Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Toxicological information

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Endpoint:
sub-chronic toxicity: inhalation
Type of information:
migrated information: read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Guideline study - very well documented, study was performed with Fe3O4 as a representative for the iron oxide group - see Category approach for Fe2O3, Fe3O4, FeOOH, (Fe,Mn)2O3, (Fe,Mn)3O4, ZnFe2O4

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
study report
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
2006
Report date:
2006

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 413 (Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity: 90-Day Study)
GLP compliance:
yes

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Triiron tetraoxide
EC Number:
215-277-5
EC Name:
Triiron tetraoxide
Cas Number:
1317-61-9
Molecular formula:
Fe3O4
IUPAC Name:
Triiron tetraoxide
Test material form:
solid: particulate/powder
Remarks:
migrated information: powder

Test animals

Species:
rat
Strain:
Wistar
Sex:
male/female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:
inhalation
Type of inhalation exposure:
nose only
Vehicle:
other: unchanged (no vehicle)
Remarks on MMAD:
MMAD / GSD: MMAD was 1.3 µm, GDS ~2
Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
yes
Duration of treatment / exposure:
13 weeks
Frequency of treatment:
6 hours/day 5 days/week
Doses / concentrations
Remarks:
Doses / Concentrations:
4.7, 16.6, 52.1 mg/m³
Basis:
analytical conc.
No. of animals per sex per dose:
20
Control animals:
yes

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Dose descriptor:
NOAEL
Remarks:
Toxicity
Effect level:
4.7 mg/m³ air
Based on:
test mat. (dissolved fraction)
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: See remarks
Remarks on result:
not determinable due to absence of adverse toxic effects

Target system / organ toxicity

Critical effects observed:
not specified

Any other information on results incl. tables

Rats exposed subchronically to three different concentrations of Fe3O4 revealed findings clearly consistent with and typical for a poorly  soluble particle. Congruent with previous studies addressing the  retention kinetics of inhaled Fe3O4 particles, neither analytical nor  toxicological evidence existed that free, biosoluble iron was liberated  from the inhaled dust to any appreciable extend. Also in this study no  evidence of extrapulmonary toxicity existed. With regard to indices  considered to be adverse, viz. increased counts of cells and especially  PMNs in BAL, elevated LDH as marker of cytotoxicity, and ß-NAG as marker of increased lysosomal activities 4.7 mg/m³ constitute an exposure level  without evidence of adversity. These findings match those observed by  histopathology.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:
Rats exposed subchronically to three different concentrations of Fe3O4 revealed findings clearly consistent with and typical for a poorly soluble particle. The retention kinetics of inhaled Fe3O4 particles revealed neither analytical nor toxicological evidence that free, biosoluble iron was liberated from the inhaled dust to any appreciable extend. Also in this study no evidence of extrapulmonary toxicity existed. The results of this study support the view, that the NOAEL of Fe3O4 is 4.7 mg/m³.