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EC number: 205-745-7 | CAS number: 149-73-5
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Study period:
- 20 March 1989
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- significant methodological deficiencies
- Remarks:
- NOEC based on oxygen generation, but no overall NOEC given. Can not be used for classification since no data are given on biomass or growth rate. No results are shown other than endpoint, no details on the substance other than name (eg purity), no details on test conditions or test substance analysis.
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- other: DIN-Entwurf 38412 Teil 12
- Deviations:
- not specified
- GLP compliance:
- not specified
- Analytical monitoring:
- not specified
- Details on sampling:
- The report mentions that a range should be measured, and that no effects were observed up to a concentration of 1000 mg/L
- Vehicle:
- not specified
- Details on test solutions:
- The report mentions that a range should be measured, and that no effects were observed up to a concentration of 1000 mg/L
The stock solutiion was prepared at 10 g/L - Test organisms (species):
- Desmodesmus subspicatus (previous name: Scenedesmus subspicatus)
- Details on test organisms:
- No details given
- Test type:
- not specified
- Water media type:
- freshwater
- Limit test:
- no
- Total exposure duration:
- 24 h
- Hardness:
- No details
- Test temperature:
- No details
- pH:
- No details
- Dissolved oxygen:
- No details
- Salinity:
- No details
- Nominal and measured concentrations:
- The report mentions that a range should be measured, and that no effects were observed up to a concentration of 1000 mg/L
The stock solutiion was prepared at 10 g/L - Details on test conditions:
- No details
- Reference substance (positive control):
- not specified
- Duration:
- 24 h
- Dose descriptor:
- NOEC
- Effect conc.:
- >= 1 000 mg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- not specified
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- other: O2 generation
- Details on results:
- No details
- Results with reference substance (positive control):
- No details
- Reported statistics and error estimates:
- No details
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not specified
- Conclusions:
- The study suggests the absence of acute aquatic toxicity of the test item to alge, but it is considered deficient as it is at variance to recent (2010) standards. Given the short half-life of the substance in aqueous media (see hydrolysis as function of pH) the result is considered acceptable for classification and risk assessment purposes.
- Executive summary:
Toxicity of trimethylorthoformate (CAS 149-73-5) to algae was determined in a test according to German draft guideline DIN 38412 Part 12. The study is not comparable to nowadays (2010) standards and therefore not reliable.
The test algae (Desmodesmus subspicatus) were exposed during 24 h. as test organism. Details on methodology is very sparse, neither test concentrations nor information on the test item were given. No GLP compliance was stated.
Results revealed a NOEC based on O2 generation of ≥ 1000 mg/L.
As the test results indicate no effect at all on the phytosynthesis rate in a concentration of at least 10 times the regulatory cut-off for acute aquatic toxicity it is to conclude that the absence of acute effects to algae seems likely.
Based upon the classification criteria according to the Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008, the test item is not to classified on the basis of this study.
Reference
Description of key information
NOEC based on oxygen generation > 1000mg/L
The study suggests the absence of acute aquatic toxicity of the test item to algae, but it is considered deficient as it is at variance to recent (2010) standards. Given the short half-life of the substance in aqueous media (see hydrolysis as function of pH) the result is considered acceptable for classification and risk assessment purposes.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- EC10 or NOEC for freshwater algae:
- 1 000 mg/L
Additional information
Scholz (1989) investigated the acute toxicity of trimethyl orthoformate to algae. No analytical information was reported in the study report, however, it can be concluded from the hydrolysis as a function of pH study of Fischer (2004), reported in section 5.12 of this dossier, that under the conditions of the study trimethyl orthoformate would have hydrolyzed to some degree to its metabolites. At pH 7 the half-life for hydrolysis is <12h and at pH 9 approximately 200h. Acute toxicity studies on algae are typically conducted at a pH within the range of 7-9. The aqueous hydrolysis products of trimethyl orthoformate are methanol and formic acid. Therefore, under the conditions of an acute toxicity study on algae the formic acid should be present in the form of a salt. Salts of formic acid are known to exhibit very low toxicity to aquatic organisms (USEPA HPV Chemical Challenge Program, “Formates Category”). Indeed results for sodium formate are in the same ballpark (1000mg/L) as the result reported by Scholz. Methanol is also known to exhibit low toxicity to aquatic organisms and an EC50 >1000mg/L is reported in the Formate Category HPV document.
In conclusion, whilst the study of Scholz contains several deficiencies the result obtained can be considered useful for classification and risk assessment purposes when taken together with the hydrolysis study of Fischer (2004). As such trimethyl orthoformate should be considered non-toxic to algae.
Based upon the classification criteria according to the Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008, the test item is considered not classified on the basis of this study.
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