Degradation products of concern for surfactants and solvents are compounds that are classified by GHS as Acute Category 1 or 2 for aquatic toxicity and that are not ultimately biodegradable. (GHS Acute Category 1 or 2 refers to L/E/IC₅₀ ≤ 10 ppm which mineralize <60% in 28 days. Ultimately biodegradable refers to >60% mineralization in 28 days.)

Products that are released to the environment should be assimilated in ways that are benign to exposed organisms. Rapid biodegradability is considered a key attribute of environmentally preferable chemicals as long as the degradation processes do not result in products that are more persistent and more toxic than the parent compound. It is desirable that compounds are consumed as food by organisms and/or rapidly mineralized. Concerns have been raised for compounds whose biodegradation results in metabolites that are of high aquatic toxicity and less than ultimate biodegradability.

This attribute is required if known, and all requested information must be reported if available. There are no minimal listing requirements for degradation products of concern for solvents. A case-by-case approach focusing on rate of biodegradation and degradation products of concern will be implemented for solvents toxic to aquatic organisms at 1ppm.

Degradation products of concern are compounds with high acute aquatic toxicity (L/E/IC50 ≤ 10ppm) which mineralize <60% in 28 days.