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Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

Biodegradation as used for organic substances does not apply to inorganic substances such as copper and its compounds, but attenuation of the toxicity is observed.

This was recognized in the Guidance to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (metal annex): “Environmental transformation of one species of a metal to another species of the same does not constitute degradation as applied to organic compounds and may increase or decrease the availability and bioavailability of the toxic species. However as a result of naturally occurring geochemical processes metal ions can partition from the water column. Data on water column residence time, the processes involved at the water – sediment interface (i. e. deposition and re-mobilisation) are fairly extensive, but have not been integrated into a meaningful database. Nevertheless, using the principles and assumptions discussed above in Section IV.1, it may be possible to incorporate this approach into classification. "

For more information: see summary " environmental fate and pathways" and "addional information on environmental fate".