Registration Dossier

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC aqua (freshwater)
PNEC value:
0.89 mg/L
Assessment factor:
10
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC aqua (marine water)
PNEC value:
0.089 mg/L
Assessment factor:
100
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC STP
PNEC value:
51 mg/L
Assessment factor:
10
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC sediment (freshwater)
PNEC value:
3.38 mg/kg sediment dw
Extrapolation method:
equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC sediment (marine water)
PNEC value:
0.338 mg/kg sediment dw
Extrapolation method:
equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:
PNEC soil
PNEC value:
10.6 mg/kg soil dw
Assessment factor:
10
Extrapolation method:
assessment factor

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

General approach to addressing the data requirements and read-across

The substance (hydrogen fluoride) is gaseous at room temperature and pressure, therefore the large majority of the ecotoxicological studies presented were performed on an aqeous solution of the substance (i.e. hydrofluoric acid) or other water-souble inorganic fluoride salts such as sodium fluoride. Hydrogen fluoride will rapidly and extensively dissociate in the environmnet to form its constituent ions: hydrogen (hydronium) and fluoride. The toxicity of the hydrogen (hydronium) ion will be apparent only at very high concentrations due to pH effects and is not considered to be relevant for the environmental risk assessment. The fluoride ion is of relatively higher toxicity and therefore it can be predicted that the effects of exposure to the substance at relevant concentrations will be due to the contribution of the fluoride ion. Water-soluble inorganic salts of fluoride will similarly exist in the aqueous environment as their constituent ions, and their toxicity at relevant concentrations and for non-toxic cations will be due to the contribution of fluoride. This is the case for sodium fluoride (water solubility 41300 mg/L). Read-across to the extensive database of aquatic toxicity studies performed with other water-soluble fluoride salts (predominantly sodium fluoride) is therefore appropriate and scientifically justified. It is noted that this read-across approach was also taken for the 2001 EU Risk Assessment Report for hydrogen fluoride.

Conclusion on classification

Hydrogen fluoride is not classified for environmental effects according to the CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008.