tetradecylalcohol ethoxylate methyloxirane

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

In an acute oral toxicity study with rats, performed according to OECD/EC test guidelines, an LD50 >2000 mg/kg bw was determined for C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether. The LD50 cut-off exceeded 5000 mg/kg bw.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

10 Oct 2018 - 01 Nov 2018

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Justification for type of information:

HYPOTHESIS FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
Read across is done from C12-14 Alkyl polyethoxy glycidylether (C12-14-GEE) to C14 Alkyl polyethoxy glycidylether (C14-GEE)

The production of both substances is identical: Alkyl alcohol ethoxylate (2EO) oligomers are reacted with epichlorohydrin (in slight molar excess) in the presence of a catalyst to form the corresponding epoxides. The substances are in principle UVCB because of variation in alkyl chain, number of EO (range 0 to 4, average 2) and possibility of 0 to two glycidyl (most 1) and all possible combinations.

However, the only difference between the two substances is the alkyl chain lengths distribution of the Alkyl alcohol (2EO) starting material, being either a (predominantly) 14-carbon chain length or a mixture of 12 and 14-carbon chain length in the ratio of 3:1 (C12:C14).
As consequence, these products are for 25% completely identical, whereas for the other 75% the C12-14-GEE has a slightly shorter alkyl chain compared to the C14-GEE.
For all other aspects, the substances are identical. As both have the same chemical structure they both have identical functional groups, show the same chemical reactivity and have very comparable physicochemical properties as can be seen in the comparative profiling included to the endpoint summary of chapter 7.1 on toxicokinetics. Consequently, they share the same mechanism of action. This is similarly applicable to all constituents of these UVCBs.

Related to the (small) difference in average alkyl chain-lengths between the two substances, the C12-14-GEE with on average a slightly shorter chain-length than the C14-GEE, is expected to be slightly better bioavailable (slightly smaller molecule also leading to more moles per unit of weight, slightly higher solubility, slightly lower Kow, and slightly higher vp) and is expected to have (a slightly) higher toxicity profile compared to C14-GEE.

Specifically for acute oral toxicity, substances with relative shorter alkyl chains show higher toxicity. In the current read-across for acute toxicity, the C12-14-GEE might slightly overpredict the effects for C14-GEE. As C12-14-GEE showed no toxicity and C14-GEE is only expected to show the same or possibly even a little less toxicity, this outcome is also applicable to C14-GEE.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 423 (Acute Oral toxicity - Acute Toxic Class Method)

Version / remarks:

Dec 2001

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.1 tris (Acute Oral Toxicity - Acute Toxic Class Method)

Version / remarks:

2008

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 870.1100 (Acute Oral Toxicity)

Version / remarks:

2002

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Appendix to Director General Notification, No. 12-Nousan-8147. Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (JMAFF), November 2000, including the most recent revisions.

Version / remarks:

Nov 2000

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Test type:

acute toxic class method

Limit test:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Specific gravity: 0.94 g/mL (determined by Charles River Den Bosch)

Species:

rat

Strain:

Wistar

Remarks:

Crl:WI (Han)

Sex:

female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Charles River Deutschland, Sulzfeld, Germany
- Age at study initiation: Young adult animals (approx. 8-11 weeks old)
- Weight at study initiation: 151 to 203 g.
- Fasting period before study: Yes, animals were deprived of food overnight (for a maximum of 20 hours) prior to dosing and until 3-4 hours after administration of the test item. Water was available.
- Housing: Group housing of 3 animals per cage in labeled Macrolon cages
- Diet: Free access to pelleted rodent diet (SM R/M-Z from SSNIFF® Spezialdiäten GmbH, Soest, Germany).
- Water: Free access to tap water.
- Acclimation period: At least 5 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 21
- Humidity (%): 45 to 63%
- Air changes (per hr): approx 10
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12/12
- For psychological/environmental enrichment, animals were provided with paper (Enviro-dri, Wm. Lillico & Son (Wonham Mill Ltd), Surrey, United Kingdom), except when interrupted by study procedures/activities.

IN-LIFE DATES: From 18 Oct 2018 to 01 Nov 2018

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Details on oral exposure:

MAXIMUM DOSE VOLUME APPLIED: 2000 mg/kg (10 mL/kg) body weight.
The dose volume (mL/kg bw) for each animal was based on the body weight measurement prior to dosing and was calculated as follows:
Dose level (g/kg) / spec.gravity or density (g/mL).

DOSAGE PREPARATION:
- The test substance was administered as received with a single dose on day 1.
- Adjustment was made for specific gravity of the test item. No correction was made for the purity/composition of the test item.
- The dosing formulations were stirred continuously during dose administration.

CLASS METHOD
- Rationale for the selection of the starting dose: The toxicity of the test item was assessed by stepwise treatment of groups of 3 females. The first group was treated at a dose level of 2000 mg/kg. Based on the results, one additional group was dosed at 2000 mg/kg.
- The onset, duration and severity of the signs of toxicity were taken into account for determination of the time interval between the dose groups.

Doses:

2000 mg/kg body weight

No. of animals per sex per dose:

6 (2 groups of three females in a stepwise manner)

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days.
- Frequency of observations and weighing:
Mortality/Viability: twice daily, in the morning and at the end of the working day. Animals were not removed from cage during observation, unless necessary for identification or confirmation of possible findings.
Body weights: Animals were weighed individually on day 1 (predose), 8 and 15. A fasted weight was recorded on the day of dosing.
Clinical signs: At periodic intervals on the day of dosing (day 1) and once daily thereafter, until day 15.
All the animals were examined for reaction to dosing. The onset, intensity and duration of these signs were recorded if appropriate.

- Terminal procedures: All animals surviving to the end of the observation period were sacrificed by oxygen/carbon dioxide procedure. All animals were subjected to necropsy and descriptions of all internal macroscopic abnormalities were recorded.

Statistics:

No statistical analysis was performed (the method used is not intended to allow the calculation of a precise LD50 value).

Key result

Sex:

female

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

> 2 000 mg/kg bw

Based on:

test mat.

Mortality:

No mortality occurred.

Clinical signs:

other: Hunched posture and piloerection were noted for the animals on days 1 and/or 2.

Gross pathology:

No abnormalities were found at macroscopic post mortem examination of the animals.

Interpretation of results:

GHS criteria not met

Remarks:

Not classified according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008

Conclusions:

In an acute oral toxicity study with rats, performed according to OECD/EC test guidelines, an LD50 >2000 mg/kg bw was determined for C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether. The LD50 cut-off exceeded 5000 mg/kg bw. Based on these results, the substance is not classified for oral toxicity according to GHS and Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008.

Executive summary:

Acute oral toxicity of C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether was evaluated by dosing two consecutive groups of three female Wistar Han rats at 2000 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage. The test item was administered as received. Adjustment was made for density of the test item (0.94 g/mL). 

Animals were subjected to daily observations and weekly determination of body weight. Macroscopic examination was performed after terminal sacrifice (Day 15).

No mortality occurred. Hunched posture and piloerection were noted for the animals on Days 1 and/or 2. The body weight gain shown by the animals over the study period was considered to be similar to that expected for normal untreated animals of the same age and strain. No abnormalities were found at macroscopic post mortem examination of the animals.

The LD50 of C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether exceeds 2000 mg/kg bw, with a LD50 cut-off exceeding 5000 mg/kg bw.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Quality of whole database:

GLP compliant, Guideline study

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

Oral:

Acute oral toxicity of C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether was evaluated by dosing two consecutive groups of three female Wistar Han rats at 2000 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage. The test item was administered as received. Adjustment was made for density of the test item (0.94 g/mL). 

Animals were subjected to daily observations and weekly determination of body weight. Macroscopic examination was performed after terminal sacrifice (Day 15).

No mortality occurred. Hunched posture and piloerection were noted for the animals on Days 1 and/or 2. The body weight gain shown by the animals over the study period was considered to be similar to that expected for normal untreated animals of the same age and strain. No abnormalities were found at macroscopic post mortem examination of the animals.

In was concluded that the LD50 of C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether exceeds 2000 mg/kg bw, with a LD50 cut-off exceeding 5000 mg/kg bw.

Dermal:

There are no studies available on acute dermal toxicity, but the oral LD50 cut-off exceeding 5000 mg/kg bw, also suggest a lack of acute systemic toxicity following dermal exposures.

Inhalation:

C14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether is a liquid with a low vapour pressure of ≤ 0.07 Pa at 25 °C, and the use of this substance will not result in aerosols, particles or droplets of an inhalable size. Exposure to humans via the inhalation route will therefore be unlikely. The low potential for exposure in combination to low acute systemic toxicity demonstrated via oral route, result to no concerns for acute systemic toxicity via inhalation.

Justification for classification or non-classification

The LD50 of C12-14 Alkyl ethoxylated glycidylether exceeds 2000 mg/kg bw, with a LD50 cut-off exceeding 5000 mg/kg bw. Based on the results, there is no need for classification according to GHS and CLP criteria.