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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Workers - Hazard via inhalation route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Workers - Hazard via dermal route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Workers - Hazard for the eyes

Local effects

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Additional information - workers

The available data suggest no acute or chronic, oral or dermal effects of the ferrous slags. From mutagenicity studies and despite the widespread use of the ferrous slags, no CMR potential or other health effect of these slags is identified.

The only critical exposure pathway to humans is the inhalation of the dust of fine-grained ferrous slag. Therefore exposure by inhalation is considered to be relevant as a threshold mode of action especially for workers. GGBS is considered to cover the worst-case of ferrous slag, because it is intentionally ground for the cement industry and thus contains by far the highest amount of fine and inhalable particles compared to other types of ferrous slag.

Inhalation tests have demonstrated the absence of acute toxicity on vertebrates.

For GGBS a subacute inhalation study (according OECD Guideline 412) was done. Based on the results of this study, the No Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) was determined to be 24 mg/m³ (target concentration) or 24.9 mg/m³ (achieved concentration).

However, the dust limit values - eight hours for inhalable dust are 10 mg/m³ in the European countries which have one and for respirable dust between 3 and 6 mg/m³. Those general dust limits covers all potential effects of inert dusts. The dust limit values of 10 mg/m³ (inhalable dust) and 3 mg/m³ (respirable dust) will therefore be used as DNEL’s for chronic exposure for the whole group.

General Population - Hazard via inhalation route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

General Population - Hazard via dermal route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

Local effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

General Population - Hazard via oral route

Systemic effects

Long term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
Acute/short term exposure
Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified
DNEL related information

General Population - Hazard for the eyes

Local effects

Hazard assessment conclusion:
no hazard identified

Additional information - General Population

Exposure of the general population to slags is only incidental.

There are several methods applied to decrease the potential exposure of the general population to ferrous slags e.g.

covering e.g. in road construction by the surface layer of the road

inclusion in matrix e.g. use of slags in asphalt or concrete

reduction of dusting behaviour by e.g. wetting or pelettization