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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Toxicity to terrestrial organisms is considered not to be relevant for assessment since tantalum is not exposed to this compartment. It can be proven from toxicokinetic data that no systemic absorption occurs via relevant routes of exposure and there is no or no significant exposure of soil organisms. The substance is considered inert and highly insoluble which also restricts bioavailability. In addition, no adverse effects have been reported in any of the human health related endpoints or ecotoxicological endpoints, and therefore conducting acute and/or long-term toxicity testing in earthworms is not considered justified. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

According to column 2 of Annex X, section 9.4 of the REACH regulation, studies on terrestrial organisms do not need to be conducted if direct and indirect exposure of the soil compartment is unlikely. Tantalum metal is not supposed to be directly applied to soil. For tantalum, an entry into the environment is very unlikely to occur. Furthermore, no negative environmental effects have been reported.

An indirect exposure to soil via sewage sludge transfer is also unlikely since there is no entry into the aquatic environment and tantalum metal is not water soluble. For a substance being considered as "insoluble", it can be assumed that it will be adsorbed and removed by the STP process and as a consequence a transfer to the soil compartment is not expected. Therefore, no tests on terrestrial organisms are provided.

Moreover, long-term toxicity testing shall be proposed by the registrant only if the results of the chemical safety assessment according to Annex I indicate the need to investigate further the effects of the substance and/or degradation products on terrestrial organisms. This is not the case. As the test material is not toxic or harmful, there is no need for long-term testing. Elemental tantalum is considered to be physiologically inert and harmless.