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EC number: 240-383-3 | CAS number: 16291-96-6 An amorphous form of carbon produced by partially burning or oxidizing wood or other organic matter.
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
The acute inhalative toxicity of charcoal (Probe 2: C-Fix=80.5%) was investigated in a study in rats that was performed according to OECD guideline no. 403, EU method B.2 and the US EPA Health Effects Test guideline OPPTS 870.1300, Acute Inhalation Toxicity, as per August 1998.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
Acute toxicity: Inhalative route
In this study, a group of 10 Wistar Crl:(WI) BR rats (5 males and 5 females) was exposed to an aerosol atmosphere. The animals were exposed for 4 h using a nose-only exposure system, followed by a 14-d observation period.
The mean achieved concentration of charcoal in the exposure was 4.968 mg/L (standard deviation: 3.624 mg/L; nominal concentration: 18.2 mg/L).
The characteristics of the test atmosphere were as follows: Mean mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) (mm): 3.52 µm; geometric standard deviation: 2.46; inhalable fraction (< 4 µm): 52.3%
No death occurred in the test animals.
In males, test item related clinical signs were found between the third hour of inhalation exposure and first hour of observation period. All animals were symptom–free on first day of observation period.
In females animals, test item related clinical signs were found between the third hour of inhalation exposure and first hour of observation period. All female animals were symptom–free from first day of observation period.
The clinical signs represented the decreased activity and general reaction and dyspnoea.
In both genders, body weight loss was observable on the day of inhalation exposure. In both sexes, a compensation of body weight loss was found from third day of observation period.
On basis of body weight and body weight gain data, there was no notable test item effect observable in the exposed animals.
In conclusion, a single 4-h nose-only exposure to charcoal sample Probe 2 to CRL: (WI) BR rats followed by a 14-day observation period at a dose level 5 mg/L was not associated with mortality or any test item-related toxicological findings on the male and female animals.
Accordingly, the acute inhalation median lethal concentration (4-h LC50) of charcoal rats was therefore considered to be greater than 4.97 mg/L.
Acute toxicity: Oral route
According to REACh Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex IX, 7.1.5. column 2, studying the acute toxicity after oral administration is not required as acute toxicity upon inhalation has been investigated.
Acute toxicity: Dermal route
Testing is not required as inhalative data are available (see above). In addition, due to the physicochemical properties (log POW<3) and its amorphous structure, dermal absorption of charcoal has not to be expected. Moreover, according to GC-MS results from charcoal as such and an organic extract of charcoal only traces of some volatile organic compounds were detectable at room temperature (see IUCLID section 8 for details).
Justification for classification or non-classification
Based on the results of the acute inhalative toxicity study in rats, charcoal is not classified for acute inhalation toxicity as specified in the current EU-CLP regulation.
A classification of charcoal for acute oral and acute dermal toxicity is not possible, as no studies with charcoal were conducted for these endpoints. However, it is reasonable to assume that charcoal is virtually non-toxic when applied to the skin or ingested orally, since it is well known that charcoal is not systemically absorbed through the skin or after oral ingestion and also does not induce any overt local effects in the skin and mucous membranes.
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