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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

No guideline toxicity data are currently available for terrestrial plants. The endpoint is waived and supporting data are available indicating low toxicity.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

A supportive, non guideline, post germination plant growth study onMedicago sativashowed no effects until and above 1000 mg/kg dry soil (Agnello 2015). In addition, a reliability 4 study is available which indicates low toxicity toL. sativaexposed via aqueous routes (72h IC50 1.58 g/L, reported in IUCLID section 6.1.6)

In addition, two studies are available on terrestrial plants which have beene exposed to citric acid via aqueous routes. The studies are reported under the IUCLID section 6.1.6:

Hartung et al. (1990) report a 72h IC50 value of 1.58 g/L for the effects of citric acid on germination (root length) of Lepidium sativum through an aqueous exposure. The publication does not provide sufficient details on the test system and environmental conditions during the test. Therefore the study has been assigned reliability 4.

Reynolds (1975) report a 72h EC50 equivalent to 0.99 g/L for the effects of citric acid on germination of the lettuce Lactuca sativa. The EC50 was determined at a pH of 2.2 and therefore the study cannot be considered reliable for the purposes of REACH. Although the germination study was conducted at an extremely low pH the results do still indicate the low toxicity of the test substance. The stusy has been assigned reliability 3.

Overall, it is concluded that the risk characterisation conclusion is sufficiently conservative in respect of any uncertainties and therefore furtherin vivotesting is not considered necessary, because:

  • Non-standard terrestrial toxicity data are available that indicate low or no effects are associated with exposure to citric acid.
  • The substance is naturally occurring in terrestrial organisms
  • The substance has a negative log Kowvalue and is not expected to bioaccumulate.
  • The substance is rapidly degradable and has a negative log Kow, therefore partitioning to the terrestrial compartment is expected to be minimal.
  • The substance is of low toxicity to aquatic organisms (EC/LC50 >100 mg/L)
  • Citric acid is used as a remediation agent from metals an other elements in soil and aquatic compartments.