Tetraethylammonium heptadecafluorooctanesulphonate

Endpoint summary

Additional information

In all relevant (key-studies) in vitro genetic toxicity assays (Ames test, cytogenetic test, CHO/HGPRT test) and the in-vivo micronuleus test (secondary literature), perfluorooctane sulfonate was negative.

Read-across justification

- Group: The perfluorooctane sulfonate anion (PFOS) does not have a specific CAS number. The acid and salts have the following CAS numbers: acid (1763-23-1), ammonium (NH4 +) salt (29081-56-9), potassium (K+) salt (2795-39-3), tetraethylammonium (C2H5)4N+) salt (56773-42-3).

For the registration of tetraethylammonium perfluorooctanesulfonate (CAS 56773-42-3) the data on perfluorooctane sulfonate anion (PFOS) as well as the respective salts were taken into consideration and a read across approach was used due to the following reasons:

- Justification: REACH regulation EC 1907/2006 and ECHA guidance document R.6 state that substances whose physico-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar, or follow a regular pattern as a result of structural similarity, may be considered as a group / category of substances. Properties of PFOS are mainly determined by the length of the fluorinated tail and not by the nature of the functional group. PFOS and its salts are dissociated in aqueous media, substituted amines and the corresponding sulfonyl fluorid are hydrolysed in aqueous media to PFOS. Therefore these compounds are members of a large family of perfluoroalkyl sulfonate substances. According to OECD, 2002, (ENV/JM/RD(2002)17/FINAL) “perfluorinated compounds represent a very unique chemistry”, at least substances with equal numbers of perfluorinated carbon atoms and functional groups.

Thus, in accordance with OECD, 2002, grouping and read-across based on the length of the perfluorinated carbon structure with a sulfonate moiety is in principle possible. The criterion of structural similarity is fulfilled and all substances may be regarded as group with respect to chemical behaviour. This judgement is in line with and confirmed by the existing classification of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates in Europe: according Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 for classification and labeling several perfluoroalkyl sulfonates are considered as a group/category and therefore identical hazard class/category codes, and hazard statement codes applies. The following substances/CAS number are mentioned explicitly in the regulation: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid/1763-23-1, potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate/ 2795-39-3, diethanolamine perfluorooctane sulfonate/70225-14-8, ammonium perfluorooctane sulfonate/29081-56-9, lithium perfluoroocane sulfonate/29457-72-5.

This approach also apply to tetraethylammonium perfluorooctanesulfonate, as the evaluation of the toxicological data of tetraethylammonium perfluorooctanesulfonate substantiate the membership of the substance to the group and the same hazard class and statement codes are valid.

Therefore based on the available data as well as on earlier judgements by e.g. OECD and within the EU classification a read across approach is justified.

Short description of key information:
Perfluorooctane sulfonate was investigated in the Salmonella/microsome test (Ames test). Result: negative, no evidence of mutagenic activity of perfluorooctane sulfonate was seen (with and without mutagenic activation). Additional, perfluorooctane sulfonate was evaluated as negative in a cytogenetic assay, an UDS (Unscheduled DNA synthesis) and also in a CHO/HGPRT test.
In a not assignable (secondary literature) in-vivo micronucleus assay no indication for a mutagenic effect was found.

Endpoint Conclusion: No adverse effect observed (negative)

Justification for classification or non-classification

Perfluorooctane sulfonate is negative in all relevant test systems. Therefore a classification is no justified.