Icosanoic acid

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.001 mg/L

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

0.012 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

0.585 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

823.767 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

823.767 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

394.555 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

Classification is not triggered based on available data, according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

Conclusion on classification

Classification of Eicosanoic acid for effects in the environment

In determining the classification appropriate to Eicosanoic acid, it is necessary to consider all available evidence concerning its persistence, potential to accumulate and predicted or observed environmental fate and behaviour that may present a long-term and/or delayed danger to the structure and/or functioning of aquatic ecosystems. These points are considered below. 

 

Persistence

Reliable studies are available to demonstrate that Eicosanoic acid is non persistent in the aquatic environment. Moreover, its non persistent characteristics is also observe in the sediment and soil compartment and hence it has been concluded that Eicosanoic acid is non persistent in nature.  

 

Thus, Eicosanoic acid is classified as a non persistent (P) chemical. 

 

Potential to accumulate

The estimated log Kow values for Eicosanoic acid is less than 4 (Log Kow = 1.574). The potential for Eicosanoic acid to bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms that inhabit aquatic or terrestrial matrices is negligible as the BCF factor for the substance is less than 1000.  

 

The estimated BCF of Eicosanoic acid is highest 3.2 dimensionless and below the threshold of 2000. 

 

Thus, Eicosanoic acid does not satisfy the criterion for classification as bioaccumulative (B).

 

The toxicity values of fish, invertebrates and algae are LC50 = 4.67 mg/L, EC50 = 1.22 mg/L and EC50 = 3.806 mg/L, respectively. These values suggest classification for aquatic toxicity will be applicable for all of the tropic levels. Based on this value, the target substance should be classified in category 2. But as the substance is rapidly degradable and the estimated BCF is not ≥ 500 and also the log Kow value is not ≥ 4 and so based on these justifications it can be concluded that the target substance is non toxic to aquatic environment.

 

So, Eicosanoic acid does not satisfy the environmental effects criterion for classification as toxic (T).

 

Thus it can be inferred that Eicosanoic acid is not a PBT (including vPvB) substance.