Perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

No expected bioavailability neither orally, dermally nor inhalative was suggested. No bioaccumulation potential assumed. The test substance is expected not to be metabolized in the body due to low solubility in both water and fat. Further, excretion was concluded to occur via feces. However, no experimental data concerning absorption, distribution, and metabolism have been conducted.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Bioaccumulation potential:

no bioaccumulation potential

Absorption rate - oral (%):

0

Absorption rate - dermal (%):

0

Absorption rate - inhalation (%):

0

Additional information

Assessment of the Toxicokinetic Behavior

The test substance is a red solid dyestuff with a density of 1.4876 g/cm³ at 20°C and a molecular weight of 392.3 g/mol. The test article is characterized by very low solubility in both water (< 5 µg/l at 25°C) and organic solvents (n-octanol: < 100 µg/L). The log P_ow of 2 could only be calculated due to the lack of solubility. No studies are available investigating the toxicokinetic properties of the test substance. The toxicokinetic behavior is therefore assessed based on physic-chemical properties and on available toxicity studies performed with the test article and with other members of the category (for category justification refer to the attached document).

Absorption

Based on the very low water solubility and the low solubility in n-octanol (i.e. fat), bioavailability of the test substance is generally not expected. This is supported by the available toxicity studies. In an acute oral toxicity study male and female rats were given a single oral dose (gavage) of the test article at a concentration of 8,000 and 10,000 mg/kg body weight (BASF, 1972). None of the animals died during the exposure period and did not display any clinical signs except red colored feces. No abnormal findings were made at necropsy. Similar results were obtained in another acute oral toxicity study in which rats were dosed with 10,000 mg/kg body weight by gavage (BASF, 1976). Again, no mortalities and no abnormal findings at necropsy were reported. Clinical signs included dyspnea, apathy, bad general health, red coloring of the skin and of the feces. The results of both studies do not indicate any systemic availability of the test substance upon oral ingestion. In addition, various oral toxicity studies with repeated administration have been performed with structural analogues of the same category. None of them revealed any toxicity up to the highest dose levels tested (1000 mg/kg bw and up). These results support the proposed lack of absorbance for the members of this category. As a result an accumulation of the test article in the body is not expected.

Dermal absorption is equally unlikely based on the test compound’s very low solubility properties in both water and fat. In a dermal toxicity study performed with a structure analogue no signs of toxicity were observed with the limit dose of 2500 mg/kg, indicating a low systemic availability after dermal exposure. In conclusion, based on the low water solubility together with the results of acute dermal toxicity studies, dermal absorption of the test article is not expected.

No indications for absorption after inhalation are given from the available toxicity data and the physic-chemical properties of the test article. In two inhalation risk tests, the toxicity of an atmosphere that has been saturated at 20 °C with dust of the compound was investigated. Two groups of rats (3/sex/group) were exposed sequentially to the dusts for 8 h. None of the animals died during the exposure period and no abnormal clinical signs were reported. Body weights and gross pathology were normal (BASF, 1972 and 1976). Particle size distribution analyses from structurally analogue substances indicate that the test substance is inspirable and might even reach the alveolar region. However, since the test article is neither soluble in water nor soluble in fat, absorption and systemic availability after inhalation is not expected. Particles deposited in the nasopharyngeal region will most likely be coughed or sneezed out and particles deposited in the trachea-bronchial region will be cleared by mucocilliary mechanisms and swallowed. Dust particles reaching the alveolar region will mainly be engulfed by alveolar macrophages and cleared via the ciliated airways or the lymphatic drainage. In conclusion, the test article can be inspired in the form of dust, however, as indicated by the acute inhalation toxicity study and based on the very low solubility, particles are expected to be not absorbed and not bioavailable.

Metabolism

Considering the chemical structure of the test article, Cytochrome P450 linked oxidations of the aromatic ring systems are possible steps in the metabolism of the test article. However, based on the low solubility property in both water and fat, the substance is most likely not absorbed and excreted unchanged. This is supported by the observation of colored feces in toxicity studies. The substance was tested negative in an Ames test (BASF, 1988), i.e. there is no indication of a reactivity of the test substance or its metabolites with biomacromolecules under the chosen test conditions.

Excretion

Since the test article is not soluble in water and fat, excretion is expected to occur predominantly via the feces. This assumption is strengthened by the observation of red colored feces in the toxicity studies. Overall, accumulation of test material within the body is not expected.