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EC number: 273-729-7 | CAS number: 69012-29-9 By-product from the production of ferronickel from a complex ore. Consists primarily of oxides of aluminum, iron, magnesium and silicon.
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Short description of key information on bioaccumulation potential result:
Based on the information from the studies on the individual components of ferronickel slags and the fact that they are chemically bound with each other, showing very low solubility and lipophily, ferronickel slags have a very low bioavailability and their bioaccumulation potential can be considered rather low.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Bioaccumulation potential:
- low bioaccumulation potential
Additional information
Absorption
Absorption of ferronickel slags will be affected by the kinetics of its individual constituents.
Iron is an essential element for humans and as such has been extensively studied. Excess of iron may lead to a variety of serious illnesses so its homeostasis is carefully preserved in the body. The route of pharmacological/toxicological interest is the oral route. The content of body in iron is regulated primarily by absorption in the GI tract since humans do not have a physiological mechanism for excretion of excess iron. During occasions of high iron demand absorption from the GI tract is greatly increased.
Regarding aluminium compounds, a number of studies in humans have shown a limited absorption from the lung, evident by serum and urine levels.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Nickel compounds are bioavailable by inhalation. Plasma and urine samples of nickel workers have shown levels which correspond up to a point to the occupational Ni levels.
Distribution
Distribution of ferronickel slags will also be affected of the kinetics of its individual constituents.
In the plasma iron is stored in transferrin which in its turn transports iron to various tissues. Excess iron is stored in ferittin.
It is believed that most of absorbed Al is bound to transferrin also Studies in animals have shown no increases of aluminium species in extrarespiratory tissues with the exception of brain in some occasions.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Regarding kinetics of Cr(III) compound, they are characterized by rapid distribution in major organs after intraperitoneal injection in rats. Even though the routes of administration are not the characteristic for occupational exposure the study shows the distribution and clearance modeling of Cr.
The nickel species present is important for this availability with the most soluble ones being more bioavailable and the less soluble ones being mostly retained in the lung.The soluble nickel compounds are more bioavailable than the insoluble nickel compounds because nickel ions can diffuse across the cell membrane and interact with cytoplasmic proteins. The insoluble Ni compounds on the other hand are phagocytised locally at the alveolar/bronchiolar epithelium(see also NTPa, 1996; NTPb, 1996; and NTPc, 1996). The ferronickel slags have been proven to contain only very insoluble forms of Nickel (Ni metal in its majority), therefore, bioavailability is not an issue.
Elimination:
Excretion of iron after therapeutic dosing or after an overdose is insignificant and it is around 0.01% of the ingested amount. Aluminium elimination is characterized by a rapid phase of the most part of the dose and a slow phase of the remaining 4% of the dose.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Regarding kinetics of Cr(III) compounds, they are characterized by rapid excretion (decrease in circulating blood) after intraperitoneal injection in rats.Even though the routes of administration are not the characteristic for occupational exposure the study shows the distribution and clearance modeling of Cr.
Nickel compounds are eliminated in urine. For this reason urine samples of nickel workers have shown levels which correspond up to a point to the occupational Ni levels.
The above mentioned toxicokinetics information allows for robust characterization of local or systemic bioavailability of ferronickel slags under relevant occupational conditions. It can be safely assumed that, based on the information from the studies on the individual components and the fact that they are chemically bound with each other, showing very low solubility and lipophily, ferronickel slags have a very low bioavailability and their bioaccumulation potential can be considered rather low.
Discussion on bioaccumulation potential result:
Absorption
Absorption of ferronickel slags will be affected by the kinetics of its individual constituents.
Iron is an essential element for humans and as such has been extensively studied. Excess of iron may lead to a variety of serious illnesses so its homeostasis is carefully preserved in the body. The route of pharmacological/toxicological interest is the oral route. The content of body in iron is regulated primarily by absorption in the GI tract since humans do not have a physiological mechanism for excretion of excess iron. During occasions of high iron demand absorption from the GI tract is greatly increased.
Regarding aluminium compounds, a number of studies in humans have shown a limited absorption from the lung, evident by serum and urine levels.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Nickel compounds are bioavailable by inhalation. Plasma and urine samples of nickel workers have shown levels which correspond up to a point to the occupational Ni levels.
Distribution
Distribution of ferronickel slags will also be affected of the kinetics of its individual constituents.
In the plasma iron is stored in transferrin which in its turn transports iron to various tissues. Excess iron is stored in ferittin.
It is believed that most of absorbed Al is bound to transferrin also Studies in animals have shown no increases of aluminium species in extrarespiratory tissues with the exception of brain in some occasions.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Regarding kinetics of Cr(III) compound, they are characterized by rapid distribution in major organs after intraperitoneal injection in rats. Even though the routes of administration are not the characteristic for occupational exposure the study shows the distribution and clearance modeling of Cr.
The nickel species present is important for this availability with the most soluble ones being more bioavailable and the less soluble ones being mostly retained in the lung. The soluble nickel compounds are more bioavailable than the insoluble nickel compounds because nickel ions can diffuse across the cell membrane and interact with cytoplasmic proteins. The insoluble Ni compounds on the other hand are phagocytised locally at the alveolar/bronchiolar epithelium (see also NTPa, 1996; NTPb, 1996; and NTPc, 1996). The ferronickel slags have been proven to contain only very insoluble forms of Nickel (Ni metal in its majority), therefore, bioavailability is not an issue.
Elimination:
Excretion of iron after therapeutic dosing or after an overdose is insignificant and it is around 0.01% of the ingested amount. Aluminium elimination is characterized by a rapid phase of the most part of the dose and a slow phase of the remaining 4% of the dose.
The toxicity of CaO is due to local irritation of alkaline nature and not further kinetic studies are needed.
Regarding kinetics of Cr(III) compounds, they are characterized by rapid excretion (decrease in circulating blood) after intraperitoneal injection in rats.Even though the routes of administration are not the characteristic for occupational exposure the study shows the distribution and clearance modeling of Cr.
Nickel compounds are eliminated in urine. For this reason urine samples of nickel workers have shown levels which correspond up to a point to the occupational Ni levels.
The above mentioned toxicokinetics information allows for robust characterization of local or systemic bioavailability of ferronickel slags under relevant occupational conditions. It can be safely assumed that, based on the information from the studies on the individual components and the fact that they are chemically bound with each other, showing very low solubility and lipophily, ferronickel slags have a very low bioavailability and their bioaccumulation potential can be considered rather low.
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