Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Ecotoxicological information

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

Cubic boron nitride is an inorganic solid with a highchemical inertness. It does not noticeably react with oxygen, is completely inert against all known acids and is insoluble in water (see section 4.8 of the IUCLID dossier) and organic solvents. Due to its inherent physical-chemical properties cBN is assumed to show environmental behaviour similar to sand or gravel and not to be bioavailable. Furthermore, cBN is not degradable or biodegradable in water. Cubic Boron Nitride does not cross biological membranes. This is supported by the negative results of the studies on acute toxicity to fish (see section 6.1.1 of the IUCLID dossier) and on acute toxicity to daphnia (sees section 6.1.3 of the IUCLID dossier). In both studies the NOEL for cBN was determined to be > 100 mg/L, confirming that cBN does not pose toxicological risks for aquatic organisms. The negative results of an in vitro Cytotoxicity Assay (see section 7.12 of the IUCLID dossier) and the absence of cytotoxic effects in a pre-incubation test (Ames Test) with several Salmonella typhimurium strains (see section 7.6.1 of the IUCLID dossier) performed with an extract of cBN powder (200 g/L) underline the conclusion that cBN is not bioavailable due to its insolubility in water.

Production, handling and use of cBN only take place at a small number of industrial sites without releases of cBN to the environment or to waste water streams under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. The use pattern of cBN does not indicate significant releases to the environment from products. Therefore, significant exposure of the aquatic compartment is unlikely. Even if accidental exposure of the aquatic compartment occurs, cBN is not bioavailable due to its inherent properties, excluding a toxicological risk for aquatic animals. Due to cBN being insoluble in water, production, handling and use of cBN do not pose a toxicological risk for the aquatic compartment. Furthermore, environmental exposure by cBN in a concentration sufficient to cause adverse effects is impossible under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.