Ethyl formate

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.1 mg/L

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

1 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

10 µg/L

Assessment factor:

10 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC marine water (intermittent releases):

0.1 mg/L

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

55.1 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

1.28 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.128 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

0.197 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Classification of Ethyl formate for effects in the environment

In determining the classification appropriate to Ethyl formate, it is necessary to consider all available evidence concerning its persistence, potential to accumulate and predicted or observed environmental fate and behavior that may present a long-term and/or delayed danger to the structure and/or functioning of aquatic ecosystems. These points are considered below. 

 

Persistence   

 

The half period of ethyl formate in water and soil is 15 days and 30 days therefore it is considered that the substance will qualify as not persistent as the half-life does not exceed the threshold criteria of 60 days and 120 days respectively. So, it can be indicated that the substance is inherently biodegradable in water medium where as in sediment the half-life is 135 days. Based on this value, it can be inferred that the substance is persistent in sediment medium and is not readily biodegradable. Based on these half-life values it is concluded that the chemical is not persistent in nature.

 Thus it can be inferred that Ethyl formate is non persistent in character. 

    

Thus, Ethyl formate is not classified as a persistent (P) chemical.  

 

Potential to accumulate

 

The potential for Ethyl formate to bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms that inhabit aquatic or terrestrial matrices is negligible as the BCF factor for the substance is less than 2000.     

 

The estimated BCF of ethyl formate is below the threshold of 2000. 

 

Thus, Ethyl formate does not satisfy the criterion for classification as bioaccumulative (B).  

 

The toxicity values of fish, invertebrates and algae are LC50 = 183.74 mg/L, EC50 = 280.275 mg/L and EC50 = 219.54 mg/L, respectively. These values do not suggest classification for aquatic toxicity. Moreover, the BCF value of ethyl formate reported was not >= 500 as well as the substance was found to be inherently degradable in the aquatic environment. Thus considering the CLP Criteria for aquatic classification of the substance, it is concluded that ethyl formate is unlikely to exhibit aquatic toxicity.

 

Thus, Ethyl formate does not satisfy the environmental effect criterion for classification as toxic (T).

 

Therefore, it can be inferred that Ethyl formate is a not a PBT (including vPvB) substance as the Annex XIII of the REACH Regulation.

Conclusion on classification

Classification is not triggered based on available data, according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.