Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid and heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Description of key information

No effects up to the limit of water solubility (OECD 202); read-across

Additional information

Since no studies investigating the short-term toxicity of Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) to aquatic invertebrates are available, in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5 a read-across to the structurally related source substances Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol (CAS 67762-53-2), Decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid (CAS 71010-76-9) and Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester (CAS 7299-99-2) was conducted.

The source substances are representative to evaluate the short-term toxicity of Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) to aquatic invertebrates. The target substance is characterized as a tetraester of pentaerythritol and different fatty acids (C7, C9 and 2-ethylhexanoic acid). Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol is characterized as a tetraester of C5/C9 with pentaerythritol. Decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid is a tetraester of C5/C7/C9/C10 with pentaerythritol whereas Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester covers the content of 2-ethylhexanoic acid present in the target substance (2-ethylhexanoic acid tetraester with pentaerythritol). All substances share similar physico-chemical properties, only differ in the distribution of chain lengths of the fatty acid and do not share any functional group which might increase aquatic toxicity the read-across is suitable to investigate the aquatic toxicity using read-across. This read-across is justified in detail in the overall summary (IUCLID Section 6.1) and within the analogue justification in IUCLID Section 13. In this case of read-across, the best suited (highest degree of structural similarity, nearest physico-chemical properties) read-across substances were used for the assessment.

The study with the source substance Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol (CAS 67762-53-2) was performed according to OECD 202 (GLP) using Daphnia magna as test organism under static conditions (Migchielsen, 2012). The WAFs were prepared by adding the appropriate amount of test substance with subsequent stirring and sampling of the aqueous portions. A nominal loading rate of 100 mg/L, corresponding to a measured concentration of 1.3 mg/L, was tested. No immobilisation was observed in the treatment throughout the test period of 48 h. Hence, the 48 h-EL50 (48 h) is determined to be > 100 mg/L based on the nominal loading rate and > 1.3 mg/L (EC50) based on the measured concentration.

The second study with the source substance decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid (CAS 71010-76-9) investigated the toxicity to aquatic invertebrates according to OECD 202 using Daphnia magna as test organism under static conditions (Blattenberger, 2006). The WAFs were prepared by adding the appropriate amount of test substance with subsequent stirring and sampling of the aqueous portions through the outlet at the bottom of the vessels. Loading rate WAFs of 62, 132, 251, 503 and 1072 mg/L were tested. No immobilisation was observed in any treatment and the control throughout the test period of 48 h. Hence, the EL50 (48 h) is determined to be > 1072 mg/L based on the nominal test concentration.

The third study with the source substance Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester (CAS 7299-99-2) investigated the short-term toxicity to Daphnia magna according to “Circular on Test Methods of New Chemical Substances (Japan), Daphnia, acute immobilisation test” (MOE, 2005). D. magna was exposed to a limit concentration of 0.016 mg/L under semi-static conditions. LC-MS analysis confirmed the stability of test solutions. A time weighted average (TWA) concentration of 0.0117 mg/L was measured throughout the exposure period. No immobilization was recorded after 48 h resulting in an EC50 (48 h) of > 0.017 mg/L (measured TWA).

Based on the available results from three structurally related source substances (in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5) which are characterized by a similar ecotoxicological profile and comparable structure, it can be concluded that Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) will not exhibit short-term effects to aquatic invertebrates up to the limit of water solubility.