 21, 28
- Sampling method: IC analysis
- Sample storage before analysis: Stored at 6 ± 2 °C

CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: yes, 3 replicates (test end 5 replicates)
- Abiotic sterile control: no
- Toxicity control: yes, 3 replicates (test end 5 replicates)
- Functional control: yes, 3 replicates (test end 5 replicates)
Reference substance:
benzoic acid, sodium salt
Key result
Parameter:
% degradation (CO2 evolution)
Value:
62
Sampling time:
28 d
Remarks on result:
other: 95% confidence interval (43 - 81%)
Details on results:
- 10% degr. reached after 3 days
- 62% degr. reached after 28 days
Results with reference substance:
Functional control (sodium benzoate): pass level (60% ) reached after 3 days (92% after 28 days)
Toxicity control: 57% degradation within 14 days (74% after 28 days)

Table 1: Degradation of the reference substance and in the toxicity control

Day

Reference substance

[%]

Toxicity control

[%]

2

54

 

5

76

 

7

80

53

12

86

 

14

90

57

21

87

61

28

92

74

 

Table 2: Degradation measurement test item (CO2 evolution and degradation rate):

Day

CO2-Production

 [mg C/L]

Mean production

NaOH corrected

 [mg C/L]

Degr.

[%]

0

3.30

3.16

3.14

0.76

-

2

5.07

5.02

5.22

2.50

9

5

7.22

7.24

6.33

3.74

15

7

7.10

6.92

6.87

3.75

14

12

8.51

8.34

8.18

4.30

17

14

6.85

8.92

5.70

5.11

24

21

10.89

12.95

9.56

8.80

47

28

10.42

14.47

14.25

14.40

10.30

11.04

62

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Interpretation of results:
readily biodegradable
Conclusions:
The test substance was degraded to 62% after 28 d. Since the substance is a multi-constituent substance consisting of an isomeric mixture the 10-day window should not be applied and the substance is considered to be readily biodegradable.

Description of key information

Readily biodegradable: 62% degradation after 28 d (OECD 310)

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
readily biodegradable

Additional information

One experimental study is available investigating the biodegradability of the test substance. The study was performed according to the OECD 310 (GLP). Non-adapted, domestic activated sludge from a sewage treatment plant was used as inoculum. After 28 d a mean degradation of 62% was recorded based on CO2-evolution but the 10-day window was not met. Since the substance is an isomeric mixture, the 10-day window should no be applied for the assessment. Thus, the test substance is considered to be “readily biodegradable”. A toxicity control containing both, reference substance and test substance, did not indicate inhibitory effects to the inoculum (57% degradation after 14 d). All validity criteria of the study were met.