Nonylbenzoate, branched and linear

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Isononyl benzoate was tested for potential toxicity towards terrestrial organisms in an earthworm acute toxicity study and a plant toxicity study. Acute toxicity of the test item was low with LC50 earthworm > 1000 mg/kg and EC50 seedlings emergence for 3 plant species also > 1000 mg/kg soil dw. Effects in biomass were recorded with a NOEC (bodyweight earthworm) = 560 mg/kg and a NOEC = 32 mg/kg for the biomass parameter shoot height and shoot fresh weight in one plant species; the lowest biomass EC50 was 139 mg/kg for shoot fresh weight in oats.

The acute effects of isononyl benzoate on earthworm Eisenia fetida fetida Savigny were determined according to the OECD guideline 207 with the nominal concentrations of 100 - 180 - 320 - 560 - 1000 mg/kg soil dry weight (DW) over a test period of 14 days. 40 test organisms with a individual weight between 0.3 - 0.6 g, divided into four replicates, were tested per concentration, solvent control and control in artificial soil as described by the guideline. For statistical evaluation, the replicates of control and solvent control were pooled.

No mortality was observed up to and including the test item concentration 1000 mg/kg soil dw. The concentration with no observed effect (NOEC) of the test item with respect to loss of body weight and sublethal symptoms was found to be 560 mg/kg soil dw after 14 days of exposure. A summary of all effects in the tested concetrations is given in the table. The validity criteria of the test guideline were fullfilled.

LC50 (14d) > 1000 mg/kg soil dw

NOEC (14d) bodyweight = 560 mg/kg soil bw.

The phytotoxicity of the test item Isononyl benzoate to three terrestrial plant species was determined in a seedling emergence test over a period of 21 days, according to OECD Draft 208 (September 2003) with the nominal concentrations of 10 - 32 - 100 - 320 - 1000 mg/kg soil dry weight (dw). Test systems were one monocotyledon, oats (Gramineae), and two dicotyledons, soybean (Leguminosae) and rape (Brassicaceae). The test item was incorporated into the soil in which the seeds were sown. The test container were bottom watered with nutrient solution as needed. The toxic effects of the test item were determined on day 7, 14 and 21 by visual observations (number of emerged seedlings and phytotoxic effects) and on day 21 by shoot fresh weight and shoot height determination. The inhibition of shoot height, shoot fresh weight and rate of emergence was calculated in relation to the solvent control. Phytotoxic effects for the endpoint seedling emergence were observed only for the plant species rape at concentrations ≥ 320mg/kg, for plant species soybean no effects were observed up to and including the highest test concentration of 1000 mg/kg soil dw.

EC50 (21d) seedlings emergence > 1000 mg/kg for all tested plant species

NOEC (21d) seedlings emergence = 1000 mg/kg for oats and soybean

NOEC (21d) seedlings emergence >= 320 mg/kg for rape

Lowest effect concentrations recorded for phytotoxic effects regarding biomass were:

EC50 (21d) shoot fresh weight = 139 mg/kg for oats

NOECD (21d) shoot fresh weight = 32 mg/kg for oats