Oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate)

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

36 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

59 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

7 mg/L

Assessment factor:

50

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

200 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

28 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

5.7 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

1.5 mg/kg soil dw

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Derivation of PNECs

Oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate) rapidly hydrolyses in contact with water to form diethylene glycol (CAS 111-46-6), hydrogen chloride (CAS 7647-01-0) and carbon dioxide (CAS 124-38-9). Effect values of the hydrolysis product hydrogen chloride were not considered in the derivation of the PNECs since the observed toxicity was not due to the intrinsic properties of the molecule but rather to pH effects. For the hydrolysis product carbon dioxide no ecotoxicological information is available. Therefore, only the results obtained from tests with the parent substance and the hydrolysis product diethylene glycol are considered for derivation of PNECs.

 

In the study with the parent substance isopropyl chloroformate rapid hydrolysis to isopropanol and hydrogen chloride may be expected to have occurred. However, remarkably the toxicity in the study with oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate) is considerably higher than the toxicity observed in the study with the hydrolysis product diethylene glycol. Considering that the pH remained within acceptable limits (i.e. no effects expected to be related to the formation of hydrogen chloride), the clearly higher toxicity of oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate) may be expected to be due to reactivity of un-hydrolysed parent substance at the beginning of the test. On a larger geographical and temporal scale oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate) may be expected to exist in aqueous environments mainly, if not only, as its hydrolysis products and therefore the short-term reactivity effect is considered likely to be of little relevance for environmental assessment. Therefore, the PNECs have been derived based on data available for diethylene glycol.

Conclusion on classification

Official classification regarding environmental hazards (relating to Oxydiethylene bis(chloroformate) (CAS 106-75 -2))

Aquatic compartment

In accordance with Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 Annex VI Table 3.1: N, R51/53

In accordance with Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 Annex VI Table 3.2: GHS09, chronic 2 (H411)

 

Self-classification (relating to diethylene glycol (CAS 111-46-6))

Aquatic compartment

 

Acute (short-term) aquatic hazard

Following CLP, the substance is not to be classified as acutely hazardous to the aquatic environment.

 

Rationale:

The substance is not to be classified as acutely hazardous to the aquatic environment, since all the lowest acute effect value of the three trophic levels are > 1 mg/L.

 

Long-term aquatic hazard

Following CLP, the substance is not to be classified as chronically hazardous to the aquatic environment.

 

Rationale:

- Chronic toxicity data: The substance is rapidly degradable and the lowest chronic effect value is > 1 mg/L (CoRAP Evaluation Report: NOEC = 365 mg/L). According to the criteria outlined in Table 4.1.0(b) (ii) (Commission Regulation (EU) No 286/2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) the substance is not to be classified as chronically hazardous to the aquatic environment.

- Acute toxicity data: The lowest EC50 was determined for algae (EC50 > 100 mg/L), the substance is rapidly degradable and the log Pow is < 4. According to the criteria outlined in Table 4.1.0(b) (iii) (Commission Regulation (EU) No 286/2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) the substance is not to be classified as chronically hazardous to the aquatic environment.