Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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.
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 209-097-6 | CAS number: 555-43-1
Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
No effects up to the limit of water solubility (WS < 1 mg/L)
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
No experimental data evaluating the acute toxicity of glycerol tristearate (CAS No. 555-43-1) to aquatic invertebrates are available. Therefore, toxicity data from a structurally related analogue substance, propane-1,2,3-triyl trisheptanoate (CAS No. 620-67-7) are used as read-across in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex XI, 1.5. Both substances are esters formed from the combination between fatty acids and glycerol. Propane-1,2,3-triyl trisheptanoate and glycerol tristearate are triglycerides (the three hydroxyl functional groups of the glycerol molecule are esterified with fatty acids), differing only in the length of the C-chain of their fatty acid components (C7 and C18 respectively). The behaviour of these substances in the water phase is expected to be very similar based on very low water solubility values (<1 mg/L) and high log Pow (>8). Nevertheless, the bioavailability of glycerol tristearate to aquatic organisms is expected to be lower than that of propane-1,2,3-triyl trisheptanoate due to its high molecular weight (> 700 g/Mol) which can hinder the crossing of biological membranes (Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment, Chapter R.11 (ECHA, 2008)). Based on this information, reading-across from propane-1,2,3-triyl trisheptanoate is justified and can be considered as a worst-case approach for glycerol tristearate.
One study evaluating the toxicity of propane-1,2,3-triyl trisheptanoate (CAS No. 620-67-7) to algae is available (Scholz, 1993). This test was conducted according to the Algal Inhibition Test described in the EU Directive 88/302, under GLP conditions. Desmodesmus subspicatus was exposed for 72 hours to the test substance at 24 ± 2°C and cell concentrations were recorded photometrically every 24 hours. After 72 hours of exposure, no adverse effects in algal growth were observed in the treatment groups compared to control values. Therefore, the EC50 (72 h) was determined to be > 1.8 mg/L (nominal concentration).
Based on the data available for the structurally related analogue substance ( in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex XI, 1.5), glycerol tristearate is not expected to show toxicity to algae up to thelimit of its water solubility (<1 mg/L).
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.
