Reaction mass of N,N’-ethane-1,2-diylbis(12-hydroxyoctadecan-1-amide), Octadecanamide, 12-hydroxy-N-[2-[(1-oxooctadecyl)amino]ethyl]- and Octadecanoic acid, 12-hydroxy-, 1-hexyl-12-[[2-[(12-hydroxy-1-oxooctadecyl)amino]ethyl]amino]-12-oxododecyl ester

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Description of key information

The chronic earthworm reproduction study was performed to OECD Guideline 222 methodology using nine concentrations of the read-across substance ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/kg dry soil (Bangert, 2017). All validity criteria were met. No effects were seen on earthworm survival. All concentrations showed inhibition of reproduction ranging from 5.7 % to 25.9 % compared to the control; however, due to the high variability in biological observations, the inhibition of juvenile production did not increase regularly. Therefore, a determination of an EC10 was not possible. Inhibition of juvenile production was less than 50 % in all treatments; therefore the EC50 is stated as being higher than the highest tested concentrations. The lowest concentration producing a significant effect (32 mg/kg nominal concentration) was chosen as the LOEC. The NOEC was set as the next lowest concentration (10 mg/kg), although in the absence of a clear dose-response relationship it is unclear whether the effects on reproduction were due to the test substance treatment. It is unlikely that toxic effects are seen at the limit of solubility of the test substance in soil porewater or that the substance is available for uptake by earthworms. The results of this study are used qualitatively in the hazard assessment.