Reaction mass of (2-methoxymethylethoxy)propanol and [2-(2-methoxymethylethoxy)methylethoxy]propanol and sodium methanolate

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Toxicity to fish

The glycol ethers heavies reaction mass has not been tested for acute aquatic toxicity in fish. For the two principle glycol ether components of the mixture, dipropylene glycol and tripropylene glycol methyl ethers (DPM and TPM), there is adequate short-term toxicity information in fish. For DPM, the 96 -h LC50 value in the freshwater guppy was > 1000 mg/L. At this exposure concentration, there was no mortality or sign of systemic toxicity. For TPM, the LC50 value in the freshwater minnow, Pimephales promelas, was 11,600 mg/L indicating a low level of concern for acute aquatic toxicity in this fish species.

Rapid and complete hydrolysis of sodium methanolate in the aquatic environment will yield methanol and sodium hydroxide. It has been proposed that the aquatic toxicity of the methanolate will be dictated by the aquatic toxicity of the sodium hydroxide (OECD, 2006). This proposal is supported by representative 48 -h aquatic toxicity data for the methanolate and sodium hydroxide in the freshwater fish species, Leuciscus idus melanolus. For the methanolate, the 48 -h LC50 value reported was 348 mg/L. For sodium hydroxide, a similar 48 -h LC50 value of 189 mg/L was reported.

Toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

The glycol ethers heavies mixture was tested in Daphnia magna following the OECD Guideline 202 for acute exposures. A limit dose of 100 mg/L failed to result in a reduction in mobility. Thus, the test material was judged to be of low acute aquatic toxicity in this test.

Toxicity to aquatic algae

The glycol ethers heavies mixture was tested in the algal species, Desmodesmus subspicatus, following OECD Guideline 201 for acute exposures. A limit dose of 100 mg/L was practically non-toxic to this species with 100 mg/L reported as the NOEC value, based on both growth rate and biomass determinations.