Fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Introductionto read-across matrix

A comprehensive data gap analysis was conducted for the entire substance portfolio of the REACH Metal Carboxylates Consortium (RMC), covering 9 metal carboxylates in total. This literature screening effort included:

 

• all available proprietary studies from the REACH Metal Carboxylates Consortium (RMC)
• detailed literature searches in online databases
• screening of human health review articles
• rigorous quality and reliability screening according to Klimisch criteria, where those criteria apply

 

During the literature search and data gap analysis it became obvious that the overall database on substance-specific human health hazard data for the metal carboxylates is too scant to cover all REACH endpoints. Therefore, the remaining data gaps had to be covered by either experimental testing or read-across from similar substances.

 

Selected endpoints for the human health hazard assessment are addressed by read-across, using a combination of data on the organic acid counterion and the metal (or one of its readily soluble salts). This way forward is acceptable, since metal carboxylates dissociate to the organic anion and the metal cation upon dissolution in aqueous media. No indications of complexation or masking of the metal ion through the organic acid were apparent during the water solubility tests (please refer to the water solubility data in section of the IUCLID and chapter of the CSR). Once the individual constituents of the metal carboxylate become bioavailable (i.e. in the acidic environment in the gastric passage or after phagocytosis by pulmonary macrophages), the “overall” toxicity of the dissociated metal carboxylate can be described by the toxicity of the “individual” constituents. Since synergistic effects are not expected for this group of metal carboxylates, the human health hazard assessment consists of an individual assessment of the metal cation and the organic anion.

 

The hazard information of the individual constituents was obtained from existing REACH registration dossiers via a license-to-use obtained by the lead registrant. These registration dossiers were submitted to ECHA in 2010 as full registration dossiers, and are thus considered to contain relevant and reliable information for all human health endpoints. All lead-registrant dossiers were checked for completeness and accepted by ECHA, i.e. a registration number was assigned.

 

Fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is the zinc metal salt of fatty acids, C6-19-branched, which readily dissociates to the corresponding divalent zinc cation and fatty acids, C6-19-branched anions. The zinc cation and the fatty acids, C6-19-branched anion are considered to represent the overall toxicity of the fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts in a manner proportionate to the free acid and the metal (represented by one of its readily soluble salts). Based on the above information, unrestricted read-across is considered feasible and justified.

 

Introduction to the neoacids hazard assessment

The carboxylic acids “fatty acids, C6-19-branched”, “fatty acids, C9-13-neo” and “neodecanoic acid” are considered similar in their toxicological profile and are therefore grouped together. All neoacids originate from the same production process in which a branched olefin is reacted with carbon monoxide and water at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an acid as catalytic component. The dossiers for fatty acids, C6-19-branched, fatty acid C9 to C13 neo and neodecanoic acid contain human health hazard information on fatty acid C9 to C13 neo and neodecanoic acid, indicating that the toxicological profile is similar. This approach was also used and accepted in the US EPA HPV programme, even for a wider range of neo-acid substances (US EPA, April 2009: http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/pubs/summaries/neoc528/c13335tc.htm).

 

The registrant is of the opinion that the toxicological data for fatty acid C9 to C13 neo and neodecanoic acid can be read-across to fatty acids, C6-19-branched based on the following arguments:

 

- the metabolism of branched fatty acids follow the same mechanism as the unbranched: “Generally, branched-chain aliphatic alcohols are oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes, which, in turn, are oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids (Bosron & Li, 1980; Levi & Hodgson, 1989). The aldehyde may also be reduced to the corresponding alcohol, which is probably a short-lived intermediate in vivo. Like their saturated analogues, unsaturated branched-chain aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes are converted by the pathways cited above to the corresponding acids. The acids may undergo ß-oxidative cleavage and complete metabolism to carbon dioxide (Williams, 1959; Voet & Voet, 1990) in amino acid pathways, the fatty acid pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Alternatively, they may undergo a combination of omega-, (omega-1)-, and ß-oxidation and selective dehydrogenation and hydration to yield polar metabolites which are excreted as the glucuronic acid or sulfate conjugates in the urine and, to a lesser extent, in the faeces (Diliberto et al., 1990). The principal metabolic pathways for detoxification of these branched-chain substances are determined primarily by four structural characteristics: carbon chain length and the position, number, and size of the alkyl substituents.” (WHO, 1999)

 

- the linear and branched chain fatty acid are not genotoxic: “These negative results indicate that the substances in this group of linear and branched-chain aliphatic unsaturated and unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and related esters that are used as flavouring substances are neither mutagenic nor genotoxic.” (WHO, 1999)

 

- branched chain fatty acids are naturally occurring fatty acids, which are present in various nutritional products such as dairy products, animal fats and certain fish (i.e. phytanic and pristanic acid). (Vetter 2009)

 

- branched chain fatty acids are a relevant part of the fatty acids in the amniotic fluid (Ran-Ressler, RR et al, 2008)

 

- Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsatd., branched and linear is a naturally occurring fatty acid in tall oil fatty acid with a content of approx. 7%

 

- naturally occurring fatty acids from C6 to C24 are exempt for the obligation to register (in accordance with regulation (EC) 1907/2006, Annex V, Section 9), this itself shows that the hazardous properties of branched fatty acid of that chainlength are believed to be of low toxicological concern. Since fatty acids, C6-19-branched, although being a synthetic fatty acid, can be considered as being a part of that group, the toxicity is also of low concern.

 

Based on the above given argumentation, read-across among the members of the neo-acids group, i.e. fatty acid C9 to C13 neo, neodecanoic acid and fatty acids, C6-19-branched is justified without restriction.

 

References:

WHO Food Additives Series: 42 (1999) Linear and branched-chain aliphatic, unsaturated, unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and related esters, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1999

 

Rinat R Ran-Ressler, Srisatish Devapatla, Peter Lawrence, J Thomas Brenna (2008) Branched Chain Fatty Acids Are Constituents of the Normal Healthy Newborn Gastrointestinal Tract, Pediatric Research (2008) 64, 605–609

 

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2012) Scientific opinion: Branched-chain aliphatic saturated aldehydes, carboxylic acids and related esters of primary alcohols and branched-chain carboxylic acids from chemical groups 1 and 2, EFSA Journal 2010; 8(11):1843

 

Vetter W und Schröder M: Concentrations of phytanic acid and pristanic acid are higher in organic than in conventional dairy products from the German market. In: Food Chem. 119, Nr. 2, 2009, p 746–752

  

Although the term „constituent“ within the REACH context is defined as substance (also being part of a mixture), the term constituent within this hazard assessment is meant to describe either part of the metal carboxylate salt, i.e. anion or cation.

Genetic toxicity

No genetic toxicity study with fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is available, thus the genetic toxicity will be addressed with existing data on the dissociation products as detailed in the table below.

 

Table: Summary of genetic toxicity data of the fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts and the individual constituents.

	(slightly soluble) zinc substances	Neoacids group	Fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts (CAS# 68551-44-0)
In vitro gene mutation in bacteria	negative (weight of evidence)	negative	negative (read-across)
In vitro cytogenicity in mammalian cells or in vitro micronucleus test		negative	negative (read-across)
In vitro gene mutation study in mammalian cells		no data	negative (read-across)
In vivo cytogenicity		no data	negative (read-across)

 

Zinc

The overall weight of the evidence from the existingin vitroandin vivogenotoxicity assays suggests that zinc compounds do not have biologically relevant genotoxic activity. This conclusion is in line with those achieved by other regulatory reviews of the genotoxicity of zinc compounds (WHO, 2001; SCF, 2003; EU RAR, 2008, MAK, 2009). Hence, no classification and labelling for mutagenicity is required.

 

Neoacids

Fatty acids, C9-13-neo is not mutagenic in vitro in bacterial mutation assays (with and without metabolic activation) and was not clastogenic in a cytogenetic assay. Although a test on in vitro gene mutation in mammalian cells is not provided, the bacterial reverse mutation test covering the same endpoint did not show any sign of mutagenic potential with an without metabolic activation. This data suggests that fatty acids, C9-13-neo is not genotoxic in vitro and likely not genotoxic in vivo.

 

fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts

fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is not expected to be genotoxic, since the two constituents zinc and neoacids have not shown gene mutation potential in a range of in vitro test systems. Thus, fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is not to be classified according to regulation (EC) 1272/2008 as genetic toxicant. Further testing is not required. For further information on the toxicity of the individual constituents, please refer to the relevant sections in the IUCLID and CSR.

 

Justification for selection of genetic toxicity endpoint
Read-across information.

Short description of key information:
Fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is not expected to be genotoxic.

Endpoint Conclusion: No adverse effect observed (negative)

Justification for classification or non-classification

Fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is not expected to be genotoxic, since the two constituents zinc and neoacids have not shown gene mutation potential in a range of in vitro test systems. Thus, fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc salts is not to be classified according to regulation (EC) 1272/2008 as genetic toxicant. Furthermore, fatty acids, C6-19-branched, zinc saltshas not to be classified according toDirective 67/548 EC asgenetic toxicant.