Citronellol

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Acute toxicity:
- oral: LD50 = 3450 mg/kg bw
- dermal: LD50 = 2650 mg/kg bw

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

3 450 mg/kg bw

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

2 650 mg/kg bw

Additional information

Acute oral toxicity was analyzed in a study, where ten rats per sex and dose received doses of 2025, 2560, 3200, 4000 and 5000 mg/kg bw (Moreno, 1973). Due to the observed mortality rates an LD50 of 3450 mg/kg bw was determined.

For evaluating acute inhalative toxicity, five female CF-1 mice were exposed to an aerosol to the nose only or cannulated via the trachea for 1 min (Troy, 1977). As a result, an effective dose ED25 value of 0.99 mg/l air was found.

In another study, female Swiss mice were exposed to air which was passed into the cage through a glass tube containing 1.5 ml test material, with the whole body for 1 h. As a result, citronellol affected the motility by -3.56% compared to control (Buchbauer, 1993).

A Russian study reported no mortality at 0.4 mg/l air when rats were exposed for 4 h (Kostrodymov, 1987).  In another study by the same author a LC0 of 30 mg/m³ air for white mice was reported (Kostrodymov, 1981).

However, the studies determing the acute inhalative toxicity showed deficits in experimental design or did not determine any effects levels, so that they could not be taken into account for assessment.

For acute dermal toxicity a LD50 of 2650 mg/kg bw was determined, when four rabbits per sex and dose were treated with doses of 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg bw citronellol (Moreno, 1973).

Using mice, a LD50 of 880 mg /kg bw was calculated after subcutaneous injection, whereas a LD50 of 4000 mg/kg was found after intramuscular injection (Nozawa, 1952; and Northover, 1962, respectively).

Justification for classification or non-classification

Due to the effect levels for acute oral and dermal toxicity, no classification according to EU criteria is necessary. However, a classification into Cat.5 for both acute oral and dermal toxicity is required according to GHS UN criteria.