slag, copper smelting

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

50 g/L

Assessment factor:

1

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data: aquatic toxicity unlikely

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data: aquatic toxicity unlikely

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Conclusion on classification

The copper slag is a complex metal containing substance. It mainly contains iron silicate and silicates of aluminum and calcium. Traces of metals exist in metal, mineral form or included in silicate phases.

 

The toxicity of the UVCB substance is related to the degree to which the metal constituents react with water / biological fluids and release soluble, potentially bio available ionic and other metal bearing species.

 

The environmental classification of the copper slag is derived on the basis of Transformation /dissolution data and knowledge of corresponding toxicity for the various metal species in accordance to the EU hazard classification system for metal and metal compound ( as described in the guidance Annex IV to EU CLP regulation EC No 1272/2008)

 

The MeClas tool was used to automatically calculate the classification of the UVCB substance. The tool incorporates the eco toxicity data for all constituents relevant for classification.

For that purpose the eco toxicity data expressed as metal ions (ex µg Cu/L) are compared to metal ions released (ex µg Cu/L) during the transformation/dissolution (T/D) tests. 7 day Transformation/dissolution test (TDp) (Rodriguez, 2010) was performed on 12 Samples considered as representative for different production processes, origin of raw material (primary or secondary) and slag cooling rate (rapid cooling /granulation or slow cooling). All forms of copper slag (stones, granules and powders were assessed. 28 day TDp tests (Rodriguez et al., 2011) was performed on 2 samples considered as worst-case with respect to their release in the 7 day TDp test. Sampling and sample preparation was performed according to ECI/REACH C1 Sampling Protocol.

The T/D tests were done at pH 6 (highest release) and compared to ecotoxicity data (so called ERV or Ecotoxicity Reference Values) at pH 6.

The toxicity of all dissolved concentrations of all constituents was taken into account.This was obtained by using the Toxic Unit (TU) or additivity approach (Sprague, 1970, Anderson and Weber,1975) for multi component metal solutions. 

Dissolved concentrations of metals to the OECD media after 7 d days transformation/dissolution at pH 6 at a loading rate of 100 mg/L and after 28 days transformation/dissolution at pH 6 at a loading rate of 1 mg/L were significantly low (or not detected).

The approach applied assessment of the ecotoxicological profile of the 12 samples and additional read across to all copper slags across industry.

 

Consequently the data demonstrate that there is no need to classify copper slag (Acute and Chronic TU < 1)

 

Reliable acute/short term toxicity data are available for the three trophic levels (algae, Daphnia and fish). These studies show that the lowest L(E)C50 is 100 mg/l and further confirm that there is no need to classify copper slag for acute aquatic hazard.

 

A detailed summary of the classification and the ARCHE software used for the translation of the classification to all samples is attached