Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Dietary exposure to LAB sulfonic acids respectively to Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid can occur from its use in food contact sanitizing solutions as an active ingredient, and as an inert ingredient in food-use pesticide products applied to agricultural crops, and animals. There are no currently registered products used in residential settings where to LAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid are considered to be an active ingredient.
However, to LAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid are used as an inert ingredient in pesticide products used in residential settings, including hard surface and carpet cleaners, lawn products, and pet products.
Post application residential exposure can occur in children from hand-to-mouth incidental oral exposure from treated surfaces, and contacting pets treated with flea and tick products.
Occupational exposure to to LAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid can occur from mixing/loading/application activities in various use sites, including agricultural food handling, and commercial/institutional/industrial premises.
Worker exposure is extremely limited and highly controlled through the use of engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and use of closed production systems. 
There is no consumer exposure to LAB sulfonic acids since they are not used in consumer products but a Dietary exposure to LAB sulfonic acids respectively to Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid can occur from its use in food contact sanitizing solutions as an active ingredient, and as an inert ingredient in food-use pesticide products applied to agricultural crops, and animals. There are no currently registered products used in residential settings where to LAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid are considered to be an active ingredient.

Additional information

Environmental exposure

 

Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid is produced by reacting SO3 and LAB (linear alkyl benzene) in a continuous closed reactor. In the dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid reaction process, the measured concentrations of SO2, NaOH were 0.0026 and 0.0356 mg/m3, which were below the occupational exposure limit of 0.2 mg/m3 and 2 mg/m3, respectively. And the dust are emitted to atmosphere but the concentration of the substances were below 10% level of environmental emission standard (10 mg/m3).

All occurred waste organic solvents are burned by waste consignment treatment. Wastewater is treated chemically and biologically, and then it is discharged to wastewater treatment plant. Most of the substance that is used in industrial and consumer products as surfactant and ingredient in detergents will be disposed of by the sewerage system. Exposure of the environment may occur mainly via effluents of STP’s and application of sewage sludge in agriculture.

 

Environmental fate

 

The environmental fate assessment for dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) is based on US EPA’s Estimation Programs Interface (EPI) Suite. EPI Suite provides estimations of physical/chemical properties and environmental fate properties.

Based on the output of the model, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) is highly unlikely to bioaccumulate in the environment or aquatic organisms (i.e. fish) because the low value for the log Kow (4.78).

 This also supports that the chemical is soluble in water such that it will exhibit mobility through the soil. In addition, the low log Koc (3.6) further supports the expected soil mobility. The model-calculated linear and non-linear biodegradation probabilities suggest that the linear carbon chain will biodegrade rapidly, whereas the benzene ring is not expected to biodegrade as rapidly. The extremely low vapor pressure along with the short half life of approximately 7.85 hours indicates that if this chemical is present in the soil, it is not likely to be volatile and is expected to degrade rapidly.

The output parameters from the EPI Suite model support that any potential impacts of this chemical is expected to be very short-lived. This is because it is not likely to persist in water or microbial soils and sediments. As a result, the environmental fate of Dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) is not likely to be of concern.

 

Hydrolysis will be not a significant factor in determining the environmental fate of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

Based on the results, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid was hydrolytically stable (half life > 1 year) specified by the OECD Guidelines. Since the chemical is degradable less than 10% after 5 days in this test condition, it is presumably stable in water. (Hydrolytically stable).

 

Exposure Potential

Probable Routes of Human Exposure:

This substance(dodecylbenzene sulfonic acids (CAS# 27176-87-0))is from the category ofLAB Sulfonic Acids, whichincludesthe followingthree chemicals:

Benzene sulfonic acid, C10-16 alkyl derivatives (CAS# 68584-22-5),

Benzene sulfonic acid, dodecyl (CAS# 27176-87-0), and,

Benzene sulfonic acid, tridecyl (CAS# 25496-01-9).

The LAB Sulfonic Acids category consists of linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid homologues with alkyl carbon chain lengths ranging from C10 to C14 and averaging 11.0 to12.9. The primary structure is a C10 to C14 linear alkyl chain with a para-substituted benzene sulfonic acid group attached at any of the secondary alkyl carbon positions.

 

The LAB sulfonic acids are intermediates in the manufacture of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) surfactants, a major cleaning agent for laundry detergents and other cleaning products. The feedstocks for the manufacture of the LAB sulfonic acids are linear alkyl benzenes (LAB). LAB is made by reacting a mixture of C10 to C14 n-paraffins with benzene. The alkyl attachment occurs at all but the terminal carbon positions. Consequently, LAB is a mixture of C10 to C14 linear alkyl chain homologues with average alkyl chain lengths between 11.3 and 12.6 attached at any of the secondary (non-terminal) positions to the benzene ring.

The three chemicals are linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acids representing a range of alkyl chain lengths (C10-C14). They are intermediates in the manufacture of LAS, and comprise the LAB Sulfonic Acids category. Because of the close structural similarity between LAS and the LAB sulfonic acids, data from LAS are included to provide supporting information for thecategory.

The dodecylbenzene sulfonic acids (CAS# 27176-87-0) are mixtures of C10 to C14 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids with average alkyl chain lengths of 11.3 to 12.6.

 

Dietary exposure toLAB sulfonic acids respectivelytoDodecylbenzenesulphonic acid can occur from its use in food contactsanitizing solutions as an active ingredient, and as an inert ingredient in food-use pesticideproducts applied to agricultural crops, and animals. There are no currently registered products usedin residential settings where to LAB sulfonic acids respectivelyDodecylbenzenesulphonic acid are considered to be an active ingredient.

However, toLAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid are used as an inert ingredient in pesticide products used inresidential settings, including hard surface and carpet cleaners, lawn products, and pet products.

Post application residential exposure can occur in children from hand-to-mouth incidental oralexposure from treated surfaces, and contacting pets treated with flea and tick products.

Occupational exposure to toLAB sulfonic acids respectivelyDodecylbenzenesulphonic acid can occur frommixing/loading/applicationactivities in various use sites, including agricultural food handling, andcommercial/institutional/industrial premises.

Worker exposure is extremely limited and highly controlled through the use of engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and use of closed production systems.

There is no consumer exposure to LAB sulfonic acids since they are not used in consumer products but a Dietary exposure to LAB sulfonic acids respectively to Dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid can occur from its use in food contactsanitizing solutions as an active ingredient, and as an inert ingredient in food-use pesticideproducts applied to agricultural crops, and animals. There are no currently registered products usedin residential settings where to LAB sulfonic acids respectively Dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid are considered to be an active ingredient.

EFFECTS ON HUMANS

 Summary

 Human skin can tolerate contact with solutions of up to 1% LAS for 24 h with only mild irritation. Like other surfactants, LAS can deliapidate the skin surface, elute natural moisturizing factor, denature the proteins of the outer epidermal layer, and increase permeability and swelling of the outer layer. LAS do not induce skin sensitization in humans, and there is no conclusive evidence that they induce eczema. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported following accidental ingestion of LAS-containing surfactant preparations.