Slags, ferronickel-manufg.

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

10 g/L

Assessment factor:

3

Extrapolation method:

sensitivity distribution

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

23.8 g/L

Assessment factor:

3

Extrapolation method:

sensitivity distribution

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no emission to STP expected

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

insufficient hazard data available (further information necessary)

Additional information

Aquatic toxicity

Slags, ferronickel manufg. has no toxicity and it does not need to be classified as toxic to the aquatic environment (either chronic or acute). It has been tested for aquatic toxicity for the purposes of REACH and for potential disposal as waste on organisms from several taxonomic groups. Short term studies on aquatic invertebrates and algae showed no toxicity up to a load of 100mg slags/l. Furthermore, available long-term studies on the aquatic toxicity of the slags on fish, aquatic invertebrates (daphnia magna) and sediment organisms show no toxicity up to the tested concentrations, which are enough for the absence of classification. These results testify that no classification for aquatic hazards is required for the slags, according to CLP.

A series of oceanographic studies available to the Lead Registrant supports this claim as it has not found any evidence that chronic exposure of marine organisms to slags can be harmful to them,but only large quantities of the material could cause disruption of the benthic ecosystem, as would happen with practically any element discarded in great volumes (ELKETHE, 2009).

The CLP Regulation puts priority on information that is available for the whole substance. Slags, ferronickel manufg. is not considered a mixture, therefore, the mixture approach is not the most appropriate. Nickel is the only constituent of the substance that is considered toxic to the aquatic environment (Aquatic Chronic 3 in powder form) but its content in the slags (much below 25%) is not high enough to characterise them as toxic as well, according to the mixture rules described in the CLP.

Nickel and trivalent Chromium were identified as the ferronickel slags' constituents that pose the most serious danger for the aquatic, sediment and the terrestrial environment. For the aquatic environment, Nickel is classified as an aquatic hazard, however, the low solubility of ferronickel slags in general and nickel metal in the slags in particular, supplemented by short and long-term tests on a slag sample with high nickel content, justifyno classification of the substance for aquatic hazards. The information is also insufficient to classify it as dangerous for the aquatic environment for chronic effects, but care should be taken due to the presence of substances like Trivalent Chromium and Nickel and possible chronic aquatic hazards could be expected.

Terrestrial Toxicity

Available data from sediment and terrestrial toxicity studies show no toxic effects of the ferronickel slags' constituents that justify an environmental classification.

In general, it can be said that Slags, ferronickel manufg. do not contain substances that are toxic to the terrestrial environment. Iron, Calcium, Aluminium and Magnesium are common elements that have no toxicity towards terrestrial organisms.Chromiumexistsin its less toxic formofCr(III). A study on the speciation of Chromium in Ferronickel slags using alkaline digestion and colorimetric analysis (EPA 3060A and EPA 7196A respectively) showed that no hexavalent Chromium species were present up to the limit of detection of the analytical method (20mg/kg) so all Cr in the substance is considered to be in trivalent form(NTUA 2011c).

The read-across approach for the available studies has shown that Nickel is the constituent of highest concern, but its toxicity for terrestrial organisms is much lower than its aquatic toxicity.

Additionally, the substance has very low solubility in water, therefore it poses no risk for plant life and soil microorganisms. Its most soluble components, Calcium and Magnesium, are common nutrients. Other terrestrial organisms that feed directly from the ground are more exposed, but the lack of solubility of the slags in water does not allow them to pass to tissues and cause toxicity. The coarse form of the material’s particles (see granulometry studies) decrease the bioavailability (and the solubility) of the substance to other soil macroorganisms (such as earthworms).

The various constituents of the slags are chemically bound in the mineral matrix of the substance and they do not dissociate readily into ionic form. Ionic forms of elements are more water soluble and, in general, more toxic (locally or systemically) to living organisms. Very low concentrations of nickel and chromium in ionic form indicate that toxicity is highly unlikely.

The coarse nature of the substance, prevents it from being easily transported by the wind, so the exposure of the soil compartment to ferronickel slags is generally not expected.

Conclusion on classification

Aquatic toxicity

Slags, ferronickel manufg. has no toxicity and it does not need to be classified as toxic to the aquatic environment (either chronic or acute). It has been tested for aquatic toxicity for the purposes of REACH and for potential disposal as waste on organisms from several taxonomic groups. Short term studies on aquatic invertebrates and algae showed no toxicity up to a load of 100mg slags/l. Furthermore, available long-term studies on the aquatic toxicity of the slags on fish, aquatic invertebrates (daphnia magna) and sediment organisms show no toxicity up to the tested concentrations, which are enough for the absence of classification. These results testify that no classification for aquatic hazards is required for the slags, according to CLP.

A series of oceanographic studies available to the Lead Registrant supports this claim as it has not found any evidence that chronic exposure of marine organisms to slags can be harmful to them, but only large quantities of the material could cause disruption of the benthic ecosystem, as would happen with practically any element discarded in great volumes (ELKETHE, 2009).

The CLP Regulation puts priority on information that is available for the whole substance. Slags, ferronickel manufg. is not considered a mixture, therefore, the mixture approach is not the most appropriate. Nickel is the only constituent of the substance that is considered toxic to the aquatic environment (Aquatic Chronic 3 in powder form) but its content in the slags (much below 25%) is not high enough to characterise them as toxic as well, according to the mixture rules described in the CLP.

Nickel and trivalent Chromium were identified as the ferronickel slags' constituents that pose the most serious danger for the aquatic, sediment and the terrestrial environment. For the aquatic environment, Nickel is classified as an aquatic hazard, however, the low solubility of ferronickel slags in general and nickel metal in the slags in particular, supplemented by short and long-term tests on a slag sample with high nickel content, justify no classification of the substance for aquatic hazards. The information is also insufficient to classify it as dangerous for the aquatic environment for chronic effects, but care should be taken due to the presence of substances like Trivalent Chromium and Nickel and possible chronic aquatic hazards could be expected.

Terrestrial Toxicity

Available data from sediment and terrestrial toxicity studies show no toxic effects of the ferronickel slags' constituents that justify an environmental classification.

In general, it can be said that Slags, ferronickel manufg. do not contain substances that are toxic to the terrestrial environment. Iron, Calcium, Aluminium and Magnesium are common elements that have no toxicity towards terrestrial organisms.Chromiumexistsin its less toxic formofCr(III). A study on the speciation of Chromium in Ferronickel slags using alkaline digestion and colorimetric analysis (EPA 3060A and EPA 7196A respectively) showed that no hexavalent Chromium species were present up to the limit of detection of the analytical method (20mg/kg) so all Cr in the substance is considered to be in trivalent form(NTUA 2011c).

The read-across approach for the available studies has shown that Nickel is the constituent of highest concern, but its toxicity for terrestrial organisms is much lower than its aquatic toxicity.

Additionally, the substance has very low solubility in water, therefore it poses no risk for plant life and soil microorganisms. Its most soluble components, Calcium and Magnesium, are common nutrients. Other terrestrial organisms that feed directly from the ground are more exposed, but the lack of solubility of the slags in water does not allow them to pass to tissues and cause toxicity. The coarse form of the material’s particles (see granulometry studies) decrease the bioavailability (and the solubility) of the substance to other soil macroorganisms (such as earthworms).

The various constituents of the slags are chemically bound in the mineral matrix of the substance and they do not dissociate readily into ionic form. Ionic forms of elements are more water soluble and, in general, more toxic (locally or systemically) to living organisms. Very low concentrations of nickel and chromium in ionic form indicate that toxicity is highly unlikely.

The coarse nature of the substance, prevents it from being easily transported by the wind, so the exposure of the soil compartment to ferronickel slags is generally not expected.