Registration Dossier

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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no data available: testing technically not feasible

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

The registered substance, silane (CAS 7803-62-5; EC No. 232-263-4), is a pyrophoric gas with a low molecular weight (32.12 g/mol), which is unstable in contact with water and moisture.

 

No data are available for hydrolysis rates, water solubility or partition coefficient.

 

It is not possible to conduct physicochemical or ecotoxicity studies with silane due to testing being technically not feasible for a pyrophoric gas. Consequently, it is not possible to calculate PNECs for the aquatic or terrestrial compartments because no data are available for toxicity to aquatic or terrestrial organisms.

Quantitative risk assessment for the environment is not possible and no predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) have been derived (see Sections 9 and 10 of the CSR). Qualitative risk characterisation for the environment has been conducted: the physicochemical hazards associated with the substance mean that all aspects of silane production and handling are subject to highly controlled conditions. Processes using silane are by necessity dry processes using high levels of containment. No measured data are available for releases of silane to air and wastewater from the production site due to the highly controlled use pattern and the high reactivity of the substance with water and oxygen in air.

Subsequently, releases to the environment are minimised, and there are no direct releases of silane to water or soil. Deposition of air-borne substance may in theory occur but, due to the extremely volatile and reactive nature of the substance, this is expected to be minimal.

Additionally, the substance is reactive in contact with air and water, forming hydrogen and silicic acid or hydrated silicon dioxide. These are naturally occurring substances for which no concern for the environment is expected.

It can therefore be concluded that silane presents a low risk to the environment.

Conclusion on classification

It is proposed that silane should not be classified in the EU for acute or chronic toxicity on the grounds that there are no suitable data available. Testing is technically not feasible because the substance is a pyrophoric gas. The concentration of silane in water is not expected to be significant due to the high volatility and reactivity of the substance and its handling under highly controlled conditions.

According to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP):

Aquatic Acute: Not classified

Aquatic Chronic: Not Classified