Reaction mass of 2-methylpentane and Hexanol, branched and linear and diisopropyl ether

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no data available: testing technically not feasible

Additional information

The registered substance is made up of a number of constituents and constituent groups, and the environmental risk assessment is conducted using an assessment entity approach based on these constituents, rather than using whole substance data. Four representative constituents or constituent groups are included in the risk assessment, and these are considered to represent all of the constituents within the substance as they cover full range of substance types (ethers, alcohols, alkanes and alkenes) and physico-chemical properties of the substance constituents. The four constituents / constituent groups included in the risk assessment are:

- Diisopropylether

- 1-propanol

- C6 alkanes and alkenes

- C9 alkanes and alkenes

PNECs have been determined for each of the representative constituents / constituent groups and are reported in separate endpoint summaries in IUCLID Section 6.

A full justification for the selection of representative constituents is included in Section 9 of the CSR.

Conclusion on classification

Short-term aquatic toxicity tests with fish, invertebrates and algae have been conducted using a Water‑Accommodated Fraction (WAF) methodology, as described below. This approach is consistent with the recommendations of the OECD Guidance Document on aqueous-phase aquatic toxicity testing of difficult test chemicals (OECD GD 23; 2^nd Edition; 2019) for ecotoxicity testing of UVBCs that are only partially soluble in water. Since only a fraction of the total mass of the UVCB is expected to be present in the WAF, the term “loading rate” is used to express the exposures instead of “nominal concentrations”.

Based on the loading rates, the 96-hour LL₅₀ for fish is 18 mg/L, for aquatic invertebrates the 48-hour EL₅₀ is 35 mg/L and the lowest 72-hour EL₅₀ for algae is 160 mg/L for both biomass and growth. The EC₅₀ for microorganisms is >320 mg/L.

As requested by ECHA, the recalculated effect levels based on mean measured concentrations in test media samples from the fish, Daphnia and algae studies gave L(E)C₅₀values of 6.8, 14 and >34 mg/L, respectively.

In accordance with column 2 of REACH Annex IX, the long-term testing on aquatic species does not need to be conducted as the chemical safety assessment according to Annex I has not indicated a need to investigate further the long-term effects on aquatic organisms. Chronic toxicity classification of IPE was determined based on the acute toxicity data and environmental fate data i.e. the lack of ready biodegradability and an estimated log K_ow ≥4. 

The REACH technical guidance on the application of the CLP criteria (Version 5.0 July 2017) states that the effect concentration values based on the loading levels from a Water Soluble Fraction (WSF) or Water Accommodated Fraction (WAF) may be used directly in the classification criteria, in agreement with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS; 8^th edition; 2019). This is also consistent with the OECD Guidance Document on the Use of the Harmonised System for the Classification of Chemicals which are Hazardous to for the Aquatic Environment (OECD GD 27; 2001) and the OECD Guidance Document on aqueous-phase aquatic toxicity testing of difficult test chemicals (OECD GD 23; 2019). These different guidance documents state that the data derived from the testing of WAFs are reported in terms of loading rates which may be used in applying the classification criteria. In addition, the ECHA Endpoint specific guidance (Chapter R.7b; Version 4.0; June 2017) also states that “the acute lethal loading level (typically expressed as the E(L)L₅₀) is comparable to L(E)C₅₀ values determined for pure substances tested within their solubility range”. Again, underscoring the intention that E(L)L₅₀ values may be used directly for classification.

These recommendations are made for complex substances, such as IPE, since the various fractions will have different equilibria in water which may be a characteristic of the loading. For this reason, such complex substances are usually tested as a WSF or WAF, and the L(E)C₅₀ reported based on the loading rate levels. The measured concentrations of dissolved and/or emulsified key or major components can be performed to improve interpretation of the data (OECD GD 23; 2019). This was reflected in the ECHA response letter of January 2019. However, since such analyses do not reflect the ‘whole’ substance it would not be appropriate to use such measured values of selected fractions for classification purposes of IPE.

IPE meets the criteria for complex substances discussed above. Consequently, best practice was followed regarding the preparation of the WAFs and study conduct. Before application in the fish, Daphnia and algae studies, the mixing period was validated. The demonstrated maximum dissolved levels (assessed by Total Organic Carbon as a measure of soluble organic substances) were achieved after 24 hours of mixing. Subsequently, individual WAFs were prepared in a standardised manner for each treatment level since component solubility may depend on loading rates (mass to volume ratios). After addition of the test item to the test medium, solutions were stirred until a small dimple was formed at the surface. Vessels were filled to exclude headspace and sealed in order to minimise volatile losses. WAFs were stirred for 23 hours and then let to settle for 1 hour, after which the aqueous portion was sampled and microscopically confirmed to be free of micro-dispersions and undissolved materials. Therefore, every precaution was taken to ensure that equilibrium of the test material to aqueous phase was achieved in a consistent and reproducible manner across treatments. It is important to highlight that the dissolved test material to which the fish, Daphnia and algae were exposed was not the entire test item but only the portion that was demonstrated to be dissolved and therefore bioavailable to the test organisms. Headspace gas chromatography was used to confirm dosing of the test system and to demonstrate that a concentration gradient was achieved. Consequently, the analytically determined test levels are not appropriate to express the test substance as a whole since by design the test system was only dosed with the dissolved fraction of the original test substance.

Therefore, for consistency with the above mentioned guidance documents, it is considered appropriate to base the Classification and Labelling of the test substance regarding hazards to the aquatic environmental on the loading rate levels of the WAFs rather than only on the dissolved fraction of the test material.

The environmental hazard classification for IPE, based on the criteria of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, is therefore Aquatic Chronic Category 3 since the short-term acute aquatic toxicity data falls within the range of >10 but ≤100 mg/L based on the loading rates, for a non-rapidly degradable substance (substance is not readily degradable) with log K_ow ≥4.

References

OECD GD 23 http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=env/jm/mono(2001)8&doclanguage=en

OECD GD 27 http://www.oecd.org/officialdocuments/publicdisplaydocumentpdf/?cote=env/jm/mono(2001)8&doclanguage=en