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EC number: 231-308-5 | CAS number: 7491-09-0
- 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
Biodegradation in water: screening tests
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
The key study for this endpoint clearly demonstrates the ready biodegradability of Docusate Sodium, according to the criteria for surfactants, as defined under 648/2004/EEC. The study was conducted according to ISO 14593 (equivalent to OECD 310). Docusate Sodium passed the test specific 60% criterion for ready biodegradation, as set by the above guidelines. Totally average 91% had been degraded after 28 days of incubation. Although the 10 day window criterion is not relevant for surfactants according to 648/2004/EEC, the 10 day window was met in this study.
These results are used as a read-across to the substance registered, which is the corresponding potassium salt of the substance.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Biodegradation in water:
- readily biodegradable
Additional information
The substance registered is an anionic surfactant and has the following physical-chemical characteristics, relevant for the selection of appropriate OECD test procedures to assess ready biodegradability.
Water solubility: 8.2 g/L.
Vapour Pressure: 1.63 10 -12Pa.
KOC: 952.3 L/kg.
Based on these values, Docusate Sodium can be considered water soluble, non-volatile and not strongly adsorptive. Four reliable studies are available for the assessment of ready biodegradability, based on testing requirements for anionic surfactants, according to Annex III of 648/2004/EEC .
The study of Cognis, Borowivcz 1998 (GLP) is considered the key study, since it is using analytical grade Docusate Sodium (98% pure). Furthermore, it applied test guideline ISO 14593, i.e. the reference method of 648/2004/EEC. ISO 14593 is equivalent to OECD 310, the most appropriate test design for anionic surfactants. The results of this study indicate that more than 90% of the test substance was degraded within 28 days, respectively. The results demonstrate that Docusate Sodium is readily biodegradable.
Three of the studies are considered supportive.
The study of Dow, Häner 2008 was conducted with analytical grade Docusate Sodium (98.5% pure, i.e., within its specification). Furthermore, it used a suitable method according to Directive 67/548/EEC Annex V, i.e., C.4 -D, equivalent to OECD 301 F. As a result 76% (ThOD) or 100% (DOC) were
degraded within 28 days, respectively. This finding supports the result of the key study, i.e., that Docusate Sodium is readily biodegradable, according to the criteria set by the above guideline.
Two other studies were conducted with formulations of Docusate Sodium containing 85 and 76.4% of it (Cognis, Richterich 2001a and Elementis, Brunswick-Titze 2003). Between 90 and 100% of the test item was degraded within 28 days, respectively.
In conclusion it can be stated that Docusate Sodium is readily biodegradable.
Two studies of the registered substance are available, but documentation is insufficient for a key study. However they support the conclusion that biodegradability results can be read across from the sodium salt.
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.
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