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Diss Factsheets

Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

There are no data available on the biodegradation of Fatty acids, coco, decyl esters (CAS 93455-79-9). In order to fulfil the standard information requirements set out in Annex VII, 8.5, in accordance with Annex XI, 1.5, of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, read-across from a structurally related substance was conducted.

In accordance with Article 13 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, "information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by means other than tests, provided that the conditions set out in Annex XI are met.” In particular for human toxicity, information shall be generated whenever possible by means other than vertebrate animal tests, which includes the use of information from structurally related substances (grouping or read-across).

Having regard to the general rules for grouping of substances and read-across approach laid down in Annex XI, Item 1.5, of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 whereby substances may be predicted as similar provided that their physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar or follow a regular pattern as a result of structural similarity.

The target substance is a UVCB substance specified by mainly C12 linear fatty acids esterified with a linear alcohol of a chain length of C10. The source substance Tetradecanoic acid, tetradecyl ester is a mono-constituent ester of a linear C14 fatty acid and a linear C14 alcohol. Both substances have a comparable similar structure and thus the source substance is suitable for read across to the target substance. A detailed analogue approach justification is provided in the technical dossier (see IUCLID Section 13).

Fatty acids, coco, decyl esters (CAS 93455-79-9) is characterised by a low vapour pressure (VP < 0.0001 Pa at 20 °C, SPARC v4.6), a low water solubility (< 0.05 mg/L) and a high log Koc indicating a high adsorption potential to soil and sediment particles (log Koc > 5, MCI method, KOCWIN v2.00). Based on the result from the selected source substance, the target substance is readily biodegradable (67% after 28 d (OECD 301C). Thus, it is expected that an extensive elimination of the substance in sewage treatment plants will occur. In the case insoluble chemicals enter a standard Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), they will be extensively removed in the primary settling tank and fat trap and thus, only limited amounts will get in contact with activated sludge organisms, according to the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7b (ECHA, 2014b). As a result of the high adsorption potential of the substance (log Koc > 5, MCI method, KOCWIN v2.00) a removal from the water column to a significant degree by adsorption to sewage sludge can be expected (Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7b (ECHA, 2014b). In conclusion, the concentration of the substance in conventional STP effluents is presumably marginal. Abiotic degradation via hydrolysis is considered as not relevant for the substance. Calculations using HYDROWIN v2.00 predict half-lives > 1 year for the main components of the substance (Müller, 2014). Moreover, the substance is not volatile (VP < 0.0001 Pa at 20 °C) and thus evaporation to the air and subsequent transport through the atmosphere to other environmental compartments is not likely. However, if the substance is released into air, it is susceptible to indirect photodegradation in air by OH-radicals as half-lives of less than 24 hours were calculated for the main components of the substance (Müller, 2014).

After absorption, Fatty acids, coco, decyl esters is expected to be enzymatically hydrolyzed by carboxylesterases yielding the corresponding alcohol and fatty acid. (Q)SAR estimations using BCFBAF v3.0 support the expected rapid biotransformation of this substance with BCF/BAF values of 1.40 - 3.51 and 117.60 - 206.20 L/kg were obtained, respectively. The metabolism of the hydrolysis products is well established and not of concern in terms of bioaccumulation (for further information see chapter 5.3 of the technical dossier). Summarizing, Fatty acids, coco, decyl esters is expected to be rapidly hydrolyzed to the respective fatty acid and fatty alcohol. Both hydrolysis products are supposed to be satisfactory metabolized in aquatic organisms. Therefore, the potential for bioaccumulation is low.

As it can be seen in the data matrix of the analogue justification in IUCLID Section 13, all reliable data from the target and the source substance support the read-across by showing a consistent pattern of results.