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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Meylan et al. (1999) methodology updated with the Arnot and Gobas’ database (2008) uses different equations depending on the partition coefficient of the chemical. This QSAR is considered relevant for the estimation of the BCF of amides. The QSAR estimates that Erucamide is not a “B” substance. A worst case BCF based on no biotransformation estimates a BCF of 1893 L/Kg. All other estimates ore considerably lower: 659.9 estimated by Mehlan or less than 100 for 3 other QSARs.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Based on the different QSAR predictions, Meylan et al.(1999) methodology updated with the Arnot and Gobas’ database (2008) uses different equations depending on the partition coefficient of the chemical. The QSAR is considered relevant for the estimation of the BCF of amides. The in vitro study from Du Pont de Nemour (1997) indicated that there was no metabolite biotransformation in fish hepatocytes, but no information was provided on other mechanistic processes, such as chemical uptake from the water at the cell membrane surface and chemical elimination at the membrane surface. These processes and others (e.g. faecal egestion and growth dilution) are included in the Arnot-Gobas model and this QSAR estimates that Erucamide is not a “B” substance. As water solubility is extremely low (<1 µg/L) it is also possible that bioavailablity to the hepatocytes may not have been high enough in the test for the cells to absorb the substance and to demonstrate significant metabolism.

Equations from Arnot and Gobas would conclude that high bioaccumulation potential is likely if no biotransformation is assumed. But evidence from alkenes and acid surrogates show that metabolism should not be ignored for amides. In this case it can be concluded that Erucamide is not a “B” substance according to this QSAR.

Overall, Erucamide would not be a “B” substance in this assessment however a more pecise estimate of BCF cannot be provided. Due to technical difficulties it is not currently possible to perform a BCF study.