Dichloroisobutylaluminium

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Genetic toxicity in vitro

Description of key information

Testing is not required as the substance is corrosive, pyrophoric and reacts explosively with water

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Conclusions:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. Thus, exposure of bacteria in an in vitro mutagenicity test to aluminum alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no mutagenicity study is required for this substance.

Executive summary:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. Thus, exposure of bacteria in an in vitro mutagenicity test to aluminum alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no mutagenicity study is required for this substance.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

in vitro cytogenicity / chromosome aberration study in mammalian cells

Data waiving:

study technically not feasible

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Reference 3

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in mammalian cells

Data waiving:

study technically not feasible

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature.

Most of the chemistry of organoaluminum compounds can be explained in terms of the Lewis acidity of organoaluminum monomers, directly related to the tendency of the aluminum atom to build up an octet of electrons. Reactions of these substances are explosive. The alkyl aluminums are highly reactive towards oxidizing agents including molecular oxygen, thus, the fast reactions in air.

 

Reactions with Oxygen (air) - this reaction is vigorous and will generally cause the material to ignite resulting in a fire difficult to extinguish.

 

Reactions with Water - this reaction is even more violent than those with oxygen. The reaction causes flammable gases that are easily ignited by the fire already created by the organoaluminum compound with water.

 

Thus, exposure of bacteria in an in vitro mutagenicity test to aluminum alkyls would not generate meaningful data, and no mutagenicity study is required for this substance.

Short description of key information:

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. According to the Annex VII Standard Information Requirements for REACH, an in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria is required.  A specific rule for adaptation for not conducting this test is not stated.  However, there are mitigating circumstances as to why this test cannot be conducted.  

Aluminum alkyls are highly reactive substances both towards oxygen (air) and water.  They are well known to cause burns to skin and eyes, and are flammable in air and water.  This fact is reflected in their EU Classification and Labelling as they are classified/labelled with symbols (F-C) and with risk-phrases ( R14-17-34 (minimum)). Thus, this test is technically not feasible to conduct and is scientifically unjustified.

Justification for classification or non-classification

Corrosive. Flammable in air at room temperature. According to the Annex VII Standard Information Requirements for REACH, an in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria is required. A specific rule for adaptation for not conducting this test is not stated. However, there are mitigating circumstances as to why this test cannot be conducted. Aluminum alkyls are highly reactive substances both towards oxygen (air) and water. They are well known to cause burns to skin and eyes, and are flammable in air and water. This fact is reflected in their EU Classification and Labelling as they are classified/labelled with symbols (F-C) and with risk-phrases ( R14-17-34 (minimum)).Thus, this test is technically not feasible to conduct and is scientifically unjustified.