Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Description of key information

Based on expert judgment,  there is no evidence that any substance within the Long Chain Aliphatic Esters category causes carcinogenic effects.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Carcinogenicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Carcinogenicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Carcinogenicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion
Endpoint conclusion:
no study available

Justification for classification or non-classification

According to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 "General Requirements for Generation of Information on Intrinsic Properties of substances", information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by means other than tests e.g. from information from structurally related substances (grouping or read-across), provided that conditions set out in Annex XI are met.

Annex XI, "General rules for adaptation of this standard testing regime set out in Annexes VII to X” states that “substances whose physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar or follow a regular pattern as a result of structural similarity may be considered as a group, or ‘category’ of substances. This avoids the need to test every substance for every endpoint".

Since the group concept is applied to the members of the LCAE category, data will be generated from a representative category member to avoid unnecessary animal testing. Additionally, once the group concept is applied, substances will be classified and labelled on this basis.

Based on expert judgement, a testing proposal for a carcinogenicity study within the Long Chain Aliphatic Esters category would be scientifically unjustified. The conclusion with regard to classification and labelling is "data lacking".

Additional information

Justification for grouping of substances and read-across

The long-chain aliphatic ester (LCAE) category covers mono-esters of a fatty acid and a fatty alcohol. The category contains both mono-constituent and UVCB substances. The fatty acid carbon chain lengths range is C8 - C22 (even and uneven numbered, including saturated, unsaturated, branched and linear chains) esterified with fatty alcohols with chain lengths from C8 - C22 (even and uneven numbered, including saturated, unsaturated, branched and linear) in varying proportions to mono-esters.

The available data allows for an accurate hazard and risk assessment of the category and the category concept is applied for the assessment of environmental fate and environmental and human health hazards. Thus, where applicable, environmental and human health effects are predicted from adequate and reliable data for source substance(s) within the group, by interpolation to the target substances in the group (read-across approach), applying the group concept in accordance with Annex XI, Item 1.5, of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. In particular, for each specific endpoint the source substance(s) structurally closest to the target substance is/are chosen for read-across, with due regard to the requirements for adequacy and reliability of the available data. Structural similarities and similarities in properties and/or activities of the source and target substance are the basis of read-across.

A detailed justification for the grouping of chemicals and read-across is provided in the technical dossier (see IUCLID Sections 7.1 and 13) and within Chapter 5.1 of the CSR.

For all the members within the Long Chain Aliphatic Esters (LCAE) category there are no carcinogenicity studies available.

According to the Reach regulation (1907/2006/EC), a carcinogenicity study may be proposed by the registrant or may be required by the Agency in accordance with Articles 40 or 41 if the substance has a widespread dispersive use or there is evidence of frequent or long-term human exposure, and the substance is classified as mutagen category 3 or there is evidence from repeated dose studies that the substance is able to induce hyperplasia and/or pre-neoplastic lesions.

There is no evidence that Long Chain Aliphatic Esters cause carcinogenicity by a direct genotoxic mechanism, as the results of all genotoxicity studies were negative. Furthermore, in all available repeated dose toxicity studies and developmental studies, no evidence for hyperplasia or preneoplastic lesions was seen.

Thus, the proposal for a carcinogenicity study would be scientifically unjustified.