Fatty acids, C8-10, C8-10-alkyl esters

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Description of key information

NOEC (56 d): 500 mg/kg soil dw (OECD 222, reproduction)

Additional information

Since no studies investigating the toxicity to soil macroorganisms of the substance Fatty acids C8 -10, C8 -10 alkyl esters (CAS 129677-93-6) are available for this endpoint, in accordance to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5 a read across to a structurally related substance fatty acid, C8 - 10, C12 - 18-alkyl ester (CAS 95912-86-0) was conducted. This read-across is justified in detail in the overall summary (IUCLID chapter 6.3) and within the analogue justification in IUCLID Section 13. In this case of read-across, the best suited (highest degree of structural similarity, nearest physico-chemical properties) read-across substance was used for the assessment. The substance is characterised by the same fatty acids (C8-C10) and comparable alcohol since the source substances mainly contains C12 alcohol esters. The study with the read-across substance fatty acids, C8 - 10, C12 - 18-alkyl esters was performed according to OECD 222 (GLP) with the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Nominal concentrations up to 1000 mg/kg soil dw with a spacing factor of 2 were mixed into artificial soil. After 56 d the juveniles were counted and effects on the reproduction of Eisenia fetida was recorded at the highest concentration of 1000 mg/kg soil dw. However, only two of the replicates showed a reduction in reproduction. The other two replicates were in the range of the control. Nevertheless, the NOEC (56 d) was derived to be 500 mg/kg soil dw.

Based on the results from a structurally related read-across substance (in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5) which is characterized by a comparable ecotoxicological profile and a similar structure, it can be concluded that Fatty acids, C8-10, C8-10 alkyl esters is of low toxicity to soil macroorganisms.