Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
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EC number: 231-157-5 | CAS number: 7440-47-3
Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Chromium is highly insoluble as demonstrate in the T/D test as a consequence: chromium (III) produces soluble (bio)available ionic and other chromium-bearing species in environmental media is limited. The insolubility of chromium (III) is expected to determine its behavior, its fate in the environment, and subsequently its ecotoxicity potency.
In accordance with ECHA’s Guidance on IR & CSA, Appendix R.7.13-2 (2008), the substance can be evaluated by comparing the dissolved chromium (III) ion level resulting from the T/D at a loading rate of 1 mg/L after 28-Days with the lowest chronic effect concentration as determined for the (soluble) chromium (III) ion. The lowest reliable chronic effect concentration determined for the (soluble) chromium III ion is a 21-days NOEC of 0.7 mg Cr (III) /L observed in a chronic toxicity test for the effect of chromium (III) chloride on the reproduction of Daphnia magna (Kühn et al., 1989). The solubility of chromium (under different powder forms in 28-days T/D test) is ca. 0.005 µg/L. Dissolved chromium concentrations of <0.01 µg/L in the T/D after 28-Days at pH 6 (i.e. the pH that maximizes the dissolution) are significantly lower than the lowest chronic effect concentration derived for fish (i.e. NOEC of 30 µg Cr/L). Hence, chromium (III) is not sufficiently soluble in environmental media to cause chronic toxicity to invertebrates at the level of the lowest chronic effect concentration (expressed as the NOEC).
According to this data, short-term toxicity on invertebrates is not expected.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
The insolubility of metallic chromium and the ubiqutous presence in the environment makes its ecotoxicity very unlikely and also the testing of the environmental degradation and ecotoxicity mainly scientifically unjustified. The lack of endpoint data from metallic chromium does not allow the derivation of PNECs.
For information and for comparison, the PNECs for trivalent chromium have been determined in the ICDA (2010) environmental report. The report includes detailed description of the rationale behind the derivation PNECs.
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