Fatty acids lanolin, di-, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Fatty acids lanolin, di, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid is characterised by low water solubility (< 0.15 mg/L at 20 °C), low vapour pressure (<0.0001 Pa at 20 °C), a high estimated log Koc (6.33-21.89, KOCWIN v2.00) and a high estimated log Kow (log Pow > 10, KOWWIN v1.68).

Abiotic degradation via hydrolysis is not considered relevant for the substance. Calculations using HYDROWIN v2.00 predict half-lives > 5 years for the substance at pH 7 and > 212 days at pH 8. Moreover, the substance is not volatile (VP < 0.0001 Pa at 20 °C) and thus evaporation to the air and subsequent transport through the atmosphere to other environmental compartments is not likely. The high molecular weight of the substance significantly reduces absorption due to steric hindrance to cross biological membranes. It can be concluded that the bioaccumulation potential of Fatty acids lanolin, di, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid is negligible. BCF/BAF values estimated by QSAR (BCFBAF v3.01) also support this assumption (BCF values all well below 2000 L/kg).

Considering the low water solubility (< 0.15 mg/L at 20 °C) of the test substance and the considerable potential for adsorption to organic soil and sediment particles (log Koc > 10), the main compartments for environmental distribution are expected to be soil and sediment.

The substance is not readily biodegradable according to OECD criteria.

However, in the case insoluble chemicals enter a standard Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), they will be extensively removed in the primary settling tank and fat trap and thus, only limited amounts will get in contact with activated sludge organisms, according to the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7b (ECHA, 2017). As a result of the high adsorption potential of the substance (6.33-21.89, KOCWIN v2.00), removal from the water column to a significant degree by adsorption to sewage sludge can be expected (Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7b, ECHA, 2017). In conclusion, the concentration of the substance in conventional STP effluents is presumably marginal.

QSAR calculations (HYDROWIN v2.00) were performed with the four individual constituents representing the composition of Fatty acids lanolin, di, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid. Calculations indicate that hydrolysis is a negligible pathway for the fate of the substance in the environment. Estimated half-lives of > 5 years at pH 7 and > 212 days at pH 8 were calculated.

Based on the physico/chemical properties such as low water solubility and high potential for adsorption a reduced availability in water is expected. The high molecular weight of the substance significantly reduces the absorption due to steric hindrance to cross biological membranes. It can be concluded that the bioaccumulation potential of Fatty acids lanolin, di, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid is negligible.

Fatty acids lanolin, di, tri- and tetraesters with pentaerythritol and rape fatty acid is not readily biodegradable according to OECD criteria and hence expected to be not rapidly degradable by microorganisms in both the aquatic and terrestrial environments. As a result of the high adsorption potential of the substance, it is largely removed from the water column by adsorption to soil and sediment. The substance is therefore potentially persistent in soil and sediment.