Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

The highly lipophilic fatty acid is absorbed by micellar solubilisation (Ramirez et al., 2001). Accumulation of the fatty acids in triglycerides in adipose tissue or the incorporation into cell membranes is possible. At the same time, fatty acids are also required as a source for energy generation. Overall, the available information indicates that no significant bioaccumulation in adipose tissue is anticipated. That fits to the information about the Source Substance 2 (docosanoic acid= behenic acid). Only approximately 30% of the dietary docosanoic acid was absorbed. Little if any of the Source substance 2 (docosanoid acid) was absorbed and distributed intact to the fatty acid pool. The source substance 2, docosanoic acid, may be hydrolyzed shortly after absorption into shorter-chain saturated fatty acids. Docosanoic acid was recovered in the faeces. The fatty acid is stepwise degraded by beta-oxidation based on enzymatic removal of C2 units in the matrix of mitochondria in most vertebrate tissues. The C2 units are cleaved as acyl-CoA, the entry molecular for the citric acid cycle. The omega- and alpha-oxidation, alternative pathways for oxidation, can be found in the liver and the brain, respectively (Lehninger, 1970; Stryer, 1996). The substances will be metabolised in the body to a high extent. The fatty acid components, will be metabolised for energy generation or stored as lipid in adipose tissue or used for further physiological properties e.g. incorporation into cell membranes (Lehninger, 1970; Stryer, 1996). Therefore, the fatty acid component is not expected to be excreted to a significant degree via the urine or faeces but excreted via exhaled air as CO2 or stored as described above. The second route of excretion is expected to be by biliary excretion with the faeces (HSDB, 2011).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Bioaccumulation potential:
no bioaccumulation potential

Additional information