Alcohols, C8-10, ethoxylated

Endpoint summary

Additional information

The terrestrial toxicity substances of the Alcohol Ethoxylates (AE) category is assessed in a weight of evidence approach. In this approach, all data on the physico-chemical properties, the e-fate of the substances and the available ecotoxicological studies were included.

Based on the available data, the substances of the Alcohol Ethoxylates (AE) category are not expected to be a risk to terrestrial organisms. The available tests on the terrestrial toxicity of Alcohol Ethoxylates determined no detrimental effects. Acute toxic effects were investigated in a study following OECD 207 (GLP) conducted with the Alcohol Ethoxylate Alcohols, C16-18, ethoxylated 10 EO. The study was performed with artificial soil as substrate. The test organisms were earthworms of the species Eisenia fetida. The test substance was mixed with artificial soil at test concentrations of 30, 100, 300 and 1000 ppm. The mortality and changes of body weight of the exposed earthworms were determined after an exposure period of 14 days. An increase in body weight was determined at all tested concentrations, whereas mortalities were not observed. Acute effects were thus not determined and therefore an EC50 (14 d) > 1000 mg/kg soil dw was recorded. The chronic toxic effects were investigated in a study following OECD 208 using the AE substance Alcohols, C12-14, ethoxylated, < 2.5 EO as test substance. The study investigated the effect of the test substance on the emergence and growth of three plant species. The tested plant species were wheat, Triticum aestivum, a monocot and the dicots Brassica alba and Lepidum sativum (white mustard and garden cress). Natural soil was used as test substrate, which was mixed with a stock solution of the test substance to give a nominal exposure concentration of 100 mg/kg soil dw). The seedling emergence was followed for 19 days. At test termination, the plants were harvested and the growth was determined by measuring the weight of the above ground plant parts. No effects on seedling emergence or plant growth were observed in any of the plant species tested. A NOEC (19 d) ≥ 100 mg/kg soil was recorded. Based on the available test results acute or chronic effects of the substances of the Alcohol Ethoxylates (AE) category to terrestrial organisms are not expected.

The substances of the Alcohol Ethoxylates (AE) category are rapidly biodegraded as demonstrated by the available screening tests. A rapid mineralisation in aquatic as well as terrestrial environment can be expected and persistence of the Alcohol Ethoxylates in the environment is unlikely.
The calculated PEC/PNEC ratios for the terrestrial compartment was < 1 for all uses. In conclusion, the environmental exposure assessment for the substance indicates no risk for the terrestrial compartment (all RCR < 1; please refer to Chapter 9 and 10 of the Chemical Safety Report for detailed information). In accordance to column 2 of Annex IX, section 9.4 of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, no further tests on the effects of the substance to terrestrial organisms are needed and consequently further testing was omitted.
The assessment is based on the data currently available. New studies, based on the category review and the final decisions issued for some of the category substances, which are also relevant for this assessment are currently being conducted. These finalised studies will be incorporated into the dossiers and the terrestrial toxicity will be re-assessed in the updated dossiers by the 20^thof June 2022.