Alkenes, C11-12, hydroformylation products, distn. residues

Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Description of key information

Alchisor CAL 123 comprises alkenes C11-12, hydroformylation products, distillation residues and where environmental toxicity data exist, these are representative of the Alchisor CAL 123 substance.  In accordance with REACH Annex IX, the requirement for long-term toxicity to invertebrates is waived on the basis that the substance is readily biodegradable and has low toxicity to aquatic life. No reliable predicted or measured long-term toxicity to invertebrates data are available for Alchisor CAL 123.

Additional information

Alchisor CAL 123 comprises alkenes C11-12, hydroformylation products, distillation residues as defined in the `Approach Justification Document' section 13 and where environmental toxicity data exist, these are representative of the Alchisor CAL 123 substance. 

 

In accordance with Column 2 of REACH Annex IX, the long-term aquatic toxicity to invertebrates study (required in Section 9.1.6) does not need to be conducted for Alchisor CAL 123 as the chemical safety assessment according to Annex I indicates that this is not necessary. Adequate evidence exists for a waiver. It can be concluded that it is unlikely that chronic toxicity to invertebrates will be exhibited in the environment following exposure to Alchisor CAL 123 as the substance is readily biodegradable and low toxicity to aquatic life. Therefore, the data requirement for long-term toxicity to invertebrates is waived. Below is a summary of the supporting evidence that Alchisor CAL 123 would be unlikely to cause long-term toxicity to invertebrates based on rapid biodegradation and low acute toxicity. There are no reliable measured or predicted data for chronic invertebrate studies relating to Alchisor CAL 123.

 

Biodegradation

Alchisor CAL 123 has been shown in the reliable (Klimisch 1) study by Schaefer and Matthews (2010) to be readily biodegradable in water. The test substance biodegraded to an extent of 87.7% after 28 days and although the biodegradation rate just missed the 10-day window threshold, this aspect of the test is not applicable to mixtures where different components of the mixture can biodegrade preferentially (reference TG 103C). It is assumed that Alchisor CAL 123 will readily biodegrade in water and be unavailable for long-term uptake by invertebrates.

Toxicity to Aquatic Organisms

The toxicity of the test substance to aquatic organisms is very low based on the evidence presented in this dossier. The lowest measured toxicity was based on an algal test where the NOEL based on algal growth was 25 mg/L. Acute toxicity to invertebrates and fish was >100 mg/L based on 50% mortality. In addition, because the substance has been deemed readily biodegradable, it is unlikely that invertebrates would encounter long-term exposure to the substance. Using this evidence it is assumed that Alchisor CAL 123 represents a low hazard and is not considered to be toxic (in PBT terms) to aquatic life.

In summary, the data requirement for long-term toxicity to invertebrates is being waived based on the evidence that the substance is readily biodegradable and has low toxicity to aquatic life.