[No public or meaningful name is available]

Endpoint summary

Additional information

This substance is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with different fate and physical chemical properties. Therefore, most the critical properties such as water solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient, adsorption coefficient and bioaccumulation are not technically feasible to be determined for the substance.

The hydrolysis is not relevant fate process for this substance because it lacks functional groups associated with hydrolysis. The biodegradation in water and soil is the most important fate process of this substance. Based on the CO2 Evolution and manometric screening tests and the supporting information on biodegradation of similar substances, and based on the probability of biodegradation estimated for the ten most abundant individual structures of the substance, this substance is considered as not readily biodegradable in water.

The biodegradation in soil is affected with several parameters such as composition of the substance, aging and weathering of the substance, and soil characteristics (e.g. pH, nutrients, carbon content, soil texture). Testing of freshly prepared samples with simulation tests were considered technically unfeasible. However, based on the literature there are several studies presenting the biodegradation potential of fossil fuels in soils with similar chemical composition as this substance. The natural attenuation is also one remediation method for oil contaminated soils.

Based on the water solubility study this substance is poorly soluble in water (1 mg/l at 22 deg. C). The log Kow determined for the substance (log Kow 6.0) indicates the adsorption potential and bioaccumulation of the substance. The vapour pressure of the substance is only measured at 40 deg. C. Based on the vapour pressure (< 0.1 kPa at 40 deg. C) the evaporation to atmosphere is expected. The model used for exposure assessment and risk characterisation assumes that most of the substance is distributed to air as presented below.

Because of the complex nature of this UVCB substance, the environmental fate properties of the substance were estimated with the PETRORISK tool as part of the environmental exposure assessment. The estimated values were used in the quantitative risk assessment with the tool. The estimation is based on representative individual structures and their properties as included in the model database.

In addition, the EPISUITE tool was used for estimation of the biodegradation and bioaccumulation potential of the substance.

The estimation with EPISUITE was conducted for the ten most abundant individual structures (based on mass-%) of the substance according to the available analytical information. The following properties were used to describe the fate of the substance for CSA in the environmental ES&RC (CSR 9&10):

Half-life in air:

The estimated half-life values in air with the PETRORISK tool (CONCAWE Library) ranged from 0.64 h to 40 h.

Biodegradation:

Two biodegradation studies were conducted on the substance: OECD 301F "Ready Biodegradability; Manometric Respirometry Test" and OECD 301B "Ready Biodegradability: CO2 Evolution Test". Both studies were done according to GLP. The OECD 301B -study was considered as a key study. According to this key study, the test substance attained 33 % degradation after 28 days and therefore could not be considered as readily biodegradable.

In addition biodegradation potential was estimated with the BIOWIN v4.10 model, which is part of the EPISUITE tool. The probability of biodegradation was estimated for the ten most abundant individual structures of the substance according to the available analytical information. BIOWIN estimates the probability biodegradation of an organic compound in the presence of mixed populations of environmental microorganisms. Of the ten most abundant individual structures, nine were estimated to be readily biodegradable, and the time required for ultimate degradation for these components were estimated to be days to weeks, or weeks.

Bioaccumulation:

Bioconcentration factors and bioaccumulation factors were estimated with the BCFBAF v3.01 model. The estimated log BCF value for the ten most abundant individual structures of the substance ranged from 1.98 to 3.18. The estimated log BAF value for the ten most abundant individual structures of the substance ranged from 4.19 to 5.28.

Transport and distribution:

Environmental fate information related to transport and distribution was estimated with the PETRORISK tool. The log Koc values and Henry's Law constant (HLC) values were estimated based on the database included in the model. In addition, distribution to different environmental compartments was modelled with the tool.

The overall range for the estimated log Koc values was from 2.31 to 9.53. The log Koc values of the representative individual structures that form the major part of the substance based on mass fraction (sum 0.64) were in the range 3.83 - 7.14.

The overall range for the estimated Henry's Law constant (HLC) values was from 0.00000083 atm m³/mol to 446 atm m³/mol. The HLC values of the representative individual structures that form the major part of the substance based on mass fraction (sum 0.64) were in the range 0.0114 atm m³/mol - 277 atm m³/mol.

According to the PETRORISK modelling results, major part of the emissions of the substance are distributed to air (ca. 88.7 %). Fractions distributed to other environmental compartments is expected to be low; sediment (6.2 %), soil (3.2 %), water (1.9 %).