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Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to soil microorganisms

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Description of key information

The chemical safety assessment according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 does not indicate the need to investigate further the toxicity to soil microorganisms.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

No experimental data evaluating the toxicity Fatty acids, C18-unsatd., dimers, 2-ethylhexylesters (CAS No. 68334-05-4) to soil microorganisms are available. However, information gathered from several independent sources is combined in a Weight of Evidence approach, which is in accordance to the REACh Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex XI General rules for adaptation of the standard testing regime set out in Annexes VII to X, 1.2, to cover the data requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex IX. This approach provides enough evidence to state that this substance is unlikely to exert toxicity to soil microorganisms.

According to Chapter R7.b of the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment (ECHA, 2012), a test on soil microbial activity will be additionally necessary for a valid PNEC derivation only if inhibition of sewage sludge microbial activity has occurred. The test performed using activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage showed no effects on respiration behavior up to a nominal concentration of 100 mg/L (EC50 (3 h) > 100 mg/L). The above-mentioned Guidance also states that for substances with a good biodegradation rate in a ready biodegradability test, inhibitory effects to aquatic microorganisms are not expected. This is the case for Fatty acids, C18-unsatd., dimers, 2-ethylhexylesters (62.1% biodegradation after 28 days).

Additionally, the low toxicity potential of Fatty acids, C18-unsatd., dimers, mixed esters with oleic acid and trimethylolpropane on soil microorganisms is supported by further evidence from literature data. This data showed that soil microorganism communities are well capable of degrading fatty acid esters (Hita et al., 1996 and Cecutti et al., 2002) and use them as energy source (Banchio & Gramajo, 1997). Hita et al. investigated the degradation of the model molecule tristearin which is a triglyceride containing of glycerin tri-esterified with stearic acid in three different soils for 4 weeks. The amount of stearic acid increased in considerable amounts during the experiment showing the hydrolytic activity of lipases breaking the ester bonds. The investigation of ester fractions moreover showed the generation of new alkanoic acids (methyl stearate, ethyl stearate and propyl stearate) which were not determined in the controls. Nevertheless the amounts were no longer present after 4 weeks, which leads to the assumption that degradation by soil microorganisms had occurred. The same was shown by Cecutti et al. (2003). One soil sample was chosen and incubated with methyl oleate (plant oil) for 120 d. Methyl oleate and its metabolites were completely degraded after 60 d. Streptomyces coelicolor, a common gram-positive soil bacterium uses fatty acids (C4-C18) as sole carbon end energy source indicating that fatty acids are not-toxic and can be used for catabolism (Banchio and Gramajo, 1997). The available literature data shows that soil microorganisms are capable to break-up ester bonds and degrade fatty acids in significant amounts. Moreover, the data indicated the non-toxic properties of fatty acids since they can be used as energy source.

Based on all the available information for the Weight of Evidence approach (in accordance with Annex XI, 1.2) effects on soil microorganisms are thus not expected to be of concern, and consequently, no further testing is required.