Choline hydroxide

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.604 mg/L

Assessment factor:

50

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

5 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.06 mg/L

Assessment factor:

500

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

112.9 mg/L

Assessment factor:

1

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

10.467 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

sensitivity distribution

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

1.047 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

sensitivity distribution

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

1.734 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

sensitivity distribution

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Derivation of PNECs

The PNECs for the different compartments are calculated either by application an assessment factor (PNECfreshwater, PNECmarine water, PNECintermittent release and PNECstp) or using the equilibrium assumption method (PNECsediment-freshwater, PNECsediment-marine-water and PNECsoil). The PNECair and PNECsecondary poisoning are not considered as relevant based on the chemical structure and intrinsic properties of the registered substance.

The utilized procedures are described in detail in the ECHA REACH Guidance of May 2008, Chapter R.10 ("Characterisation of dose [concentration]-response for environment").

 

Environmental classification and labeling

Experimental and reliable QSAR-based results are available for evaluating biodegradation, metabolism and toxicity of the read-across substance Choline chloride (CAS 67-48-1) towards aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate species. Based on the great structural similarity and substance characteristics of both substances, all results from Choline chloride can be used for the target substance Choline hydroxide. Physico-chemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar. For a detailed justification and further information about this procedure, please refer to the separate read-across statement (Chemservice S.A., 2013).

Beside acute toxicity data for three trophic levels (i.e. fish, daphnids and algae), also adequate long-term data are available (using daphnids as test species). Choline hydroxide can be considered as rapidly biodegradable (based on an experimental result from Choline chloride (CAS 67-48-1; BASF AG, 1984) and based on the logPow of -2.25 at 25 °C (Intertek, 2013) and BCF of 3.16 L/kg (Chemservice S.A., 2013, updated 2022), no bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms is expected. The read-across substance was found to be not acutely toxic at concentrations upon 500 mg/L or even higher (for details, please refer to the different studies conducted by BASF AG). The most critical NOEC(21d) was found as 30.2 mg/L in an experiment conducted according to OECD 211 with Daphnia magna (MOE Japan, 1999). Based upon these results from the reliable read-across substance and in reference to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, Choline hydroxide has not to be classified and labelled with respect to environmental hazards.

Conclusion on classification

In accordance to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 (Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006), Choline hydroxide has not to be classified and labelled with respect to environmental hazards.