Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

Olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues is a by-product of the C20 alcohols manufacturing process. It is a UVCB substance that comprises several linear long chain alcohols, predominantly docosan-1-ol (C22), tetracosan-1-ol (C24), hexacosan-1-ol (C26) and eicosan-1-ol (C20). Together, these substances make up over 80% of the composition of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues. Other constituents include, to a much lesser extent, secondary long chain alcohols and complex mixtures of long chain carboxylate esters. On this basis, study data, where available, for each of the long chain alcohol constituents has been evaluated and considered together; this is consistent with the Category approach applied for Long Chain Alcohols (LCA) under REACH.  In a conservative approach the most sensitive study result from the constituents of the LCA category have been identified and used to address the endpoint in question.

The Key study for each endpoint, which is the most sensitive study result from across the main olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues constituents, is summarised below. There was no reliable toxicity data for aquatic plants therefore a waiver is applied for that endpoint.

Short-term Toxicity to Fish

The short-term toxicity in fish of components of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues has been documented within this dossier. Adequate reliable measured data exists for short-term toxicity to fish to components of the substance (namely, icosan-1-ol and docosan-1-ol). In a conservative approach the most sensitive study result from across these main constituents has been identified and used to address the hazard endpoint in question. The most sensitive study result from across the substances has been identified as a reliable study with octadecan-1-ol (Wetton 1996), with read-across applied to icosan-1-ol, which reports an LC50 for short term toxicity in fish of >0.0011 mg/L, which is at the limit of solubility (LoS). As the toxicity data are greater than the LoS, this limit is taken as the short-term toxicity in fish endpoint for olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues.

 

Long-term Toxicity to Fish

In accordance with REACH Annex XI, section 1, testing does not appear scientifically necessary for Annex endpoint 9.1.6. Sufficient information is available to predict an absence of toxicity at the limit of solubility for linear alcohols with carbon chain lengths ≥C15. Moreover, from experience gained in tests that have been conducted with substances in this category, considerable technical difficulties would be expected in the conduct of such a test, due to the very rapid biotic removal of the substance from the test system. Therefore, long-term toxicity to fish requirements are waived based on technical testing difficulties, ready biodegradation and low to no short-term toxicity to aquatic organisms at the limit of solubility. No reliable measured or predicted long-term toxicity data to fish for constituents of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues is available.

 

Short-term Toxicity to Invertebrates

The short-term toxicity in invertebrates of components of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues has been documented within this dossier. In a conservative approach the most sensitive study result from across the two constituents has been identified and used to address the hazard endpoint in question. The most sensitive study result from across the two substances has been identified as a reliable study with docosan-1-ol (Fisk et al., 2009) where the 96 hr LC50 was predicted at >100 mg/L. However, the predicted LC50 is greater than the limit of solubility (>LoS, which is 0.1 mg/L). It is concluded that under circumstances when the predicted LC50 is greater than the LoS, the substance is not considered to be toxic.

 

Long-term Toxicity to Invertebrates

In accordance with REACH Annex XI, section 1, testing does not appear scientifically necessary for Annex endpoint 9.1.5. Sufficient information is available to predict an absence of toxicity at the limit of solubility for linear alcohols with carbon chain lengths ≥C15. Moreover, from experience gained in tests that have been conducted with substances in this category, considerable technical difficulties would be expected in the conduct of such a test, due to the very rapid biotic removal of the substance from the test system. Therefore, long-term toxicity to invertebrate requirements are waived based on technical testing difficulties, ready biodegradation and no short-term toxicity to aquatic organisms at the limit of solubility. No reliable measured or predicted long-term toxicity data to invertebrates for constituents of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues are available.

 

Toxicity to Aquatic Algae

The toxicity to algae of components of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues has been documented within this dossier. Adequate reliable predicted data exists for toxicity to algae to components of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues (namely, icosan-1-ol and docosan-1-ol). In a conservative approach the most sensitive study result from across the two constituents has been identified and used to address the hazard endpoint in question. Both constituents are considered non-toxic at the limit of solubility. Therefore, the value used as key in the assessment is the EC50 of >0.001 mg/L which is at the limit of solubility for both docosan-1-ol and icosan-1-ol. 

 

Toxicity to Microorganisms

Study data, where available, for the primary constituents of olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues have been evaluated and considered together. In a conservative approach the most sensitive study result from across the two constituents has been identified and used to adequately address the olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues endpoint in question. 

 

In accordance with Column 2 of REACH Annex VIII, the activated sludge respiration inhibition study (required in Section 9.1.4) does not need to be conducted as the substance is readily biodegradable and the applied test concentrations are in the range that can be expected in the influent to a sewage treatment plant. Since the most sensitive study result across the two olefines polymer, oxidized, hydrolyzed, distillation residues constituents was used to represent the toxicity of the test substance, it is deemed that this approach would be protective of the environment.