Phosphinic acid

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

Justification of the read across:
In the current assessment, data from sodium phosphinate were used to evaluate the phosphinic acid properties. Phosphinic acid is commercially prepared as the result of pH adjustement of the sodium phosphinate salt. The main assumption is that sodium is not significant in respect of all the properties under consideration which are expected to be related to the phosphinate anion. In dilute aqueous conditions of environmental pH (5-9) the salt will behave no differently to the parent acid, at identical concentration of the particular speciated form present and will be fully dissociated.
In human health hazard assessment, irritant and corrosive properties are studied on the phosphinic acid itself due to the low pH of the acid form, as a read-across approach is not relevant. However as mutagenicity tests and long term toxicity tests are performed in dilute aqueous conditions, no pH effect is expected and only intrinsic properties of the active compound is studied. Therefore the read across approach is applied in the present dossier.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Species:

rat

Strain:

not specified

Sex:

male/female

Sex:

male

Dose descriptor:

LD0

Effect level:

> 2 000 mg/kg bw

Remarks on result:

other: limit test: no mortality

Sex:

female

Dose descriptor:

approximate LD50

Effect level:

<= 5 000 mg/kg bw

Remarks on result:

other: limit test: mortality 6/10

Sex:

male

Dose descriptor:

approximate LD50

Effect level:

> 5 000 mg/kg bw

Remarks on result:

other: limit test: mortality 3/10

Mortality:

- At 2000 mg/kg , no deaths occurred in male rats.
- At 5000 mg/kg, 3 out of 10 males and 6 out 10 females died on day 2.
- In the negative control groups, no deaths occurred.

Clinical signs:

other: - In males exposed to 2000 mg/kg, mild depression and piloerection were observed from day 1 (1 hour after dosing) to day 2. - In males and females exposed to 5000 mg/kg, mild depression and piloerection were observed from day 1 (immediately after dosing)

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

discriminating dose

Value:

2 000 mg/kg bw

Quality of whole database:

The potential toxicity of sodium phosphinate following a single oral administration in rats was investigated according to OECD guideline 401 and methods similar to OPPTS 870.1100. As phosphinic acid is generated from sodium phosphinate, toxicity for the two substance are considered as similar.
Phosphinic acid is of low toxicity by oral administration.

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: dermal

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Justification for classification or non-classification

According to the criteria laid down in EU regulation (EC) n° 1272/2008/EC (CLP) and EU directive 67/548/EEC, phosphinic acid is classified as corrosive for the skin and eyes. Considering these properties, no data was generated for acute toxicity of the substance.

Moreover, read across data on sodium phosphinate tested in oral route showed no adverse effect at 2000 mg/kg bw.