TR 108 EMBK – Database for the Collation of Existing Marine Biodegradation Data and its Use in Environmental Risk Assessment

TR 108 EMBK : Database for the Collation of Existing Marine Biodegradation Data and its Use in Environmental Risk Assessment | December 2009

The primary focus for the Biodegradation kinetics Task Force was to prepare a high quality biodegradation kinetics database for marine environments. Laboratory, mesocosm and field study data were recorded for estuarine, coastal and open sea environments. In general all experimental data from open source literature and, where available, industry in-house data were identified and evaluated. Where sufficient marine data were identified for a substance the literature search was extended to find corresponding biodegradation data for fresh water and sediments in order to provide a means of comparison between marine and fresh water environments for a representative number of substances. No attempt was made to make the database a comprehensive or exhaustive collection of biodegradation rates in the fresh water compartments.