Titanium tetrakis(2-ethylhexanolate)

PBT assessment

PBT assessment: overall result

PBT status:

the substance is not PBT / vPvB

Justification:

This substance is not PBT or vPvB because:

It is hydrolytically unstable with half-life less than 10 minutes. The main degradation product (2 -ethylhexanol) is readily biodegradable and the degradation products are not classified as hazardous to the environment. This substance is considered as readily degradable and not P/vP. This substance is not having bioaccumulation (not a B or vB) potential as the main degradation product (2-ethylhexanol) is readily biodegradable and not persistent as the log Kow is 2.9. In addition, the other degradation product (TiO2) is poorly absorbed and retained by both animals and plants (WHO 1982).

This substance is not toxic (T) as the lowest measured aquatic toxicity value of 2-ethylhexanol, the 72 -h NOEC (growth rate) of 2.0 mg /l to Scenedesmus subspicatus is greater than 0.01 mg/l. There is also enough evidence on the cleavage products not being classified as mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, carcinogenic and not possessing toxicity to specific target organ after repeated exposure.

Likely routes of exposure:

The direct exposure to aquatic or terrestrial compartment is unlikely based on the exposure scenarios (see section 9&10 of CSR). Since the target substance is hydrolytically unstable, use of water is avoided in the use applications. No emissions to a sewage treatment plant (STP) are expected. Discharge to STP is relevant only in one use application when the target substance is used as a catalyst in industrial esterification processes. In this use application, water is used to remove the catalyst from the process. The discharge to STP is related to the degradation products of this substance as the hydrolysis will take place, and 2-ethylhexanol and TiO2 are released to water compartment. Emissions to air are related to the organic degradation product 2-ethylhexanol.