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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

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Ecotoxicological information

Short-term toxicity to fish

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Description of key information

Parent compound: With high probability acutely not harmful to fish.
Hydrolysis product lauric acid: Acutely harmful to fish after pH-adjustment.
Hydrolysis product HCl: Acutely toxic for fish (pH-dependent).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Regarding the information requirements of REACH for this tonnage band, a study with fish is not required.

Parent compound lauroyl chloride:

The toxicity of lauroyl chloride (CAS 112 -16 -3) to O. mykiss was tested according to OECD 203. The 96 -h LC50 was determined to be 191 mg/L (nominal, not neutralized; BASF 1987; report no. 12F0214/875173). Lauroyl chloride decomposes rapidly in water to form lauric acid (CAS 143 -07 -7) and hydrochloric acid. Therefore the test organisms were mainly exposed to the hydrolysis product lauric acid. The test item concentrations were not analytically verified. From the second day on, undissolved test material was visible on the water surface increasing with test concentration. This was probably due to the formation of lauric acid which has a low water solubility. The lethal concentration lies therefore above the water solubility limit of lauric acid.

An experimental result is available for the hydrolysis product lauric acid (CAS 143 -07 -7). The study was performed with Oryzias latipes as test species according to OECD 203. Detailed documentation is available only in Japanese, but the information are from a reliable source (NITE 2011/2012; study performed in 2001). The 96 -h LC50 was determined to be 5 mg/L. Although not specified, the pH was most likely not adjusted.

This result is supported by an OECD 203 study from the ECHA Registration Dossier for lauric acid. The 96 -h LC50was determined to be 5 mg/L (measured; ECHA, 2011).

Onitsuka et al. (1989) performed a study with the sodium salt of lauric acid (sodium laurate, CAS 629 -25 -4). The study was performed with O. latipes. The fish were exposed in a dose-response study for 96 -h under semi-static conditions. The test concentrations were analytically verified. The 96 -h LC50 was determined to be 11 mg/L. Since the substance causes no pH-shift as the corresponding acid, the test result can be regarded to be relevant for "neutralised" conditions.

The study by Onitsuka (1989) was identified as key study, while the publication by NITE (2011/2012) and the study by BASF (1987, report no. 12F0214/173; lauroyl chloride) are used as supporting studies. It can be concluded that lauroyl chloride and its hydrolysis product are acutely toxic to fish, but only acutely harmful after pH adjustment.

Hydrolysis product hydrochloric acid (HCl):

HCl was tested in a semi-static acute toxicity test according to OECD 203 with Cyprinus carpio. The 96-h LC50 was 4.92 mg/L (acid equivalent to pH 4.3; OECD, 2002).