Terbutaline

Detailed information

Fass environmental information

Fass environmental information for Bricanyl (terbutaline) from AstraZeneca AB (retrieved on 2026-04-10).

Metabolism

"Terbutaline is metabolised and excreted as the sulphate conjugate with no active metabolites being formed. Whilst terbutaline is metabolised in humans, little is known about the ecotoxicity of the metabolites. Hence, as a worst case, for the purpose of the PEC calculation, it is assumed that 100% of excreted metabolites have the same ecotoxicity as parent terbutaline."

Hazard

Persistence: In an aerobic biodegradation study conducted according to ISO 7827:1984E, terbutaline showed less than 5% degradation after 28 days, measured as dissolved organic carbon, which means the substance does not meet the criteria for being readily biodegradable. As no additional biodegradation data are available, terbutaline sulphate has therefore been assigned the phrase "Terbutaline sulphate is potentially persistent".

Bioaccumulation: Log P = 0.9.

Acute toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive crustaceans (Daphnia magna) EC₅₀ 240000 microg/L.

Risk

PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2024.

PEC = 0.003 microg/L.

PNEC = Lowest EC₅₀, 240000 microg/L/1000 (Assessment Factor (AF) for 3 acute studies) = 240 microg/L.

PEC/PNEC = 0.0000125 which gives the risk insignificant.

Report Goodpoint 2016

Terbutaline is reaching the aquatic environment, but the concentrations found in Sweden are not expected to be high enough to provide environmental impact. However, good studies on environmental effects are lacking.