Trifluoroacetyl chloride

Endpoint summary

Additional information

TFAC strongly reacts with water to give trifluoroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid. For this reason the aquatic toxicity of TFAC can be extrapolated from the available data on the well studied trifluoroacetic acid.

Short-term toxicity data

Reliable acute data are available for three trophic levels: algae, invertebrates and fish. In aqueous solution, the pH of the substance is naturally low and for testing on organisms either the sodium salt (TFANa) or pH adjustment were required.

• Among all the algae species tested, an adverse effect on growth inhibition was found only for the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, resulting for the key study, in a 72h-ErC50 of 237 mg/L (Chabot, 2017). Six other freshwater algae, three marine algae and three freshwater aquatic plants were tested and no toxicity was found on none of the species at the highest concentrations tested (up to 2 g/L).


• Three acute studies (one key and two supportives) are available on Daphnia magna to assess the toxicity of TFA on invertebrates. No acute toxicity was observed forDaphnia magna as all studies had an EC50 (48h) greater than or equal to the highest concentration tested of 999 mg/L.


• Two acute studies (one key and one supportive) are available on Danio rerio. No acute effects were observed at the highest concentration tested of 999 mg/L Therefore, an LC50 (96h) > 999 mg/L TFA was derived for fish.

Table: Overview of reliable acute toxicity data for TFA for hazard assessment purposes

Species	Parameter	Endpoint	Value (mg TFA/L)	Reference
Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata	Growth rate	72h-ErC50	237	Chabot, 2017
Daphnia magna	Mortality/Immobility	48h-EC50	999	Groeneveld et al, 1992
Danio rerio	Mortality	96h-LC50	999	Groeneveld et al, 1992

Chronic toxicity data

Reliable chronic data are available for three trophic levels: algae, invertebrates and fish. In aqueous solution, the pH of the substance is naturally low and for testing on organisms either the sodium or potassium salt (TFANa or TFAK) or pH adjustment were required.

• In the study of growth inhibition of the algae species Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata performed by Ineris (Chabot, 2017), a 72h-ErC10 of 5.6 mg/L was determined (measured concentration).


• A GLP compliant guideline study is available for the long-term toxicity in aquatic invertebrates (Kuhl, 2010). The 21-day NOEC forDaphnia magna was determined to be ≥ 25 mg TFA/L for the reproduction rate and for the survival of the adult test animals. While this value is taken as the NOEC for invertebrates it is not a true NOEC as no effect concentration was statistically calculated.


• A chronic fish study according to OECD 210 (Liu Min, 2019) was performed with the reaction mass of potassium trifluoroacetate and potassium trifluoromethanesulphinate on Gobiocypris rarus. The NOEC was set to ≥10 mg/L for the test substance, corresponding to a re-calculated NOEC (nominal) for TFA of ≥ 3.8 mg/L.

Table: Overview of reliable chronic toxicity data for TFA for hazard assessment purposes

Species	Parameter	Endpoint	Value (mg TFA/L)	Reference
Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata	Growth rate	72h ErC10	5.6	Chabot, 2017
Daphnia magna	Reproduction/Survival	21d-NOEC	25	Kuhl, 2010
Danio rerio	Mortality	35d-NOEC	3.8	Liu Min, 2019