N-heptadecane

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

There is no data available for this substance. However, key, weight-of-evidence and supporting data is available for structural analogues. The data is read across to this substance based on analogue read across and a discussion and report on the read across strategy is provided as an attachment in IUCLID Section 13.

The substances are poorly soluble and made of constituents with various water solubility. As a consequence, the exposures were performed with Water Accommodated Fractions (WAFs). Therefore, the results are based on nominal loadings.

The toxicity level was never reached in any fish, aquatic invertebrate, algal or microorganism acute study despite the high loading level tested. Therefore, this substance is considered to display no acute aquatic toxicity based on an analogue read across approach.

For the chronic effects, very long term exposure to 1% pristane, 1% dodecylcyclohexane or 1% n-alkanes in diet reduces fish appetite, fish growth, lipid digestibility and canthaxanthin fixation in rainbow trout. The effects are reversible. The 21-day No Observed Effect Loading Rates (NOELRs) based on adult immobilization and reduction in reproduction of aquatic invertebrates was 5 mg/L.

Additional information

Key and weight-of-evidence information is summarised below:

Short-term toxicity to fish

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 96-h LL50 (mortality) for juveniles of the marine fish Scophthalmus maximus of > 1028 mg/L (based on nominal loading rate).

Hydrocarbons, C12-C16, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 96-h LL50 value for Oncorhynchus mykiss of >87,556 mg/L (based on water accomodated fractions).

The toxicity level was never reached in any study despite the high loading level tested. Therefore, this substance is considered to display no acute toxicity to fish based on an analogue read across approach.

Long-term toxicity to fish

1% pristane, 1%dodecylcyclohexane or 1% n-alkanes long-term exposures in fish diet reduced fish appetite, fish growth, lipid digestibility and canthaxanthin fixation in rainbow trout. The effects were reversible.No NOELR or NOEC value has been determined for long-term toxicity to fish.

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Hydrocarbons, C14-C16, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, <2% aromatics presented a 48-h EL50 for Daphnia magna of >100 mg/L (WAF) based on mobility.

Hydrocarbons, C15-C19, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, <2% aromatics presented a 48-h EL50 for Daphnia magna of >100 mg/L (WAF) based on mobility.

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 48-h LL50 for Acartia tonsa of > 3193 mg/L (based upon nominal loading rate).

Hydrocarbons, C11-C14, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 48-h LL50 for Daphnia magna of >1000 mg/L.

Hydrocarbons, C11-C14, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 96-h LL50 for Chaetogammarus marinus of >10,000 mg/L.  

No LC50 or LL50 could be derived from the acute toxicity studies for aquatic invertebrates. The toxicity level was never reached in any study despite the high loading level tested. Therefore, this substance is considered to display no acute toxicity to aquatic invertebrates based on an analogue read across approach.

Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Hydrocarbons, C13-C16, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented 21-d No Observed Effect Loading Rates (NOELRs) for Daphnia magna of 5 mg/L, based on adult immobilization and reduction in reproduction.

Hydrocarbons, C12-C15, n-alkanes,<2% aromatics presented 6-d NOELRs for Ceriodaphnia dubia of >100% WAF, based on mortality and reproduction.

Toxicity to algae and cyanobacteria

Hydrocarbons, C14-C16, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, <2% aromatics presented a 72-h EL50 (growth rate) for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata of >100 mg/L (WAF) and a 72-h NOELR (growth rate) for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata of 100 mg/L.

Hydrocarbons, C15-C19, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, <2% aromatics presented a 72-h EL50 (growth rate) for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata of >100 mg/L (WAF) and a 72-h NOELR (growth rate) for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata of 100 mg/L.

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 72-h EL50 (growth rate) for Skeletonema costatum of >3200 mg/L (based upon loading rates) and a 72-h NOELR (growth rate) for Skeletonema costatum of 993 mg/L.

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 72-h EL50 (growth rate) for Skeletonema costatum of >10000 mg/L.

Hydrocarbons, C11-C14, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 72-h EL50 (growth rate) for Pseudokirchnerella subcapitata of >1000 mg/L and a 72-h NOELR (growth rate) for Pseudokirchnerella subcapitata of 1000 mg/L.

The toxicity level was never reached in any study despite the high loading level tested. Therefore, this substance is considered to display no acute toxicity to algae based on an analogue read across approach.

Toxicity to microorganisms

Hydrocarbons, C14-C18, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics presented a 3h-EC50 (respiration inhibition) for activated sludge of >100 mg/L.

This substance is considered to display no acute toxicity to aquatic microorganisms based on an analogue read across approach.