Patchouli, ext.

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.006 mg/L

Assessment factor:

100

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

0.006 mg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.006 mg/L

Assessment factor:

100

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

10 mg/L

Assessment factor:

10

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

4.6 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

4.6 mg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

0.479 mg/kg soil dw

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC oral

PNEC value:

65.1 mg/kg food

Assessment factor:

300

Additional information

The approach for the environmental risk assessment is described in detail under section 0.4. In summary, Patchouli Oil is a multi-constituent substance consisting of sesquiterpene alcohols and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, the latter of which can be subdivided into lower and higher boiling sesquiterpenes. In order to assess environmental exposure and risk, 3 key constituents have been identified that represent the three blocks of constituents in Patchouli Oil. 

This endpoint summary contains the PNECS for the alpha-bulnesene constituent, which represents the higher boiling sesquiterpene hydocarbon group. 

The sesquiterpene hydrocarbons are not expected to exhibit acute aquatic toxicity at levels up to the solubility limit (i.e. neutral organic substances with high log Kow, estimated value of 6.4 for alpha-bulnesene). PNECaquatic has been derived from water solubility data (estimate mean measured value of 0.605mg/L for alpha-bulnesene) and sediment PNECs derived from PNECaquatic using the equilibrium partitioning method. PNECsoil has been derived from the acute earthworm LC50 value of 420mg/kg, obtained from a study performed on an enriched fraction of alpha-bulnesene isolated by fractional distillation of Patchouli Oil. The PNEC STP is based on a NOEC of 100mg/L obtained from the ready biodegradability study performed on Patchouli alcohol. 

Conclusion on classification

For whole substance, Patchouli, ext:

Environmental classification and labelling of a substance is generally based on data from short-term aquatic toxicity results, the ready biodegradability of the substance and the measured octanol/water partition coefficient. Available adequate chronic toxicity data is also relevant for the assessment of long-term aquatic hazards (Regulation 286/2011/EC).

There is no long-term aquatic toxicity data available for Patchouli, ext. The lowest short-term L(E)L50 was for fish with a 48-hour LL50 value of 5.7 mg/L. Patchouli, ext and its underlying constituents are readily biodegradable. Many constituents have a log Kow of greater than 5.7.

Based on the above data, Patchouli, ext. is classified as R51/53 according to Directive 67/548/EEC (DSD) and Aquatic Chronic 2 (H411) according to Regulation 1272/2008/EC & adaptation 286/2011/EC (CLP).