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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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: 206-532-1 | CAS number: 353-42-4
Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
With high probability acutely not harmful to aquatic algae.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
In water, dimethyl ether - boron trifluoride rapidly decomposes to form dimethyl ether and boron trifluoride dihydrate. The latter reacts further to boric acid and fluoroboric acid, which finally hydrolyses to yield hydrofluoric acid/ fluoride ions. The assessment of fish toxicity was therefore based on studies on the substance itself as well as on the products of hydrolysis.
The acute toxicity of dimethyl ether – boron trifluoride on algae was investigated, using Scenedesmus subspicatus as test organism. The test was conducted according to the EC Directive 79/831/EEC (C) and GLP (BASF AG, 1991). However, the pH was not adjusted and decreased to 3.7 in the 50 mg/L sample. The observed effects were therefore probably due to the low pH. Toxicity towards Scenedesmus subspicatus was also tested for the similar substance diethyl ether - boron trifluoride. No effects were observed at 10 mg/L, the highest concentration tested (BASF AG, 1993). In a newer guideline study (Directive 92/69/EEC, method C3) with the hydrolysis product boron trifluoride dihydrate, the EC50 value based on growth rate was determined to be greater than 500 mg/L (Arkema, 2005).
The toxicity of boron to Spirodella polyrrhiza was determined by Davis et al. 2002 using standard methods. Frond production is apparently a more sensitive endpoint than either growth rate or the presence of abnormal fronds. Frond production in S. polyrrhizawas significantly reduced at 3.55 mg B/L. Significant reductions in growth rate and the percentage of abnormal (chlorotic, necrotic, and dead) fronds were observed at 18.9 and 22.4 mg B/L, respectively. The EC50for frond production, frond growth rate, and abnormal fronds were 14.3, 11.7, and 17.7 mg B/L, respectively. Davis et al. (2002) reported a NOEC value of 6.1 mg- B/L for the duckweed Spirodella polyrhiza. They reported endogenous boron level of 0.9 mg- B/L from the various nutrient media used.
Another non published data, an OECD 201 study of Selenastrum capricornutum (Hanstveit and Oldersma 2000) reported a NOEC concentration of 17.5 mg-B/L..
Other studies reported NOEC values were obatined for Chlorella pyrenoidosa (10 mg-B/L), Scenedesmus subspicatus (24 mg-B/L), Anacystis nidulans (50 mg-B/L) and Lemna minor (60 mg-B/L) are also available.
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.
