Desogestrel
Summary
Persistence. The potential for persistence of desogestrel cannot be excluded, due to lack of data.
Bioaccumulation. Desogestrel has low potential for bioaccumulation.
Toxicity. Desogestrel has very high chronic toxicity.
Risk. At the same time, some progestogens are exceptionally potent with effects observed at exposures below 1 ng/L. However, only progestogens that bind strongly to the androgen receptor appear to be so potent in fish. Of the progestogens recommended in the Wise list (the formulary in Region Stockholm, Sweden), levonorgestrel, norethisterone, desogestrel and etonogestrel meet these criteria, while the other progestogens are considered to be less environmentally hazardous given the current state of knowledge.
Desogestrel is converted in the body into the active metabolite etonogestrel. This summary information about persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity comes from Fass. The risk is from the report by Goodpoint.
Detailed information
Fass environmental information
Fass environmental information for Vinelle (desogestrel) from CampusPharma (downloaded 2025-03-27).
Hazard
Persistence: No data.
Bioaccumulation: "Desogestrel is metabolised to etonogestrel and thus does not bioaccumulate. Based on BCF < 500 and log Kow < 4, etonogestrel has low potential for bioaccumulation."
Chronic toxicity: There is data for 3 trophic levels, NOEC for fish (Oryzias latipes) 2.7 nanog/L.
Risk
PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2023. "An assessment factor of 10 should be used when there are long-term results from species representing three trophic levels (fish and/or daphnia and/or algae)) according to ECHAs guideline for chemical safety assessment. ... As the studies are based on the metabolite etonogestrel, a higher assessment factor, 1000, has been used in the PNEC calculation." PEC/PNEC = 0.38 which gives the risk low.
Report Goodpoint 2024
In general, all progestogens occur in very low or undetectable concentrations in environments affected by municipal wastewater. Based on sales, the PEC is below 3 ng/L for all studied progestogens except for progesterone, medroxyprogesterone and drospirenone, but credible international measurements show that these three progestogens are also detected in concentrations around 1 ng/L in treated wastewater. At the same time, some progestogens are exceptionally potent with effects observed at exposures below 1 ng/L. However, only progestogens that bind strongly to the androgen receptor appear to be so potent in fish. Of the progestogens recommended in the Wise list (the formulary in Region Stockholm, Sweden), levonorgestrel, norethisterone, desogestrel and etonogestrel meet these criteria, while the other progestogens are considered to be less environmentally hazardous given the current state of knowledge. It is difficult, based on existing data, to stratify with certainty which of the androgenic progestogens are the most or least environmentally hazardous, even though norethisterone and levonorgestrel are somewhat better studied than desogestrel and etonogestrel. It is possible to point out norethisterone (and lynestrenol, which is not covered in this report) as being a little more environmentally hazardous as they also contribute to the levels of EE2 (ethinylestradiol) in the environment through metabolism. See also the report, which lists various recommended alternatives in the Wise list, from best to worst from an environmental point of view.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm