Sulfuric acid, mono(C16-18 and C18-unsatd. alkyl) esters, sodium salts

Long-term toxicity to fish

Description of key information

14d NOEC (Danio rerio) = 1.65 mg/L (UBA guideline equivalent to OECD 204)

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

1.65 mg/L

Additional information

Since no reliable long-term toxicity tests with fish are available for C16-18 and C18 unsatd. AS Na (CAS 1394155-71-5), in accordance to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5 a read-across to another structurally related category member was conducted. Read-across data available for C16-18AS Na (CAS 68955-20-4) were used since toxicity of alkyl sulfates is dependent on carbon chain length.

Two non-GLP 14-day studies with fish are available for C16-18AS Na (CAS 68955-20-4, Richterich 2001, Steber 1988), both reporting the same results. The test was performed according to a German UBA method for a prolonged toxicity test with zebra fish, equivalent to OECD 204 guideline. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed for 14 days under semi-static conditions to five test concentrations up to 30 mg/L of the test substance of 55% purity, corresponding to 16.5 mg a.i./L. No analytical measurements are available. The 14-day NOEC value was determined to be 1.65 mg a.i./L (nominal concentration). Although the observations cover only the sub-chronic toxicity, they can be treated as chronic effects. As the results show, mortality of fish occurred at the concentrations of 10 mg/L of product and higher (equal to 5.5 mg a.i./L). Fish mortality reaching 80% and more was seen already on day 2. On the other hand, no toxic effects are recorded at the concentration of 3 mg product/L (equal to 1.65 mg a.i./L) thoughout the whole testing period. Therefore, the reliable long term NOEC value for fish can be considered as 1.65 mg a.i./L.

Due to structure and property similarities with the tested category member it can be concluded that the above results apply also to C16-18 and C18 unsatd. AS Na (CAS 1394155-71-5). The NOEC value for fish is 1.65 mg/L.