Biodegradation, Effects on Microorganisms and Plants

10-200 ppm hydrocarbons [5, 106]. The behaviour of the green alga Oedogonium cardiacum has been studied in an aquatic ecosystem model [71]. 

The concentrations of volatile aromatics which occur in the environment are generally - in opposition to the concentrations of olefinic compounds - too low to be harmful for plants [5, 13]. In concentrations of more than 2% - as they may be found when sprayed as solvents for pesticides - volatile aromatics are, however, more ecotoxic than olefines and paraffines [13, 107]. Relatively critical are oxidants, which may be produced from alkylated benzenes in a similar way as from olefinic compounds [5, 13]. 

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