Sulphuric acid, compound with graphite

Toxicity to soil microorganisms

Description of key information

According to Column 2 of REACH Annexes IX and X (standard information requirements for substances manufactured or imported in quantities of 100 tonnes or more and 1,000 tonnes or more, respectively) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, studies on the effects on terrestrial organisms do not need to be conducted if direct and indirect exposure to the soil compartment is unlikely. 
Sulphuric acid, compound with graphite is an inorganic solid, consisting of natural graphite and variable amounts of intercalated sulphuric acid. 
Graphite is a naturally occurring solid substance which is insoluble in water. Due to its physico-chemical properties it is not systemically and biologically available and does not cross biological membranes. In the aquatic compartment it can be considered as an inert substance. The intercalated sulphuric acid is partially leached out by water and dissociated into the environmentally ubiquitous sulphate and hydronium ions. Due to their ionic character, they do not cross biological membranes. Sulphate is a normal biological constituent of the body, a normal biological metabolite and a degradation product of sulphur-containing amino-acids. In the soil compartment the sulphate ions are precipitated in form of naturally occurring minerals. 
The physico-chemical properties of the substance do not pose toxicological risks for the soil compartment. This is underlined by the results of the Ames Test performed with several Salmonella typhimurium strains. 
Relevant exposure of soil to sulphuric acid, compound with graphite is unlikely regarding its use pattern. 
Against this background testing of toxicity of sulphuric acid, compound with graphite to soil microorganisms is not required under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).