Lithium hydroxide

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

2.3 mg/L

Assessment factor:

1

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

3.44 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.23 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

79.2 mg/L

Assessment factor:

1

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

153 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

15.3 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

28.22 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Upon contact with water lithium hydroxide hydrolyses to produce hydroxide and lithium ions. PNECs were derived from most sensitive species of each compartment/ endpoint and values for LiOH and lithium ion were shown.

Derivation of PNECs for LiOH

 

For LiOH the PNECs derived for lithium were corrected as follows:

 

PNEC (LiOH) = PNEC (Li) x (M(LiOH) / (M(Li))

 

The molecular weight for LiOH is 23.95 g/mol.

The atomic weight for Li is ca. 6.94 g/mol, and should be multiplied where > 1 Li molecule is present.

 

PNEC (LiOH) = PNEC (Li) x (23.95 / [6.94])

The updated PNECs for sediment and soil have not yet been integrated in the risk assessment calculation. An update of the CSR is planned for November 2020.

Conclusion on classification

Classification for lithium hydroxide anhydrous

Based on the available data lithium hydroxide has not to be classified according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP)* and according to Directive 67/548/EC (DSD) criteria as the chronic toxicity NOECs are > 1 mg/L and lithium hydroxide has no potential to bioaccumulate.

Classification for lithium hydroxide monohydrate

Based on the available data lithium hydroxide monohydrate has not to be classified according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP)* and according to Directive 67/548/EC (DSD) criteria as the chronic toxicity NOECs are > 1 mg/L and lithium hydroxide monohydrate has no potential to bioaccumulate.

* In accordance with column 2 of REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Annex VII, section 9.2.1.1, studies on biodegradation in water, water and sediment, and soil do not need to be conducted as the test substances lithium hydroxide anhydrous and its monohydrate are inorganic substances.

Overview of results used for Classification and Labelling:

Lithium hydroxide anhydrous:

Fish, short-term, freshwater: LC50 = 62.6 mg/L

Fish, long-term, freshwater: NOEC = 9.90 mg/L

Daphnia magna, short-term, freshwater: EC50 = 19.1 mg/L without pH-adjustment; 34.3 mg/L with pH-adjustment

Daphnia magna, long-term, freshwater: NOEC = 2.3 mg/L

Algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), long-term, freshwater: ErC50 = 87.57 mg/L and NOEC 5.71 mg/L

Lithium hydroxide monohydrate:

Fish, short-term, freshwater: LC50 = 109 mg/L

Fish, long-term, freshwater: NOEC = 17.35 mg/L

Daphnia magna, short-term, freshwater: EC50 = 33.5 mg/L without pH-adjustment; 60.1 mg/L with pH-adjustment

Daphnia magna, long-term, freshwater: NOEC = 4 mg/L

Algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), long-term, freshwater: ErC50 = 153.44 mg/L and NOEC 10 mg/L