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Environmental fate & pathways

Biodegradation in water: screening tests

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Description of key information

In a study investigating the aerobic biodegradation of several sesquiterpenes (Jenner K.J., Kreutzer G. and Racine P., Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp, 2011), an OECD test guidance 301F Manometric Respiratory was conducted on several chemical structures, including Thujopsene. After 28 days, the biodegradation of this substance was found 36%, and after 60 days 56%. However, the degradation curve did not reach a plateau even after day 65, indicating that the substance is very probably ultimately biodegradable. This is argued by a specific analysis in this study, which had indicated the complete biodegradation of the parent compound,  which means that there is a full primary degradation. Given poor bioavailability (poorly soluble substance) and that this ready biodegradability test is very stringent, it can be expected that Thujopsene or other constituents of the UVCB with similar chemical structures would be more easily biodegraded in environmental conditions.

Overall, Thujopsene is inherently biodegradable in test conditions, but is probably readily biodegradable under environmental conditions, especially when it is part of an UVCB.

The conclusion "inherently biodegradable, fulfilling specific criteria" will be used to conduct the environmental CSA.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Biodegradation in water:
inherently biodegradable, fulfilling specific criteria
Type of water:
freshwater

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