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Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to birds

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Description of key information

Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., zinc salts:

Toxicity studies of Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., zinc salts are not available. Thus, read-across to the assessment entities soluble zinc substances and C14-18-satd. and C16-18-unsatd. fatty acids is applied, since zinc cations and fatty acid anions determine its fate and toxicity in the environment. Based on data on bioaccumulation, biomagnification and mammalian toxicity of zinc ions and C14-18-satd. and C16-18-unsatd. fatty acid anions (or the lack thereof), secondary poisoning of Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., zinc salts is not considered to be relevant.

Fatty acids as contained in plant and animal tissue are a natural component of soil, represent a significant part of the nutritional demands of birds and mammals, are rapidly degraded and non-bioaccumulative and therefore of low toxic potential towards birds.

Zinc is an essential element which is regulated throughout the food chain. It does not bioaccumulate/biomagnify. In accordance with the conclusion on a structural analogue (i.e. similar fatty acid zinc salt) of the EU RAR Zinc stearate, the potential for secondary poisoning is not considered relevant (EU risk assessment, ECB 2008), and testing of long-term toxicity to birds is considered not relevant. The conclusion from EU RAR Zinc distearate (CAS-No.: 557-05-1 & 91051-01-3 EINECS-No.: 209-151-9 & 293-049-4) Part 1 - Environment (Final report R074_0805_env, May 2008) is as follows: "Based on data on bioaccumulation of zinc in animals and on biomagnification (i.e. accumulation and transfer through the food chain), secondary poisoning is considered to be not relevant in the effect assessment of zinc, see further the RAR Zinc metal."

In sum, for the dissociation products of Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., zinc salts, i.e. zinc cations and fatty acid anions (C14-18-satd. and C16-18-unsatd.), the potential for secondary poisoning is very low for taking into account: i) the absence of indications for terrestrial and aquatic bioaccumulation at all trophic levels and biomagnification along the food chain for zinc ions (an essential element that underlies homeostatic regulation in all organisms) and fatty acid anions (an integral part of normal daily diet of birds and mammals), and ii) the respective low potential for mammalian toxicity. Please refer to the endpoint summary of the respective assessment entity for further details.

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