Distillates (coal tar), heavy oils

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

AOH is irritating to skin but not irritating to the eye, based on experimental results of the closely structure-related tar oil creosote.
There is no evidence of respiratory irritation at ambient temperatures based on occupational experience (low vapour pressure of the substance). At elevated temperatures, exposure to vapours may produce irritating effects on the respiratory tract.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

skin irritation: in vivo

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP guideline study

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion)

GLP compliance:

yes

Species:

rabbit

Strain:

New Zealand White

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Elevage Cunicole de Val de Selle, 80160 Prouzel, France
- Age at study initiation: no data
- Weight at study initiation: 2.8 ±0.1 kg
- Housing: polystyren cage, 1 animal/cage
- Diet: ad libitum
- Water: ad libitum
- Acclimation period: >= 5 d


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 18 +-3
- Humidity (%): 50 +-20
- Air changes (per hr):
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 / 12

Type of coverage:

semiocclusive

Preparation of test site:

shaved

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Controls:

not required

Amount / concentration applied:

TEST MATERIAL
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): 0.5 mL

Duration of treatment / exposure:

4 h

Observation period:

9 and 12 days

Number of animals:

3

Details on study design:

TEST SITE
- Area of exposure: approx. 6 cm2
- Type of wrap if used: bandage semiocclusive

REMOVAL OF TEST SUBSTANCE
- Washing (if done): water-moistened gauze
- Time after start of exposure: 4 h

SCORING SYSTEM: Draize scale with grades 1 to 4 for severity of erythema and oedema
Data evaluation: According to directive 91/325/EEC: irritating = score >= 2 in 2/3 animals for >= 24 h for erythema or oedema

Irritation parameter:

erythema score

Basis:

animal #1

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

1.7

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 7 days

Irritation parameter:

erythema score

Basis:

animal #2

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

2.7

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 7 days

Irritation parameter:

erythema score

Basis:

animal #3

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

2.3

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 7 days

Irritation parameter:

edema score

Basis:

animal #1

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

3.3

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 6 days

Irritation parameter:

edema score

Basis:

animal #2

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

3.3

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 6 days

Irritation parameter:

edema score

Basis:

animal #3

Remarks:

average over time

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

2.7

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 6 days

Irritation parameter:

erythema score

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

2.2

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 7 days

Irritation parameter:

edema score

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

3.1

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 6 days

Irritant / corrosive response data:

Mean scores per animal were 2 or distinctly higher at any time point until 72 h with mean scores over time >2 for erythema (2/3 animals) or >3 for oedema (3/3 animals).

Other effects:

Skin dryness prevailed between day 4 and 11 in 2 animals.

Table for skin irritation study
Score (average of three animals investigated)	time	Erythema	Edema
Average Draize scores (0 to maximum 4)	60 min	2.3	4.0
	24 h	2.7	4.0
	48 h	2.3	3.3
	72 h	1.7	2.0
Average score	24h, 48h, 72h	2.2	3.1
Reversibility: *		c	c
Time for reversibility in all animals (score 0)		7 d	6 d
*   c :    completely reversible   n c :    not completely reversible      n :    not reversible

Interpretation of results:

Category 2 (irritant)

Remarks:

Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU

Conclusions:

Erythema scores were ≥ 2.3 - ≤ 4.0 for two of three animals while oedema scores were ≥ 2.3 - ≤ 4.0 for three animals. According to EU criteria, the test material creosote is skin irritating Cat 2.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed (irritating)

Eye irritation

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

eye irritation: in vivo

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP guideline study

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion)

GLP compliance:

yes

Species:

rabbit

Strain:

New Zealand White

Details on test animals or tissues and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Elevage Cunicole de Val de Selle, 80160 Prouzel, France
- Age at study initiation: no data
- Weight at study initiation: 2.8 ±0.1 kg
- Housing: polystyren cage, 1 animal/cage
- Diet: ad libitum
- Water: ad libitum
- Acclimation period: >= 5 d


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 18 +-3
- Humidity (%): 50 +-20
- Air changes (per hr):
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 / 12

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Controls:

not required

Amount / concentration applied:

TEST MATERIAL
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): 0.1 mL

Duration of treatment / exposure:

not rinsed

Observation period (in vivo):

1, 24, 48, 72 h post-instillation

Number of animals or in vitro replicates:

3 (male)

Details on study design:

REMOVAL OF TEST SUBSTANCE
- Washing (if done): no
- Time after start of exposure:


SCORING SYSTEM: Numeric Draize scale:
Grades 0 to 3 for severity of redness of conjunctivae as well as lacrimation,
grades 0 - 4 for oedema and corneal effects,
grades 0 - 2 for iris effects.
EVALUATION: according to EU classification system

Irritation parameter:

cornea opacity score

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

0

Max. score:

4

Irritation parameter:

iris score

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

0

Max. score:

2

Irritation parameter:

chemosis score

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

0.2

Max. score:

4

Reversibility:

fully reversible

Irritation parameter:

conjunctivae score

Remarks:

redness

Basis:

mean

Remarks:

3 animals

Time point:

other: 24, 48, 72 h

Score:

0.4

Max. score:

3

Reversibility:

fully reversible within: 72 h

Irritant / corrosive response data:

Very slight chemosis (score 1 in one animal only) and slight (score 1) to moderate (score 2) redness of the conjunctivae between 1 and 48 h, the moderate effect in one animal after 24 h. No effect on the iris and cornea.

Other effects:

none

Interpretation of results:

not irritating

Remarks:

Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU

Conclusions:

All individual effects scores over time remained below cut-off limits for classification: cornea < 2, iris < 1, redness < 2.5, oedema < 2.
Under the conditions of the test, the test material, Creosote SNCF, is not irritating to the eyes of rabbits.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Respiratory irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

No data on skin and eye irritation is available for the substance distillates (coal tar), heavy oils (anthracene oil high (> 50 ppm) BaP, AOH) itself. Data obtained originate from the closely related tar oil creosote. Due to the similar production process (fractionated distillation of coal tar using overlapping conditions), composition of both substances correspond to each other. Major components are mid-range PAH for both substances (3- and 4-ring PAH) with some additional 2-ring PAH in creosote but not in AOH.

2-ring PAH have been tested demonstrating possible irritation to skin but not to the eye of rabbits. These effects are similar to that found for creosote. Using test results obtained with creosote may eventually overestimate the irritating potential of AOH as 2-ring PAH with known skin irritating potential are not present in AOH. The use of creosote as supporting substance in establishing the irritation potential of AOH can be considered as worst case. Thus, it is justified to use creosote as supporting substance in characterising the irritating potency of AOH.

Creosote was found to be skin irritating (Cat. 2 according to EU criteria) while at the same time not being irritating to the eye. Based on results of the supporting substance creosote, AOH is categorised as skin irritating according to EU criteria but simultaneously not being irritating to the eye.

For respiratory irritation, no experimental data has been located. Occupational experience gave no evidence of respiratory irritation. Reason may be the low vapour pressure of AOH at ambient temperature (0.6 Pa, see Chapter 1.3). However, exposure to vapours at elevated temperatures may produce irritating effects on the respiratory tract.

Effects on skin irritation/corrosion: irritating

Justification for classification or non-classification

Based on experimental evidence (study according to OECD TG 404 with supporting substance creosote), AOH is to be classified as skin irritating Cat. 2 based on criteria of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Test results for eye irritation do not demonstrate a relevant eye irritating potential. Classification for eye irritation is not required.