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Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

No effects up to the limit of water solubility (< 0.05 mg/L) based on available data (OECD 201).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Since no studies investigating the toxicity of fatty acids, coco, isotridecyl esters (CAS 91031-91-3) to algae are available for this endpoint, in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5 a read across to the two structurally most similar category members tetradecyl myristate (CAS 3234-85-3) and Fatty acids, C8 - 10, C12 - 18-alkyl esters (CAS 95912-86-0) was conducted. This read-across is justified in detail in the overall summary (IUCLID chapter 6.1) and within the category justification in IUCLID Section 13. In this case of read-across, the best suited (highest degree of structural similarity, nearest physico-chemical properties) read-across substance was used for the assessment. The read-across substance Tetradecyl myristate is covering the upper end, whereas the read-across substance Fatty acids, C8 - 10, C12 - 18-alkyl esters covers the lower end of fatty acid and fatty alcohol chain lengths. The available data allow interpolation to fatty acids, coco, isotridecyl esters. As it can be seen in the data matrix of the category justification in section 13 and the overall summary, all reliable data in the category support the hazard assessment of each category member by showing a consistent pattern of results.

The study with the read-across substance tetradecyl myristate (CAS 3234-85-3) was performed according to OECD 201 (GLP) and investigated the toxicity to freshwater algae (Wenzel, 2012). The green algae Pseudokirchnerella subcapitata was exposed for 72 h to a limit Water Accommodated Fraction (WAF) concentration of nominal 100 mg/L. GC/EI-MS analysis resulted in a measured concentration of 0.142 µg/L (arithmetic mean) over the time of exposure. No effects on growth and yield of algae were observed resulting in an EL50 of > 100 mg/L (nominal) and > 1.465 µg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentration), respectively. The NOELR was derived to be ≥ 100 mg/L (nominal) and ≥ 1.465 µg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentration). 

The second study with Fatty acids, C8 - 10, C12 - 18-alkyl esters (CAS 95912-86-0) was performed according to OECD 201 (GLP) is available investigating the toxicity to aquatic algae (Salinas, 2013). Desmodesmus subspicatus was exposed to nominal loading rates of 10, 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/L for 72 h (Water Accommodated Fraction). No effects were observed on growth and yield after 72 h of incubation resulting in an EL50 (72 h) > 1000 mg/L (nominal) and a NOELR (72 h) ≥ 1000 mg/L (nominal).

Based on the results from two structurally related read-across substances (in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 Annex XI, 1.5) which are characterized by a similar ecotoxicological profile and comparable structure, it can be concluded that fatty acids, coco, isotridecyl esters will not exhibit effects on algae up to the limit of water solubility.