Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide

Categories

Category name:

Cadmium zircon pigments

Justifications and discussions

Category definition:

Cadmium zircon pigments

Category description:

Cadmium zircon pigments

Category rationale:

Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium sulphide is a zircon-type oxide/pigment with the main structural element ZrSiO4 (Zr in an dodecahedral O environment) which forms a strong and inert matrix. Zr and Si are the main components with percentages of ~46% w/w and 15% w/w respectively. The amount of Cd as component is about 2% w/w.

The read-across substance Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide is a zircon-type pigment as well with an identical crystallographic structure and a very similar composition. Zr content is ~46% w/w and the Si content is ca. 14% w/w. Cd is present in about 4.7% w/w. Minor amounts of Se and S (1.53 and 1.04% w/w, respectively) are present as well.

Besides the obvious structural analogy the solubility of both pigments in aqueous and physilogical media are as follows (determination of Zr and Cd):

Solubility of Cd from the pigment Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium sulphide in physiological media was in a range of 0.180 µg/L (PBS) and 0.398 µg/L (ALF) after 2 hours. After 24 hours a dissolution range from 0.140 µg/L (GMB) - 0.722 µg/L (GST) was measured.

Solubility of Zr from the pigment Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium sulphide in physiological media was in a range of below LOD and 0.812 µg/L (ALF) after 2 hours. After 24 hours a dissolution range from below LOD (ASW) - 1.44 µg/L (ALF) was measured.

The read-across substance Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide afforded after 2 hours a solubility for the element Cd in range of 0.07 µg/L (GMB) 2.58 µg/L (GST) and after 24 hours a solubility of 0.07 µg/L (GMB) to 6.13 µg/L (GST).

Solubility of Zr from the pigment Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide in physiological media was in a range of below LOD and 0.52 µg/L (ALF) after 2 hours. After 24 hours a dissolution range from below LOD - 1.25 µg/L (ALF) was measured.

T/D testing of the pigment Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium sulphide afforded the following solubility at 1mg loading after 28 days:
Cadmium: below LOD (<0.0048) and 0.2077 ± 0.0993μg/L at pH 8 and pH 6, respectively
Zirconium:
T/D testing of the read-across substance Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide afforded the following solubility at 1mg loading after 28 days:
Cadmium: 0.34 ± 0.09 μg/L and 0.86 ± 0.39 μg/L at pH 8 and pH 6, respectively
Zirconium:
In sum, the two zircon type pigments are structurally identical with very similar composition and both show a very low solubility in different artificial and aqueous media. In fact, the read-across substance Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide shows slightly higher dissolution and bioaccessibility without showing any signs of systemic or local toxicity in various studies (acute oral and inhalation, skin/eye irritation, sensitisation, mutagenicity and 28d oral repeated dose toxicity).
Hence, read-across to Zirconium zircon with encapsulated cadmium selenium sulphide is fully justified.