Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Environmental fate & pathways

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Based on calculated BCF and BAF values as well as reliable literature data on metabolism of esters, bioaccumulation is not expected. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

No experimental data is available on the bioaccumulation potential of 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates (CAS 85711-80-4). Therefore, all available related data is combined in a Weight of Evidence (WoE), which is in accordance to the REACh Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Annex XI General rules for adaptation of the standard testing regime set out in Annexes VII to X, 1.2, to cover the data requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2007 Annex IX and X (ECHA, 2012).

Bioaccumulation refers to uptake of a substance from all environmental sources including water, food and sediment. However, the accumulation of a substance in an organism is determined, not only by uptake, but also by distribution, metabolism and excretion. Accumulation takes place if the uptake rate is faster than the subsequent metabolism and/or excretion. 

In the case of 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates, uptake of dissolved substance via water is expected to be low. Since 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates is poorly water soluble (<= 8.7 µg/L), has a high adsorption potential based on calculated adsorption coefficients (log Koc 3.69 - 4.58, MCI method, KOCWIN v2.00) and is readily biodegradable, the substance will be eliminated in sewage treatment plants to a high extent. Release to surface waters and sediment is thus expected to be minimal. In the unlikely event of release into the aquatic environment, the aqueous concentration will be rapidly decreased by biodegradation and adsorption to suspended particles and sediment. Due to low exposure concentrations through water, no significant uptake from the water phase is expected.

Food ingestion is likely to be the main uptake route for this substance in fish, since the substance will be adsorbed to solid particles potentially ingested by fish based on the high potential for adsorption (log Koc > 3). Also for sediment-dwelling organisms the main uptake route will be ingestion of contaminated sediment. In the case of ingestion, 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates is predicted to undergo metabolism. Esters are known to be enzymatically hydrolyzed to carboxylic acids and alcohols by esterases (Fukami and Yokoi, 2012). Carboxylesterase activity has been noted in a wide variety of tissues in invertebrates as well as in fish (Leinweber, 1987; Soldano et al, 1992; Barron et al., 1999, Wheelock et al., 2008). Therefore, it is expected that under physiological conditions, 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates will hydrolyse to neopentyl glycol and the respective fatty acid. Neopentyl glycol, undergoes conjugation with glucuronic acid and is excreted in the urine (Gessner, 1960). The free fatty acids are either metabolised via the β-oxidation pathway in order to generate energy for the cell or reconstituted into glyceride esters and stored in the fat depots in the body (Berg, 2002). Metabolic pathways in fish are generally similar to those in mammals. Lipids and their constituents, fatty acids, are in particularly a major organic constituent of fish and play a crucial role as source of metabolic energy in fish, for growth, reproduction and mobility, including migration (Tocher, 2003).

QSAR calculations support the assumption of rapid metabolism within fish. Using the Arnot-Gobas method, including biotransformation, BCF and BAF values of 3.7-33.8 /4.7-33.95 were obtained (BCFBAF v3.01) for 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates. The results can be taken as another indication of low bioaccumulation potential.

In conclusion, 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-, C5-9 carboxylates will be mainly taken up by ingestion and is digested through common metabolic pathways, providing a valuable energy source for the organism, as dietary fats. The substance is thus not expected to bioaccumulate in aquatic and sediment organisms.