Alcohols, C12-18, ethoxylated

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Effects on fertility

Effect on fertility: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on fertility: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on fertility: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

250 mg/kg bw/day

Study duration:

subchronic

Species:

rat

Additional information

In a two-generation reproduction study, groups of 30 weanling Fischer 344 rats of each sex were dermally exposed to 1 mL/kg bw C9-11AE6 (CAS 68439-46-3) at concentrations of 0, 1, 10 or 25% w/v three times a week except during the mating periods. This treatment equals exposure levels of about 0, 10, 100 and 250 mg/kg bw/day. No mortalities were observed in the parental generation, and the five deaths in the F1 adult males and females in the control and treatment groups were not considered to be compound-related. In the highest dose group, body weights of both males and females in both treated generations were sporadically decreased compared to controls. There was no effect on maternal body weight during gestational and lactational periods in both generations. At necropsy organ weight differences in liver, lung, kidney and heart were observed in the F1 generation. However no pathological findings were associated with these affected organs. There were no compound-related effects on mating and fertility indices and mean gestational length in both generations. No effects on testicular weights, sperm counts and LDH-X activities in F0 and F1 male adults were observed. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the reproductive organs did not reveal significant differences in the treated groups compared to the controls. Based on these observations the NOAEL for reproductive and developmental toxicity can be established at 250 mg/kg bw/day, the highest dermal tested dose.

Further evidence for the lack of reproductive toxicity of alcohol ethoxylates has been provided by a range of subchronic oral feeding studies which investigated also any potential effects on the organs of the reproductive system (see Chapter 7.5). None of these studies revealed any adverse effects of exposure to AE on the reproductive system.

 

Based on the information above, even though application by the dermal route is not the first choice to investigate reproductive effects (see Chapter 7.1), conducting an oral two-generation reproductive toxicity study is scientifically not of high priority. In addition, data need aspects have to be balanced with animal welfare considerations.

However, a reproductive toxicity study on a structurally similar material, C14-15AE7 (CAS 68951-67-7) was conducted at dietary levels of 25, 50 and 250 mg/kg bw/day. The 2-generation study (Procter and Gamble Ltd., 1977: Long term reproduction and teratology study in rats with Neodol 45-7; unpublished report) did not show any potential for reproductive toxicity at the tested dose levels. The NOAEL for reproductive effects was greater than the highest tested dose of 250 mg/kg bw/day. Although the study was pre-GLP and not in full compliance with current OECD guidelines, the study provided sufficient information and was assessed to be scientifically reliable.

The comparable toxicokinetic and metabolic profiles, as well as their toxicological similarities for this and other toxicological endpoints, support the conclusion that insights from the reproductive toxicity study on higher ethoxylated AE are applicable to AE with an ethoxylation degree of 1-2.5.

With regard to animal welfare this read across should be considered to close the data gap in case that the presented reproductive toxicity study via the dermal route in combination with the oral subchronic repeated dose studies is regarded as not sufficient to cover this endpoint.

Short description of key information:
OECD 416, rat, 2-generation, dermal: not reprotoxic
Parental/F1: NOAELsystemic = 250 mg/kg bw/day; LOAELsystemic > 250 mg/kg bw/day
F1/2: NOAELrepro = 250 mg/kg bw/day; LOAELrepro > 250 mg/kg bw/day

Effects on developmental toxicity

Description of key information

OECD 416, rat, 2-generation, dermal: not teratogenic
Parental/F1: NOAELsystemic = 250 mg/kg bw/day; LOAELsystemic > 250 mg/kg bw/day
F1/2: NOAELdev = 250 mg/kg bw/day; LOAELdev > 250 mg/kg bw/day

Effect on developmental toxicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on developmental toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on developmental toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

250 mg/kg bw/day

Study duration:

subchronic

Species:

rat

Additional information

In a two-generation reproduction study, groups of 30 weanling Fischer 344 rats of each sex were dermally exposed to 1 mL/kg bw C9-11AE6 (CAS 68439-46-3) at concentrations of 0, 1, 10 or 25% w/v three times a week except during the mating periods. This treatment equals exposure levels of about 0, 10, 100 and 250 mg/kg bw/day. The complete study protocol has been described above. No compound related effects on litter size, number of live pubs and sex ratio of pups in the F1 and F2 generations were observed. Low incidences of foetal malformations were observed, but these were not dose related and considered to be of spontaneous nature. At necropsy, no effects were observed in the F1 pups. In the F2 pups, a significantly higher carcass weight in the females of the 250 mg/kg bw/day dose group was noted and some minor organ weight differences. Due to the lack of a dose-response and no associated morphological findings, these effects were considered to be of no toxicological significance. It was concluded that dermal application of C9-11AE6 to rats did not induce any adverse effects on the growth and development of the offspring during two generations. The NOAEL of C9-11AE6 with respect to developmental and teratogenic toxicity can be assumed to be higher than the highest dose level dermally applied in this study (i.e., 250 mg/kg bw/day).

 

Based on the information above, even though application by the dermal route is not the first choice to investigate reproductive effects (see Chapter 7.1), conducting an oral developmental toxicity study is scientifically not of high priority. In addition, data need aspects have to be balanced with animal welfare considerations.

However, a reproductive toxicity study on a structurally similar material, C14-15AE7 (CAS 68951-67-7)was conducted at dietary levels of 25, 50 and 250 mg/kg bw/day. The 2-generation study (Procter and Gamble Ltd., 1977: Long term reproduction and teratology study in rats with Neodol 45-7; unpublished report) did not show any potential for reproductive toxicity at the tested dose levels. The NOAEL for reproductive effects was greater than the highest tested dose of 250 mg/kg bw/day. Although the study was pre-GLP and not in full compliance with current OECD guidelines, the study provided sufficient information and was assessed to be scientifically reliable.

The comparable toxicokinetic and metabolic profiles, as well as their toxicological similarities for this and other toxicological endpoints, support the conclusion that insights from the reproductive toxicity study on higher ethoxylated AE are applicable to AE with an ethoxylation degree of 1-2.5.

With regard to animal welfare this read across should be considered to close the data gap in case that the presented reproductive toxicity study via the dermal route in combination with the oral subchronic repeated dose studies is regarded as not sufficient to cover this endpoint.

Justification for classification or non-classification

According to the classification criteria of Directive 67/548/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 the substance does not need to be classified for toxicity to reproduction. No data available on breastfed babies.