ALFERROCK

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

 Terrestrial toxicity of "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process" was waived for all endpoints except toxicity to soil macroorganisms which was obtained from a read-across prediction.

The waivers are based on REACH Annex XI, section 2, “testing for a specific endpoint may be omitted, if it is technically not possible to conduct the study as a consequence of the properties of the substance”. This is because the OECD guidelines for testing of chemicals on organisms requires adequate water solubility for the substance. However, "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process" is poorly soluble in water and is an inorganic substance that cannot be dissolved in an organic solvent.

Furthermore, Aluminium which is the major release from "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process" is an integral part of the soil mineral matrix. It is the most abundant metallic element, comprising 8 % of the earth crust. It is a major component of almost all common inorganic soil particles. Dissolved aluminium is present in soil pore water at very low concentrations, varying with pH. This is common textbook knowledge, not requiring further elaboration. In view of the high natural abundance of aluminium in the soil matrix the hypothetical contribution of releases from "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process" to Al concentrations in soil can be considered to be negligible by qualitative assessment. Hazards to terrestrial organisms due to Aluminium in "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process" hence can be excluded.