Rapal 01, Paval, Serox, Argalum

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

The UVCB is a complex inorganic metals containing substance.

The following needs to be taken into account when considering information on environmental fate of this UCVB:

 

Stability and biodegradation: The classic standard testing protocols on hydrolysis, photo-transformation and biodegradation are not applicable to inorganic substances such as this UVCB. This was recognized in the Guidance to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (metal annex): “Environmental transformation of one species of a metal to another species of the same does not constitute degradation as applied to organic compounds and may increase or decrease the availability and bioavailability of the toxic species. However as a result of naturally occurring geochemical processes metal ions can partition from the water column. Data on water column residence time, the processes involved at the water – sediment interface (i. e. deposition and re-mobilisation) are fairly extensive, but have not been integrated into a meaningful database. Nevertheless, using the principles and assumptions discussed above in Section IV.1, it may be possible to incorporate this approach into classification.”

As outlined in CLP guidance (2009), understanding of the rate and extent of transformation/dissolution of sparingly soluble inorganic substances to soluble, potentially available metal species is relevant to the environmental hazard assessment.

 

Attenuation of the released metal ions: once released from the UVCB, the metal-ions will be sorbed to mineral and particulate organic matter surfaces in the water, sediment and soil and will bind to the dissolved organic and sulphide materials present in water, soil and sediment compartments. Binding, precipitation and partitioning allows for a reduction of "bio-available metal species" and thus potential metal toxicity as a function of time.

 

Transport and distribution: assessing transport and distribution of the UVCB substance has no meaning. The mechanisms of distribution over liquid/solid phase (adsorption/desorption, precipitation and removal from water column) of the metals contained in the UVCB have been assessed in the respective metals registrations, risk assessments and/or Chemical Safety reports. Partition coefficients for soil/water, sediment/water and suspended matter/water are available for different metals contained in the UVCB and to be used for environmental exposure assessment, if relevant.

 

Bioaccumulation and secondary poisoning: the assessment of the bioaccumulation and secondary poisoning potential of this UVCB has no meaning. Accumulation data (BCF and BAF values) are available for relevant metal constituents of this UVCB. Metals like Cu, Zn for example are essential and well regulated in all living organisms and therefore the bioaccumulation criterion is not applicable. While some metals do not magnify in aquatic and terrestrial systems, for other metals secondary poisoning is to be considered relevant based on their known bioaccumulation potential.

According to the CLP Guidance for complex substances (section III 3.2) it is not recommended to estimate an average or weighted BCF value but identify one or more constituents for further consideration. Therefore, secondary poisoning of relevant constituents contained in the UVCB should be taken into account in the environmental exposure assessment.

 

Summary of the information on environmental fate and pathways for the purpose of classification:

The UVCB environmental hazard assessment fate and pathway of the UVCB is driven by the hazard assessment characteristics of the individual UVCB constituents. For the purpose of the hazard assessment, the fate and pathway of the UVCB is treated as a complex metal containing substance and therefore assessed from the fate and pathways of the discrete constituting compounds (metals, metal compounds, non-metal inorganic compounds). The hazard classifications of each compound are then factored into a combined classification of the UVCB as a whole. For environmental endpoints, additivity and/or summation algorithms are applied to quantitatively estimate the mixture’s toxicity to aquatic organisms. More information can be found in the MeClas output (see Section 13.2).

 

Summary of the information on environmental fate and pathways for the purpose of risk assessment:

As this UVCB substance does not meet any criteria for classification as hazardous (according to Directives 67/548/EEC and 1272/2008/EC) nor is it considered to be a PBT/vPvB an exposure assessment and the subsequent step of risk characterisation is not required.