Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsatd., reaction products with triethanolamine, di-Me sulfate-quaternized

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.022 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

0.019 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.002 mg/L

Assessment factor:

100

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC marine water (intermittent releases):

0.002 mg/L

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

2.96 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

22.48 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

2.248 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:

4.483 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Ecotoxicity studies with partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat and fully saturated TEA-Esterquat did not show acute toxicity values < 1 mg/L.

 

Short-term toxicity to aquatic organisms

Fish: LC50(96 h) = 1.91 mg/L

Crustacea: EC50(24 h) = 2.23 mg/L 

Algae or aquatic plants: ErC50= 2.14 mg/L

 

Long-term toxicity to aquatic organisms

Fish: NOEC = 0.224 mg/L (OECD TG 210)

Daphnia: 21 d EC10 = 0.346 mg/L (OECD TG 211)

Algae: ErC10 (72 h) = 1.48 mg/L resulting from a Weight of Evidence approach from 5 valid and comparable studies (OECD 201)

 

 

PNEC aqua (freshwater), PNEC aqua (marine), PNEC aqua (intermittent release)

Three acute studies with freshwater fish, invertebrates and algae are available, as well as long-term studies with freshwater fish, invertebrates and algae, but no studies with marine organisms. Therefore, in accordance with the Guidance on Information requirements and chemical safety assessment, R.10, an assessment factor of 10 was applied and the PNEC aqua (freshwater) was derived from the NOEC value of 0.224 mg/L, determined in the FELS test with Danio rerio. An assessment factor of 100 was applied to derive the PNEC aqua (marine).

An assessment factor of 100 was applied to the lowest L(E)C50, which was the 96 h LC50 = 1.91 mg/L, determined with Oncorhynchus mykiss. Thus, the PNECaqua(Intermittent release) was calculated to be 0.0191 mg/L.

 

PNEC STP

The PNEC STP was based on the 30 min EC10 of 29.6 mg/L obtained in a respiration inhibition test according toDIN 38412 part 27. Based on the available data, an assessment factor of 10 was applied in accordance with the Guidance in Information requirements and chemical safety assessment, R.10, to calculate the PNEC STP = 2.96 mg/L.

 

PNEC air

The substance has no Ozone depletion potential (doesn't contain Carbon-Halogen bonds) and has a low vapour pressure of 4.4E-4 Pa at 20°C (due to the ionic structure and high molecular weight). Based on this no risk for air breathing animals and humans is expected.

 

PNECoral (secondary poisoning)

Bioaccumulation potential has been estimated to be low. There is no concern for secondary poisoning and therefore no PNECoral (secondary poisoning) was derived.

 

PNEC sediment(freshwater), PNEC sediment (marine waters), PNEC soil

No toxicity tests with sediment dwelling or terrestrial organisms are available. Thus, in accordance with the Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.10: Characterisation of dose [concentration]-response for environment, 2008, the PNEC for freshwater and marine water sediment as well as the PNEC soil have been calculated with the equilibrium partitioning method using EUSES 2.2.

 

The following data have been taken into account for calculation: 

Molecular weight	720 g/mol (weighted mean)
Melting point	85°C
Vapour pressure	4.4E-4 Pa at 20°C
Water solubility	3.39 mg/L (pH 7.1 at 20 °C)
Log Kow	4.725 at 25 °C
Koc	10000 L/kg

 

The calculation resulted in a PNEC sediment(freshwater) of 22.48 mg/kg sediment dw, a PNEC sediment (marine waters) of 2.248 mg/kg sediment dw and a PNEC soil of 4.483 mg/kg soil dw.

 

Biodegradation:

Biodegradation in water: Readily biodegradable

Partially unsaturated TEA-Esterquat is proved in a number of tests conducted under different conditions (aerobic, anaerobic). Toxicity towards aquatic micro-organisms is expected to be of no concern for sewage treatment plants.

 

Bioaccumulation:

BCF = 13 L/kg (measured data similar substance); log Kow= 4.725 (calculated, weighted mean of mono-, di- and tri-esterquats, unique chain-length C18) Bioaccumulation in organisms is considered to be low. Therefore, secondary poisoning through the food chain is of no concern for target substance C18 and C18 unsatd. TEA-Esterquat. The substance is regarded as readily biodegradable and hydrolysable, which will result in lower environmental concentrations for the substance. The substance is metabolised in higher organisms by de-esterification and further degraded via the fatty-acid metabolic pathway.

 

The exposure and uptake of sediment and soil organisms is unlikely as the substance is readily biodegradable. The low bioavailability of the substance (due to rapid and strong sorption to negatively charged surfaces in soil) in combination with the rapid (bio)degradation of the bioavailable fraction (mainly due to the hydrolysis of the ester bond), make high bioconcentration factors for the substance even more improbable.

 

Ozone layer:

Due to a low vapour pressure of the ionic substance, the predicted environmental fate is not the atmosphere. The registration substance is not expected to reach the atmospheric stratosphere and therefore is not expected to present a danger to the structure and/or the functioning of the stratospheric ozone layer.

Conclusion on classification

In conclusion, ecotoxicity studies did not show acute toxicity values < 1 mg/L. No classification for acute toxicity to the aquatic environment is required.

Based on the available long-term studies resulting in NOECs between 0.1 and 1 mg/L, the substance is classified as Aquatic Chronic 3 in accordance with GHS Regulation EC No 1272/2008.

A classification as “hazardous to the ozone layer” is not required.