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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Environmental fate & pathways

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

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Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Aquatic bioaccumulation

It is generally assumed that non-ionised organic substances with a log Kow below 3 are not significantly bioaccumulative (refer Section R7c of the ECHA Guidance on information requirements). Moreover, in the GHS classification system the cut-off value of log Kow for bioaccumulation is 4. The estimated log Kow for ethylbenzene is 3.

The Bioconcentration Factor (BCF), Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) as well as Biotransformation Rate in fish were estimated by the BCFBAF software using the Arnot-Gobas method. This method model estimates steady-state BCF (L/kg) and BAF (L/kg) values for non-ionic organic chemicals in three general trophic levels of fish (i. e. lower, middle and upper) in temperate environments (default temperature is 10oC).

Biotransformation Half-Life (normalized to 10 g fish at 15oC) of 0.35 days was estimated for ethylbenzene in fish.

Generally, a BCF in fish of ≥ 500 is indicative of the potential to bioconcentrate for classification purposes in accordance with CLP/GHS criteria.

The estimated BCF/BAF values of ethylbenzene in fish (55 -73 L/ kg wet-wt) are well below the cut-off value of 500 for bioconcentration/ bioaccumulation potential in aquatic organisms.

Therefore, ethylbenzene is not likely to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms.