Multi-laboratory Validation of a New Marine Biodegradation Screening Test for Chemical Persistence Assessment

Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Apr 7;54(7):4210-4220. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07710. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Abstract

Current biodegradation screening tests are not specifically designed for persistence assessment of chemicals, often show high inter- and intra-test variability, and often give false negative biodegradation results. Based on previous studies and recommendations, an international ring test involving 13 laboratories validated a new test method for marine biodegradation with a focus on improving the reliability of screening to determine the environmental degradation potential of chemicals. The new method incorporated increased bacterial cell concentrations to better represent the microbial diversity; a chemical is likely to be exposed in the sampled environments and ran beyond 60 days, which is the half-life threshold for chemical persistence in the marine environment. The new test provided a more reliable and less variable characterization of the biodegradation behavior of five reference chemicals (sodium benzoate, triethanolamine, 4-nitrophenol, anionic polyacrylamide, and pentachlorophenol), with respect to REACH and OSPAR persistence thresholds, than the current OECD 306 test. The proposed new method provides a cost-effective screening test for non-persistence that could streamline chemical regulation and reduce the cost and animal welfare implications of further higher tier testing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Laboratories
  • Pentachlorophenol*
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Pentachlorophenol