Fatty acids, C16-18, esters with ethylene glycol

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Skin irritation: Not irritating (OECD 404, category approach)

Eye irritation: Not irritating (OECD 405, category approach)

 

The hazard assessment is based on the data currently available. Pursuant to ECHA decision on a compliance check CCH-D-2114551285-49-01/F new studies with the registered substance will be conducted in the future. The finalised studies will be reported in an updated dossier until 22 July 2024 and the hazard assessment will be re-evaluated accordingly.

For further details, please refer to the category concept document attached to the category object (linked under IUCLID section 0.2) showing an overview of the strategy for all substances within the glycol esters category.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Skin irritation / corrosion

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Eye irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (not irritating)

Respiratory irritation

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

The hazard assessment is based on the data currently available. Pursuant to ECHA decision on a compliance check CCH-D-2114546559-35-01/F new studies with the registered substance will be conducted in the future. The finalised studies will be reported in an updated dossier until 22 July 2024 and the hazard assessment will be re-evaluated accordingly.

For further details, please refer to the category concept document attached to the category object (linked under IUCLID section 0.2) showing an overview of the strategy for all substances within the glycol esters category.

 

Skin irritation

CAS 91031-31-1

Fatty acids, C16-18, esters with ethylene glycol was tested in a study according to OECD guideline 404 in compliance with GLP (Coguet, 1976). In the study, 6 New Zealand White male rabbits were exposed to 0.5 mL of the test substance (40%) in olive oil, applied to the shaved and abraded skin for 24 h using an occlusive dressing. The treated skin was observed and evaluated at 24 and 72 h post-application. On intact skin, 2/6 animals showed slight erythema (on abraded skin 5/6 showed slight irritating effects) after 24 h which were fully reversible within 72 h (mean erythema score over 24 and 72 h out of all 6 animals = 0.22). No edema formation or further local or systemic effects were apparent in any animal during the study period. Thus, Fatty acids, C16-18, esters with ethylene glycol is not irritating to the skin at a concentration of 40%.

CAS 627-83-8

The skin irritation properties of ethylene distearate have been investigated in several studies (CAS 627-83-8).

The skin irritation properties of ethylene distearate were tested in a study equivalent to OECD guideline 404 (Wnorowski, 1991b). In the study, 3 male and 3 female New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to 0.5 g of the unchanged test substance, applied to the shaved and abraded skin for 25 h using an occlusive dressing. The treated skin was observed and evaluated at 25 and 72 h post-application. No erythema or edema was observed in any animal during the study period on intact shaved skin. On abraded skin, slight erythema in 2 animals was observed at 25 h, being fully reversible within 72 h. No further local or systemic effects were apparent in any animal during the study period.

In an equivalently conducted study from the same laboratory (Wnorowski, 1991c), the results of the above discussed study were confirmed. No erythema and no edema formation were observed in the test animals on intact skin and erythema on abraded skin was fully reversible within 72 h. No other local or systemic effects were described.

Additionally, the skin irritating properties of ethylene distearate were tested similarly to OECD guideline 404 in New Zealand rabbits and according to Draize type procedures with no further details in rabbits (Bouffecoux, 1995; Elder, 1982). The test animals showed no reactions on skin during the study period and no other local or systemic effects were reported (Bouffecoux, 1995). In the studies with Draize type procedures, no effects on skin or slight skin reactions were described. According to the author, the test substance was therefore found to be non-irritating to slightly irritating.

In summary, ethylene distearate is not irritating to the skin.

 

CAS 68583-51-7

Several animal studies and one human patch test investigating the skin irritation properties of Decanoic acid mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol are available.

The skin irritation properties of Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol were tested in a study according to OECD guideline 404 in compliance with GLP (Guest, 1989a). In the study, 3 New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to 0.5 mL of the undiluted test substance, applied to the shaved skin for 4 h using a semiocclusive dressing. The treated skin was observed and evaluated at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h post-application. In 1/3 animals 24 h after removal of the test substance, slight erythema was observed which was fully reversible within 48 h (mean erythema score 0.3 after 24-72 h). The remaining animals revealed no erythema formation. No edema formation (mean over 24, 48 and 72 h) or further local or systemic effects were apparent in any animal during the study period.

Four further studies are available, in which the skin irritating properties of Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol were studied in rabbits (Guest, 1988a; Kästner, 1988a; Masson, 1985; Consultox Laboratories Ltd., 1972).

In each study, 3-6 rabbits were exposed to 0.5 mL of the undiluted test material, applied to the shaved or abraded skin for 4 h or 24 h using a semi-occlusive or occlusive dressing. The treated skin was observed for reactions after patch removal and evaluations were made at 1, 24 and 72 h or at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h post-application.

In the first study, slight erythema with a mean erythema score of 0.2 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 3 animals were observed with all effects being fully reversible within 48 h. No edema formation was observed during the study period in any animal (Guest, 1988a). In the second study, the observed skin reaction consisted of slight to well defined erythema with a mean erythema score of 1.25 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 4 animals. All skin redness was fully reversible within 7 days. Slight edema formation was apparent with a mean edema score of 0.55 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 4 animals being fully reversible within 7 days (Kästner, 1988). In the third study, slight erythema was observed with a mean erythema score of 0.44 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 6 animals. The erythema formation in 3/6 animals was not fully reversible within the observation period of 72 h. No edema formation was observed during the study period in any animal (Masson, 1985). In the fourth study, no skin reactions and no further local or systemic effects were observed during the study period in any animal (Consultox Laboratories Ltd., 1971).

Furthermore, one human patch test is available investigating the skin irritation properties of Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol after a single dermal application (Christophers, 1976).

The human patch test with the test substance was performed on 120 volunteers under occlusive conditions. The undiluted test material was applied to the back of the test subjects under occlusive conditions. After 24 h the test plaster was removed and skin reactions were observed 24, 48 and 72 h after application. No clinical signs and no skin reaction were observed in any volunteer during the study period.

In summary, Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol is not skin irritating to the skin.  

Conclusion of skin irritation properties

In conclusion, the skin irritation properties of several Glycol Ester category members have been investigated in vivo indicating no skin irritating properties. 

Eye irritation

CAS 627-83-8

Several studies investigating the eye irritation properties of ethylene distearate are available.

The eye irritation properties of ethylene distearate were tested in a study similarly performed to OECD guideline 405 (Wnorowski, 1991d). In a group of 6 New Zealand white rabbits, 0.1 g of the test substance was applied into the eye. Observation of the eyes was performed 24, 48 and 72 h after application. No effects on cornea and iris were noted in any animal during the study period. However, mild conjunctival redness was observed in 4/6 animals after 24 h and in 2/6 animals moderate redness was apparent. In 2 animals the mild redness was still persistent after 72 h with a mean score of 0.78 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 6 animals. Chemosis was observed in 1/6 animals after 24 h being fully reversible within 48 h. No chemosis was observed in the remaining 5 animals during the study period. No further systemic effects or abnormal behaviour were observed in any animal during the study period.

An additional study of the same laboratory with ethylene distearate similarly to OECD guideline 405 was conducted (Wnorowski, 1991e). No effects on cornea and iris were apparent in any animal during the study period and no chemosis was observed in the test animals. Mild to moderate conjunctival redness was observed in all animals being fully reversible within 72 h post-instillation with a mean score of 0.61 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 6 animals. No further local or systemic signs of toxicity were apparent in the test animals.

Further studies are available investigating the eye irritating properties of ethylene distearate in rabbits according to OECD guideline 405 or according to Draize type procedures without further details (Bouffechoux, 1995; Elder 1982). According to the author, the test substance was practically non-irritating or not an irritant in the test animals using the Draize type procedure (Elder, 1982). In the study by Bouffecoux (1995), no effects on cornea and iris were apparent and conjunctival redness was observed in all animals being fully reversible within 72 h with a mean score of 0.8 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all animals. No further local or systemic effects were reported.

In summary, ethylene distearate is not eye irritating.

CAS 68583-51-7

Several studies investigating the eye irritation properties of Decanoic acid mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol are available.

The eye irritation properties of Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol were tested in a study according to OECD guideline 405 in compliance with GLP (Kästner, 1988b).

In a group of 4 male rabbits (Kleinrusse), 0.1 mL of the undiluted test substance was applied into one eye, in a single application without washing. The eyes were observed and reactions were evaluated 1, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after application. No effects on corneal opacity and iris were noted at any time point in any animal. However, mild conjunctival redness was observed in 2/4 animals at the 1 h reading time point. In one of these animals the effect was fully reversible within 6 h; in the second animal mild redness was apparent until 6 h after application being fully reversible after 24 h as well (mean score over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 4 animals = 0). No chemosis or exudation were observed during the study period in any animal.No further local or systemic effects were observed in any animal during the study period.

Three further studies are available, in which the eye irritating properties of Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol were studied in rabbits (Consultox Laboratories Ltd., 1976; Guest, 1988b; Guest, 1989b).

In each study, 0.1 mL of the undiluted test material was instilled in one single application into the eye of 3 or 6 rabbits. Reactions in the eyes were observed at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h (Guest 1988 and 1989) and additionally at Day 4 and Day 7 after application (Consultox Laboratories Ltd., 1976).

In one study, the treated eyes of 2 groups with each 3 animals (washed eyes and unwashed eyes) were observed. In both groups, no effects on cornea, iris, chemosis and discharge were observed. In the group without washing, 1/3 animals showed slight redness and in 1/3 animals moderate erythema of the conjunctivae was observed, which were fully reversible within 48 h (Consultox Laboratories Ltd., 1976).

In both studies by Guest (1988b and 1989b), no effects on cornea, iris, chemosis and discharge and no other local or systemic effects were apparent after 24, 48 and 72 h. In addition, no effects on conjunctivae were observed in the study by Guest, 1988. In the second study (Guest, 1989b), after 1 h, mild redness was observed in 1/3 animals and moderate redness in 2/3 animals. After 24 h minimal redness was observed in 3/3 animals and was fully reversible within 48 h in all animals with a mean score of 0.3 over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 3 animals.

In summary, Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol is not eye irritating.

 

CAS 84988-75-0

One study investigating the eye irritation properties of Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., esters with propylene glycol is available.

In the study, Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol were tested in a study according to OECD guideline 405 in compliance with GLP (Steiling, 1991).

In a group of 3 male rabbits (Kleinrusse), 0.1 mL of the undiluted test substance was applied into one eye, in a single application without washing. The eyes were observed and reactions were evaluated 1, 24, 48 and 72 h after application. No effects on cornea and iris were noted at any time point in any animal. However, slight erythema was observed in 2/3 animals at the 24 h reading time point being fully reversible within 48 h (mean score over 24, 48 and 72 h out of all 3 animals = 0.22). Slight chemosis was observed in 1 animal until the 24 h reading time point. No further local or systemic effects were observed in any animal during the study period.

In summary, Fatty acids, C14-18 and C16-18-unsatd., esters with propylene glycol is not eye irritating.

 

 

Conclusion for eye irritation properties

In conclusion, the eye irritation properties of the Glycol Ester category members have been investigated several in vivo studies indicating no eye irritation properties. Therefore, none of the category members of the Glycol Ester group is eye irritating.

For a detailed reference list please refer to the CSR or IUCLID section 13.

 

Justification for classification or non-classification

According to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 "General Requirements for Generation of Information on Intrinsic Properties of substances", information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by means other than tests e.g. from information from structurally related substances (grouping or read-across), provided that conditions set out in Annex XI are met. Annex XI, "General rules for adaptation of this standard testing regime set out in Annexes VII to X” states that “substances whose physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar or follow a regular pattern as a result of structural similarity may be considered as a group, or ‘category’ of substances. This avoids the need to test every substance for every endpoint". Since the group concept is applied to the members of the Glycol Ester Category, data will be generated from representative reference substance(s) within the category to avoid unnecessary animal testing. Additionally, once the group concept is applied, substances will be classified and labeled on this basis.

Therefore, based on the group concept, all available data on Irritation / Corrosion do not meet the classification criteria according to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 or Directive 67/548/EEC, and are therefore conclusive but not sufficient for classification.