Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid and heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid

Short-term toxicity to fish

Description of key information

No effects up to the limit of water solubility (OECD 203); read-across

Additional information

Since no studies investigating the short-term toxicity of Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) to fish are available, in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5 a read-across to the structurally related source substances Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol (CAS 67762-53-2), Decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid (CAS 71010-76-9) and Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester (CAS 7299-99-2) was conducted.

The source substances are representative to evaluate the short-term toxicity of Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) to fish. The target substance is characterized as a tetraester of pentaerythritol and different fatty acids (C7, C9 and 2-ethylhexanoic acid). Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol is characterized as a tetraester of C5/C9 with pentaerythritol. Decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid is a tetraester of C5/C7/C9/C10 with pentaerythritol whereas Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester covers the content of 2-ethylhexanoic acid present in the target substance (2-ethylhexanoic acid tetraester with pentaerythritol). All substances share similar physico-chemical properties, only differ in the distribution of chain lengths of the fatty acid and do not share any functional group which might increase aquatic toxicity the read-across is suitable to investigate the aquatic toxicity using read-across. This read-across is justified in detail in the overall summary (IUCLID Section 6.1) and within the analogue justification in IUCLID Section 13. In this case of read-across, the best suited (highest degree of structural similarity, nearest physico-chemical properties) read-across substances were used for the assessment.

The study with the source substance Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol was performed according to OECD 203 (GLP) under static conditions with Cyprinus carpio (Migchielsen, 2012). A nominal loading rate of 100 mg/L (prepared as WAF) was applied. Test substance monitoring measured a concentration of 4.8 mg/L (average exposure concentration). The final test solution was slightly hazy with a floating layer; however, this is considered negligible, because no mortality was observed in the treatment throughout the test period of 96 h. Hence, the LL50 (96 h) is determined to be > 100 mg/L (nominal) and > 4.8 mg/L (LC50, measured) and thus above the limit of water solubility.

The second study with the source substance decanoic acid, mixed esters with heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, pentaerythritol and valeric acid (CAS 71010-76-9) to freshwater fish was investigated according to OECD 203 under static conditions using Brachydanio rerio as test organism (Lili, 2009). Nominal test concentrations of 100 and 150 mg/L were applied. Test substance monitoring using TOC analysis measured test concentrations of 0.696 and 0.704 mg/L, respectively. Undissolved test material was not removed from the test system; however, this is considered negligible, because no mortality was observed in any treatment and the control throughout the test period of 96 h. Hence, the LC50 (96 h) is determined to be > 0.704 mg/L (arithmetic mean) and thus above the limit of water solubility.

The third study with the source substance Hexanoic acid, 2-ethyl-, pentaerythritol tetraester (CAS 7299-99-2) was conducted according to “Circular on Test Methods of New Chemical Substances (Japan), Fish, acute toxicity test” (Japanese GLP standard). Oryzias latipes was exposed under semi-static test conditions to a nominal limit test concentration of 0.05 mg/L. The test concentration was verified using LC/MS and resulted in a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of 0.0482 mg/L. No mortality was recorded after 96 h resulting in a LC50 of > 0.0482 mg/L (based on TWA).

Based on the available results from three structurally related source substances (in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5) which are characterized by a similar ecotoxicological profile and comparable structure, it can be concluded that Tetraesters of pentaerythritol with 2-ethylhexanoic acid, heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid (EC 806-879-4) will not exhibit short-term effects to fish up to the limit of water solubility.