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EC number: 309-712-9 | CAS number: 100684-39-7 A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as a residue from the distillation of crude oil under vacuum. It consists predominantly of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range above C50 and boiling in the range above approximately 360°C (680°F).
- 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

Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Two key skin (OECD 404) and eye (OECD 405) irritation studies were identified. Petroleum vacuum residues tested in these studies were not found to be irritating to the skin or eyes of rabbits. A long term repeat dose inhalation study with rats indicate that exposure to bitumen fume can lead to slight irritation of the respiratory tract.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Skin irritation / corrosion
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not irritating)
Eye irritation
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- no adverse effect observed (not irritating)
Additional information
Petroleum vacuum residues (CAS# 64741-56-6) were tested for primary skin irritation (API, 1982a, b). Aliquots of 0.5 mL of the two materials were slightly warmed to decrease the viscosity and subsequently applied under occlusion to the skin of 6 male white rabbits. After 24 hours, the occluding patches were removed and the skin was scored for erythema and oedema (according to Draize) at 1, 24, 72, 96 hours and at 1 and 2 weeks. The mean erythema and oedema scores for 24 and 72 hours for both residues ranged from 0 to 0.1. This study was performed during 24 hours, rather than 4 hour recommended by current OECD guidelines. Regardless, mean erythema and oedema scores over the 72 hour period were low. Consequently, the result from a shorter exposure time will not meet the criteria for classification.
Primary eye irritation of two neat petroleum vacuum residues (CAS# 64741-56-6) was tested in 4 male and 4 female white rabbits (API, 1982a, b). The neat material (0.1 mL) was placed into the everted eyelid. In one male and two of the female animals the eye was washed 30 seconds after application, for 1 minute. The animals were observed for 7 days following application. In the study with sample 81 -13, the primary eye irritation score were 2.0, 4.0, 4.2, 1.8, and 0.0 at 1, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours, respectively for the unwashed eye (6 animals) and 1.3, 5.3, 2.0, 0.7, and 0.0 at 1, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours, respectively for the washed eye (3 animals) (API, 1982a). In the study with sample 81 -14, the primary eye irritation scores were 1.0, 4.7, 1.8, 0.0 and 0.0 at 1, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours, respectively for the unwashed eye (6 animals) and 1.3, 3.3, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 at 1, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours, respectively for the washed eye (3 animals). Black material was surrounding the eye in a number of animals and one male animal, of which the eye was not washed, showed alopecia around the eye along with dark brown material (API, 1982b). In addition, one animal had diarrhoea, which was not considered treatment related (API, 1982b).
Additional data supports that bitumen is not irritating to the skin or eyes (ARCO, 1973b, c, d, e). This information is presented in the dossier.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Bitumen is not considered to be a skin irritant and does not meet the criteria for classification and labelling undertheCLP Regulation, (EC)1272/2008.Bitumen does not meet the criteria for classification and labelling as an eye irritant as defined under theCLP Regulation, (EC)1272/2008.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
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