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Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

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Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

NOEC >= 1000 mg/kg soil dw (OECD 222; Eisenia fetida); based on read-accross

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Since no studies are available on the toxicity of Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsaturated, dimerized, “Crude dimer” (CAS No. 71808-39-4) to soil macroorganisms, the assessment was based on a study conducted with the sub-category 2 member Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4).

The study conducted with Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4) was performed according to OECD guideline 222 and GLP (Winkelmann, 2014). The test organism Eisenia fetida was exposed to the test substance at concentrations of 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg /kg soil dry weight for 8 weeks. As no statistically significant effects were observed, the NOEC was determined to be ≥ 1000 mg/kg soil dw.

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 ecotoxicity, 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 considered as a category 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 long term toxicity on soil macroorganisms in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Annex IX, 9.4, effects on terrestrial organisms was tested on the read across substance, Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4). As UVCB substances derived from natural sources, both Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4) and Fatty acids, C16 -18 and C18-unsaturated, dimerized, "Crude dimer" (CAS No. 71808-39-4), as all members of this category are chemically similar, as they are all essentially a complex mixture of C16 - C18 or C18 unsaturated and saturated, branched and linear fatty acids with varying structural geometric isomers C16 -C18 unsaturated fatty acids.

The key points that the members share are:

  •  Common origin of C16-18 unsaturated fatty acids
  • Similar/overlapping structural features (no hydrolysable groups, all members have a homologous composition of fatty acids with a C16 - C18 carbon chain in diverse forms, that are susceptible to oxidation by metabolic processes)
  • Similar metabolic pathways (same ADME pathways of fatty acids, absorbed fatty acids undergo rapid metabolism (via ß- or ω-oxidation) and excretion either in the expired CO2 or as a hydroxylated or conjugated metabolite in the urine in the case of cyclic fatty acids)
  • Similar physico-chemical properties (log Koc >5, log Kow is judged to be > 4, insolubility in water)
  • Common environmental fate & eco-toxicological profile of the two sub-categories (not readily biodegradable, no toxicological effects up to the water solubility limit for aquatic organisms)
  • Common levels and mode of human health related effects

Please refer to IUCLID Chapter 6.3 for more details on the category justification for terrestrial toxicity and to section 13 for the complete category justification.

The selection of Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4) as representative test substance for the sub-category “oligomers” was an iterative process of combination of different aspects:

Fatty Acids, C16-18 and C18-unsaturated, dimerized (CAS No.71808-39-4), the "crude dimer", also contains monomers, which are acknowledged as being readily biodegradable. This is also reflected in the screening test for biodegradation (OECD 301B test) where Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsaturated, dimerized (CAS No. 71808-39-4) had a degradation value of 29.3 %. Thus, this substance is regarded as not suitable as a representative worst case for the sub-category dimerised fatty acids and its derivatives “predominantly oligomers” which comprises of substances that reveal a potential persistence due to their lack of readily and inherent biodegradability.

Trimers are expected to have a lower bioavailability when compared with dimers based on the molecular size (Lipinski rule of 5). They are also expected to have higher potential to adsorb to soil due to the increasing carbon chain length. Therefore, Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, trimers (CAS No. 68937- 90-6) was evaluated not to be the most suitable representative worst case test substance for the sub-category predominantly oligomers”.

The only difference between the two remaining dimerised fatty acids, namely Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers (CAS No. 61788-89-4) and Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers, hydrogenated (CAS No. 68783-41-5) is there degree of saturation or hydrogenation, respectively. In fact, all substances are closely similar. Based on an evaluation conducted using the OECD Toolbox, the degree of saturation is estimated to not have any effect on the toxicity profile of C18 fatty acids. The profiles for C18 fatty acids containing 0, 1 or 2 double bonds are the same in terms of lack of structural alerts, toxic hazard classification by Cramer, aquatic toxicity mode of action by OASIS, aquatic toxicity classification by ECOSAR, etc. For the unsaturated fatty acids additional organic functional groups are indicated (allyl, alkene), but these are not coupled to any structural alerts for protein binding. Experimental data on the long-term toxicity of 16/18C fatty acids to daphnia seem to indicate that unsaturated fatty acids even have slightly higher toxic potential compared to the corresponding saturated fatty acids (MOE, 2008; MOE 2003, entered under IUCLID section 5.1). This observation could possibly be explained by the fact that additional steps are required for the β-oxidation process, when double bonds are present, and more energy is thus needed for the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids (Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer, 2002). Based on this information, Fatty Acids, C16-18 and C18-unsaturated, branched and linear can be considered as a worst case read-across substance. Additionally, the production volume of the unsaturated form is much higher than the other members. Therefore, one can assume that the risk of any exposure would be highest here due to large production volumes.

Based on all aspects discussed above, Fatty acids, C18-unsaturated, dimers, “Dimer” is considered as representative member of the sub-category 2 “predominantly oligomer”.

Based on this result, and due to the structural and profile similarities of the two substances, as are explained within the overall endpoint summary, it can be concluded that no toxicological effects on soil macroorganisms are expected for Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsaturated, dimerized (CAS No. 71808-39-4), the “Crude dimer”.