Caspofungin
Summary
Persistence. Caspofungin is slowly degraded in the environment.
Bioaccumulation. Caspofungin has low potential for bioaccumulation.
Toxicity. Caspofungin has high chronic toxicity.
Risk. The use of caspofungin (sales data Sweden 2021) has been considered to result in insignificant environmental risk.
This summary information comes from fass.se.
Detailed information
Fass environmental information
Fass environmental information for Cancidas (caspofungin) från MSD (retrieved on 2025-09-24).
Hazard
Persistence: Caspofungin acetate showed 71.9% biodegradation within 7 days in the OECD 302B test, indicating inherent primary biodegradability. A 20% reduction in TOC suggests partial ultimate biodegradation to CO₂. It is therefore considered inherently, primarily biodegradable and not expected to persist in the environment. Caspofungin undergoes hydrolysis with a half-life of 2.8 hours at pH 7 and 60 °C, and photolysis with a half-life of 24.5 days at pH 8.3. "Since caspofungin passes the criteria for inherent biodegradability, the phrase “Caspofungin is slowly degraded in the environment” was chosen."
Bioaccumulation: Measured Log Kow = - 1.6 at neutral (method unknown).
Toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive green algae NOEC 50 microg/L.
Risk
PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2021.
PEC = 0.0002 microg/L.
PNEC = Lowest NOEC, 50 microg/L/10 (Assessment Factor (AF) for 3 chronic studies) = 5 microg/L.
PEC/PNEC = 0.00004 which gives the risk insignificant.
EMA’s scientific discussion
EMA’s scientific discussion for Cancidas, 2005-10-21.
"An assessment of the environmental risk was performed and no significant risk to the environment related to the use of caspofungin is anticipated." No data are presented.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm