Ethanol

Toxicity to birds

Description of key information

No reliable information on acute or chronic effects on birds is available. However, since the substance exhibits a low log Pow (see chapter 4.7), secondary poisoning is unlikely to be a relevant exposure route.

Additional information

This substance (S-Ethanol, composition 2) has degree of ethanol purity between 76 - 82%. Methanol is the main impurity of the target substance (conc. 13-14 %), and considered the major driver for adverse effects based on its properties and relative quantity in the substance. These secondary constituents and relevant impurities trigger the need to carry out a separate chemical safety assessment for S-ethanol (beyond ethanol).Testing of the substance itself was considered unnecessary. Instead the available REACH registration data for ethanol and methanol is used in order to update the chemical safety assessment of this substance. Other minor constituents of secondary ethanol were taken into account in the chemical safety assessment and risk characterization as far as possible. Exposure assessment and quantitative exposure scenario building of S-ethanol takes primarily into account ethanol, methanol and acetaldehyde. These constituents are regarded as the most hazardous and relevant chemical constituents in the environmental risk based evaluation. Some minor constituents (ethoxyethers, ethyl acetate and sulphur dioxide) are dealt at least in qualitative way (see also section 9 and 10 in CSR).

Secondary poisoning is connected to bioaccumulation of substances and toxic effects in the higher members of the food chain, either living in the aquatic or terrestrial environment. Effects result from ingestion of organisms from lower trophic levels that contain accumulated substances. Intrinsic bioaccumulation potential of S-ethanol and its constituents into the food web is low. Therefore secondary poisoning is not seen an important area for S-ethanol since this substance is not bioaccumulative. All relevant constituents exhibit a low log Kow. Furthermore, the substance has a low potential for adsorption and exhibits a very high solubility in water or soil moisture and is readily biodegradable in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. Exposure assessment also shows that soil is not the target compartment for environmental distribution and exposure is unlikely. Based on the theoretical partitioning of S-ethanol constituents between main environmental compartments (water, soil, air) has been given in chapter 9 in CSR (chapter of environmental fate). At static equilibrium calculations also indicate that the alcohols will be distributed mainly to water and air compartments and adsorption to soil and sediment is not strong. Therefore long term exposure of birds is unlikely.