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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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
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EC number: 200-815-3 | CAS number: 74-85-1
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
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Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
- Type of information:
- (Q)SAR
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Study period:
- Up to 2021
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- results derived from a valid (Q)SAR model and falling into its applicability domain, with adequate and reliable documentation / justification
- Justification for type of information:
- Episuite and the Biowin/BioHCWin models are well documented and commonly used QSARs for predicting the biodegradation potential of chemicals. Substances within LOA fall within the applicability domain of these models and they have been recommended by ECHA in the Information Requirement Guidelines.
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- Biowin v4.1 in EPISuite 4.1 (2013). The Biodegradation Probability Program (Biowin) estimates the probability for the rapid aerobic biodegradation of an organic chemical in the presence of mixed populations of environmental microorganisms. Estimates are based upon fragment constants that were developed using multiple linear and non-linear regression analyses.
BioHCwin v1.01 in EPISuite 4.1 (2013). The BioHCwin program was developed specifically for the biodegradation half-life prediction of petroleum hydrocarbons. Primary biodegradation half-lives for individual petroleum hydrocarbons are estimated using multiple linear regression against distinct molecular fragments, using a similar approach to several other biodegradation models such as those within the Biodegradation Probability Program (Biowin). - GLP compliance:
- no
- Specific details on test material used for the study:
- Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material (migrated information):
Not applicable - Oxygen conditions:
- aerobic
- Inoculum or test system:
- not specified
- Details on inoculum:
- Not applicable
- Based on:
- other: QSAR calculation
- Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
- other: QSAR calculation
- Details on study design:
- Not applicable
- Preliminary study:
- Not applicable
- Parameter:
- half-life in days (QSAR/QSPR)
- Remarks:
- BioHCWin
- Value:
- 2.905
- Remarks on result:
- readily biodegradable based on QSAR/QSPR prediction
- Parameter:
- probability of ready biodegradability (QSAR/QSPR)
- Remarks:
- BIOWIN 2
- Value:
- 0.931
- Remarks on result:
- readily biodegradable based on QSAR/QSPR prediction
- Parameter:
- calculated rating of total degradation time (QSAR/QSPR)
- Remarks:
- BIOWIN 3
- Value:
- 3.137
- Remarks on result:
- readily biodegradable based on QSAR/QSPR prediction
- Parameter:
- probability of ready biodegradability (QSAR/QSPR)
- Remarks:
- BIOWIN 5
- Value:
- 0.487
- Remarks on result:
- readily biodegradable based on QSAR/QSPR prediction
- Parameter:
- probability of ready biodegradability (QSAR/QSPR)
- Remarks:
- BIOWIN 6
- Value:
- 0.692
- Remarks on result:
- readily biodegradable based on QSAR/QSPR prediction
- Details on results:
- Biowin2 (Non-Linear Model Prediction): Biodegrades Fast (0.9315)
Biowin3 (Ultimate Biodegradation Timeframe): Weeks (3.1372)
Biowin5 (MITI Linear Model Prediction): Biodegrades Fast (0.4868)
Biowin6 (MITI Non-Linear Model Prediction): Biodegrades Fast (0.6918)
BioHCwin BioHC Half-Life (days): 2.9054
Biowin 2, 5 and 6 Result Classification: A probability greater than or equal to 0.5 indicates “Biodegrades Fast” and a probability less than 0.5 indicates “Does NOT Biodegrade Fast”
Biowin 3 and 4 Result Classification (primary and ultimate): 5.00 – hours, 4.00 – days, 3.00 - weeks, 2.00 - months, 1.00 - longer - Results with reference substance:
- Not applicable
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not applicable
- Conclusions:
- The results of the Biowin and BioHCwin for ethylene indicate that they are expected to biodegrade rapidly, with a half-life of 2.9054 days.
- Executive summary:
The use of a QSAR to predict the biodegradability of the substance is an appropriate technique as these substances clearly fall within the applicability domain of the model, with all substructures included in the model. The results indicate that the substance is expected to biodegrade rapidly, with a half-life of 2.9054 days.
The use of QSAR estimates to predict the biodegradability of hydrocarbons because they are included in the training sets of the BIOWIN and BioHC models. The databases were created using experimental biodegradation data for compounds found in crude oil and its products, with biodegradation references obtained for each of these compounds, mainly from the BIOLOG and DATALOG files of EFDB, TOXLINE and American Chemical Society Chemical Abstracts as well as literature searches. For the BioHC model, a single recommended biodegradation half-life was chosen for use in the regression analysis from the primary biodegradation data that were compiled for each hydrocarbon structure.
Reference
For the purpose of the PBT assessment, the screening assessment was conducted using predicted biodegradability obtained by using EPI Suite v4.1. A substance is considered to be P if they fulfil the screening criteria listed below. Based on the Biowin predictions, xylene isomers do not meet the screening criteria for P.
Screening criteria for Persistence |
Biowin 2 - does not biodegrade fast (probability <0.5) and Biowin 3 – ultimate biodegradation timeframe prediction: ≥months (value <2.2) |
Biowin 5 – does not biodegraded fast (probability <0.5) Biowin 6 – does not biodegraded fast (probability <0.5) and Biowin 3 – ultimate biodegradation timeframe prediction: ≥months (value <2.2) |
Description of key information
Biowin prediction indicates ethylene is expected to be readily biodegradable.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
As ethylene is a gas at standard temperature and pressure conducting a standard ready biodegradability test is technically difficult and based on exposure estimates the test may not be relevant. Therefore, the use of a QSAR to predict the biodegradability of ethylene is an appropriate technique to use as part of a weight of evidence approach. The use of Biowin (Howard et al. 1992) is appropriate for ethylene as this compound falls within the applicability domain of the model. The Biowin prediction indicates that ethylene is expected to be readily biodegradable.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.
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