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4.2.3.3 Marine biodegradation simulation tests<br />

MARINE RISK ASSESSMENT<br />

As a general rule, degradation rates or half-lives determined in tests simulating the conditions in<br />

the actual aquatic environment should be considered <strong>for</strong> use whenever available. Expert<br />

judgement of the validity <strong>and</strong> quality of the test data is necessary. The origin (e.g. relevance of<br />

sampling site) of the seawater/sediment inoculum shall always be evaluated in connection with<br />

assessment <strong>and</strong> use of simulation test results. Biotrans<strong>for</strong>mation (identification of metabolisation<br />

pathways <strong>and</strong> major metabolites) <strong>and</strong> mineralisation data may be derived from one of the<br />

st<strong>and</strong>ardised simulation tests by using samples from the particular environment as inoculum.<br />

St<strong>and</strong>ardised simulation test methods <strong>for</strong> various marine compartments are:<br />

• Aquatic (pelagic) compartment: ISO/DIS 14592-1 “Evaluation of the aerobic<br />

biodegradability of organic compounds at low concentrations – Part 1” (draft method 2001)<br />

The ISO method has been the basis <strong>for</strong> a proposal <strong>for</strong> a new OECD guideline “Simulation<br />

test - Aerobic trans<strong>for</strong>mation in surface water” (OECD, 2001d);<br />

• Turbid aquatic/sediment dispersed compartment: ISO/DIS 14592-2 “Evaluation of the<br />

aerobic biodegradability of organic compounds at low concentrations – Part 2” (draft<br />

method, 2001b) <strong>and</strong> OECD 308: “Aerobic <strong>and</strong> anaerobic trans<strong>for</strong>mation in aquatic sediment<br />

systems” (aerobic test) (draft guideline, OECD, 2000c; draft Annex V C.24);<br />

• Anaerobic sediment compartment: OECD 308 “Aerobic <strong>and</strong> anaerobic trans<strong>for</strong>mation in<br />

aquatic sediment systems” (strictly anaerobic test) (draft guideline, OECD, 2000c; draft<br />

Annex V C.24). Data from anaerobic screening tests conducted with digested sewage sludge<br />

(e.g. ISO 11734, 1994) cannot be used <strong>for</strong> predicting the degradation potential in sediments.<br />

4.2.3.4 Use of biodegradation screening test data<br />

For most chemicals, however, no test data from such simulation tests are yet available. For many<br />

chemicals only data from screening tests are available. This may be data from marine<br />

biodegradation screening tests or freshwater biodegradation screening tests. Marine screening<br />

tests may be:<br />

• the OECD 306 “Biodegradability in Seawater” test (OECD, 1992e) comprises two methods,<br />

the Shake Flask Method <strong>and</strong> the Closed Bottle Method. These tests are seawater variants of<br />

the Modified OECD Screening Test (EU Annex V C.4-B <strong>and</strong> OECD 301E, 1992f) <strong>and</strong><br />

Closed Bottle Test (EU Annex V C.4-E <strong>and</strong> OECD 301D, 1992f), respectively, the main<br />

difference being the use of a marine inoculum.<br />

• three additional screening tests were subjected <strong>for</strong> a ring test initiated by the OSPAR<br />

Commission in 1995-96. The tests are the “Marine CO2 Evolution Test”, the “Marine<br />

BODIS Test” <strong>and</strong> the “Marine CO2 Headspace Test”. The results of the ring test were<br />

reported by Elf & IARE (1996).<br />

When only results from marine or freshwater biodegradation screening tests are available, it is<br />

recommended to use the default mineralisation half-lives <strong>for</strong> the pelagic compartment as<br />

specified in Table 24.<br />

Table 24 Recommended mineralisation half-lives (days) <strong>for</strong> use in marine risk assessment when only screening test data are<br />

available<br />

Freshwater 1) Estuaries 4) Other marine<br />

environments 5)<br />

Degradable in marine screening test N.a. 15 50<br />

139

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