di-, tri- and tetrachlorotetradecane

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Justification for type of information:

End points of target substance di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane can be read across from source substance Alkanes, C14-17, chloro EC number: 287-477-0 | CAS number: 85535-85-9. This due to the following comparison:
1) di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane components make up the C14 content found in Alkanes, C14-17, chloro. It is therefore logical that di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane has been tested as a component of the larger group Alkanes, C14-17, chloro EC number: 287-477-0
2) The target and read-across molecules are both straight chain and therefore it is considered there are no major difference in steric hindrance between the substances (due to branched chain structures)
3) The functional groups are consistent between the target and read across substances, both are predominantly chlorinated alkanes

The degree of chlorination can affect the (eco)toxicology and physicochemical properties of the substance. The Substance Evaluation Conclusion Document for Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins /
alkanes, C14-17, chloro, EC No 287-477-0, CAS No 85535-85-9 conducted by evaluating members state United Kingdom (2019) https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/a72b228a-e417-5b53-b2b9-3b45c8e6eec5 includes direct comparisons of chlorinated alkanes with varying carbon chain lengths and chlorination for physical chemical tests and biodegradability screening tests. Examples include trend in Log Kow increasing with carbon chain length and vapour pressure decreasing with increased chlorination. A trend in biodegradation studies was also noted, increased chain length and chlorination severely disrupted the biodegradation processes.

To increase the accuracy of the read across, studies used from the Alkanes, C14-17, chloro REACH dossier will only include studies that used C14 components and similar levels of chlorination to di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane – 35 to 52 % chlorination.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

ca. 800 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Details on results:

The harmful threshold (24-hr; no further details given) was reported as 800 mg/l

Results with reference substance (positive control):

no data

Reported statistics and error estimates:

no data

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The harmful threshold (24 h) of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (41% chlorinated) to anaerobic bacteria from a domestic waste water treatment plant using the ETAD fermentation method was reported as 800 mg/l (considered the NOEC for this study).

Executive summary:

No study has been reported for di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane, but data have been reported for the principal constituents of di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane that are found in the similar substance Alkanes, C14-17, chloro. However, as Alkanes, C14-17, chloro contains a broad range of chloro-alkanes, only reports using test material containing C14 chloro-alkanes and similar levels of chlorination (35 to 52 % chlorination) have been used for the purposes of read across.

The harmful threshold (24 h) of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (41% chlorinated) to anaerobic bacteria from a domestic waste water treatment plant using the ETAD fermentation method was reported as 800 mg/l (considered the NOEC for this study).

Using read across, it can be concluded the di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane would show similar conclusion.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Justification for type of information:

End points of target substance di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane can be read across from source substance Alkanes, C14-17, chloro EC number: 287-477-0 | CAS number: 85535-85-9. This due to the following comparison:
1) di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane components make up the C14 content found in Alkanes, C14-17, chloro. It is therefore logical that di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane has been tested as a component of the larger group Alkanes, C14-17, chloro EC number: 287-477-0
2) The target and read-across molecules are both straight chain and therefore it is considered there are no major difference in steric hindrance between the substances (due to branched chain structures)
3) The functional groups are consistent between the target and read across substances, both are predominantly chlorinated alkanes

The degree of chlorination can affect the (eco)toxicology and physicochemical properties of the substance. The Substance Evaluation Conclusion Document for Medium-chain chlorinated paraffins /
alkanes, C14-17, chloro, EC No 287-477-0, CAS No 85535-85-9 conducted by evaluating members state United Kingdom (2019) https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/a72b228a-e417-5b53-b2b9-3b45c8e6eec5 includes direct comparisons of chlorinated alkanes with varying carbon chain lengths and chlorination for physical chemical tests and biodegradability screening tests. Examples include trend in Log Kow increasing with carbon chain length and vapour pressure decreasing with increased chlorination. A trend in biodegradation studies was also noted, increased chain length and chlorination severely disrupted the biodegradation processes.

To increase the accuracy of the read across, studies used from the Alkanes, C14-17, chloro REACH dossier will only include studies that used C14 components and similar levels of chlorination to di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane – 35 to 52 % chlorination.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

> 2 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Details on results:

No inhibition of respiration seen at a concentration of up to 2000 mg/l

Results with reference substance (positive control):

no data

Reported statistics and error estimates:

no data

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The respiration of microorganisms in activated sludge over 3 h was unaffected by the presence of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (52% chlorinated) at concentrations up to 2000 mg/l (considered the NOEC for this study).
Using read across, it can be concluded the di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane would produce a similar result.

Executive summary:

No study has been reported for di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane, but data have been reported for the principal constituents of di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane that are found in the similar substance Alkanes, C14-17, chloro. However, as Alkanes, C14-17, chloro contains a broad range of chloro-alkanes, only reports using test material containing C14 chloro-alkanes and similar levels of chlorination (35 to 52 % chlorination) have been used for the purposes of read across.

In an OECD (209) guideline study, the effect of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (52% chlorinated) on the respiration of micro-organisms in activated sludge recovered from a municipal sewage plant was examined.

No inhibition of respiration was seen over a 3-h period when sludge was exposed to the test substance, emulsified in water with nonylphenol ethoxylate (0.5 g/l), at concentrations up to 2000 mg/l (considered the NOEC for this study).

Using read across, it can be concluded the di-, tri-, tetra- chlorotetradecane would produce a similar result.

Description of key information

The harmful threshold (24 h) of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (41% chlorinated) to anaerobic bacteria from a domestic waste water treatment plant using the ETAD fermentation method was reported as 800 mg/L (considerd the 24h NOEC for this study). The respiration of microorganisms in activated sludge from a municipal sewage treatment plant over 3 h was unaffected by the presence of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (52% chlorinated) at concentrations of up to 2000 mg/L (considered the 3h NOEC for this study).

For a conservative approach, the lowest NOEC of 800 mg/L will be used.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:

800 mg/L

Additional information

In an unpublished study (with only limited reporting in the final RAR), the toxicity of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (41% chlorinated) to anaerobic bacteria from a domestic waste water treatment plant has been examined using the ETAD fermentation tube method. The harmful threshold (24 hour; no further details given) was reported as 800 mg/l (considered the NOEC for this study) (Hoescht, 1976). The NOEC of 800 mg/L reported in this study will be used for the derivation of the PNEC.

In another unpublished study (with only limited reporting in expert reviews), the effect of a C14-17 chlorinated paraffin (52% chlorinated) on the respiration of micro-organisms in activated sludge recovered from a municipal sewage plant was examined in a study apparently based on OECD Guideline 209. No inhibition of respiration was seen over a 3 h period when sludge was exposed to the test substance, emulsified in water with nonylphenol ethoxylate (0.5 g/L), at concentrations up to 2000 mg/L (considered the NOEC for this study) (Hoescht, 1985 cited in BUA, 1992 and EU, 2005).