Xylometazoline
Summary
Persistence. Xylometazoline is potentially persistent.
Bioaccumulation. Xylometazoline has low potential for bioaccumulation.
Toxicity. Xylometazoline has high acute toxicity.
Risk. The use of xylometazoline (sales data Sweden 2022) 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 Otrinex (xylometazoline) from Haleon Denmark (retrieved on 2025-09-24).
Hazard
Persistence: "Degradation: < 10% (aerobic, 28d, 20-24°C, OECD 301A) ... This substance is not readily biodegradable."
Bioaccumulation: Log Kow 2.84 (OECD107).
Acute toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive algae EC50 2030 microg/L.
Risk
PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2022.
PEC = 0.027 microg/L.
PNEC = Lowest EC50, 2030 microg/L/1000 (Assessment Factor (AF) for for 3 trophic levels) = 2.03 microg/L.
PEC/PNEC = 0.0133 which gives the risk insignificant.
Pharmaceuticals residues in the aquatic environment in Sweden
Xylometazoline has previously been included among the substances analysed and detected in the environment, including in archipelago areas and in sewage sludge within Region Stockholm. At present, xylometazoline is not part of Region Stockholm’s routine monitoring programme.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm