Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 292-947-3 | CAS number: 91031-45-7
Sediment toxicity
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
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 effects on sediment organisms.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
No experimental data evaluating the toxicity to sediment organisms is available for fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) (CAS 91031-45-7). Since the substance is ready biodegradable, chronic exposure of sediment organisms is unlikely. Furthermore, the substance is not toxic to aquatic organisms up to the limit of water solubility. In addition, available data indicate, that fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is not bioaccumlative. Based on the available information, toxicity to sediment organisms is not expected to be of concern.
Intrinsic properties and fate
Fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is readily biodegradable (69-79% O2 consumption in 30 days; Richterich & Mühlberg, 2007). According to the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7b, readily biodegradable substances can be expected to undergo rapid and ultimate degradation in most environments, including biological Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) (ECHA, 2012). Therefore, after passing through conventional STPs, only low concentrations of these substances are likely to be (if at all) released into the environment.
Fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) exhibits a log Koc value of > 3 (MCI) and is poorly water soluble (< 0.05 mg/L; EU Method A.6). The Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R7.b (ECHA, 2012) states that once insoluble chemicals enter a standard STP, they will be extensively removed in the primary settling tank and fat trap and thus, only limited amounts will get in contact with activated sludge organisms. Nevertheless, once this contact takes place, these substances are expected to be removed from the water column to a significant degree by adsorption to sewage sludge (Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.7a, (ECHA, 2012)) and the rest will be extensively biodegraded (due to ready biodegradability). Thus, discharged concentrations of these substances into the aqueous/sediment compartment are likely to be negligible. Considering this one can assume that the availability of fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) in the sediment environment is generally very low, which reduces the probability of chronic exposure of sediment organisms in general.
Aquatic ecotoxicity data
Acute aquatic toxicity tests of the substance to fish, invertebrates, algae and microorganisms showed no adverse effects occurred in the range of the water solubility of the substance (< 0.05 mg/L; EU Method A.6). The obtained results indicate that fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is likely to show no toxicity to sediment organisms as well.
Metabolisms/Bioaccumulation
After absorption, fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is expected to be enzymatically hydrolyzed by carboxylesterases yielding the corresponding alcohol and fatty acid. Fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) has a log Kow of 5.73 - 15.57 (KOWWIN v1.68) indicating a potential for bioaccumulation. But due to the low water solubility, rapid environmental biodegradation and metabolisation via enzymatic hydrolysis, a relevant uptake and bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms is not expected. Enzymatic breakdown will initially lead to the free fatty acid and the free glycol alcohol (e. g. ethylene glycol). From literature it is well known, that these hydrolysis products will be metabolized and excreted in fish effectively (Heymann, 1980; Lech & Bend, 1980; Lech & Melancon, 1980; Murphy & Lutenske, 1990). This is supported by low calculated BCF values of 0.893 - 51.86 L/kg ww (BCFBAF v3.01, Arnot-Gobas, including biotransformation, upper trophic). Please refer to IUCLID Section 5.3 for a detailed overview on bioaccumulation of fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO). Thus, taking all information into account, the bioaccumulation of fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is assumed to be low.
Conclusion
Due to its readily biodegradable nature, extensive degradation of this substance in conventional STPs will take place and only low concentrations are expected to be released (if at all) into the environment. Once present in the aquatic compartment, further biodegradation will occur and, due to the high log Kow, low water solubility and high adsorption potential, fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) will be bioavailable to sediment organisms mainly via feed and contact with suspended organic particles. After uptake by sediment species, extensive and fast biotransformation of the substance by carboxylesterases into the free fatty acid and the corresponding alcohol is expected. The supporting BCF/BAF values estimated with the BCFBAF v3.01 program, Arnot-Gobas model including biotransformation, also indicate that this substance will not be bioaccumulative (all well below 2000). Furthermore, aquatic toxicity data show that no effects occur up to the limit of water solubility. Therefore, fatty acids, C16-18, 1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy-2,1-ethanediyl) esters (3EO) is unlikely to pose a risk for sediment organisms in general and testing is thus omitted.
A detailed reference list is provided in the technical dossier (see IUCLID, section 13) and within CSR.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
