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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Environmental fate & pathways

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Non-GLP, non-guideline study following sound scientific principles. This is a non-standard, proprietary study specifically designed and conducted in order to provide supporting evidence to the testing program. Acceptable with restrictions.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
other company data
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
2013
Report date:
2013

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Deviations:
not applicable
Principles of method if other than guideline:
Ecotoxicity screening studies were conducted in which a biomimetic extraction technique using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in conjunction with gas chromatography (GC) was employed to assess the level of water soluble hydrocarbons and hence the potential toxicity of the water accommodated fractions (WAFs) of the test samples. In addition, the toxicity of WAFs was also monitored using an in-vitro MicrotoxTM assay, a biosensor-based measurement system.
GLP compliance:
no
Type of study / information:
Leaching of the thickener from base oils for a range of greases

Test material

Constituent 1
Test material form:
other: Grease: thickener in a base oil or medicinal white oil
Details on test material:
Diurea 8 base grease in normal base oil or medicinal white oil

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Results and Conclusions

The SPME and Microtox results for the WAFs of the grease samples at 1000 mg/L loading rate are as follows:

Grease sample SPME-GC Microtox reading
(Total peak area) (5 min) (15 min)
Diurea thickener 8 in medicinal oil 587,994 >100 >100
Diurea thickener 8 base grease 558,451 >100 >100

Both sets of screening data confirm that there is no apparent toxicity associated with any of the samples at the 1000 mg/L loading rate. The SPME-GC data summarised above, supported by the chromatograms, confirm that the total peak area counts are all extremely low and equivalent to background readings associated with a control sample (i.e. a WAF without any test sample added).

The screening ecotoxicity data (using SPME-GC and the in-vitro Microtox assay), confirm a lack of toxicity of the greases.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:
There is negligible leaching of the thickeners from base oils in the samples tested. The SPME-GC data confirm that the total peak area counts are all extremely low and equivalent to background readings associated with a control sample.
Executive summary:

It was proposed that leaching studies be undertaken on thickeners in base oils to provide additional support to the grease thickener testing strategy. Information generated during the screening studies will be of relevance and value to the risk assessment of a wide range of grease thickeners and to assess the potential bioavailability of grease and other lubricant components.

The approach for the PU thickeners was to use a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method combined with gas chromatography (GC) to assess the bioaccumulation potential of the water accommodated fractions (WAFs) of PU based grease. This approach was also used to assess the availability of the organic complexes of the metal based grease thickeners (e.g. Lithium based complexes) and complemented with metal ion analysis.


Ecotoxicity screening studies were conducted in order to determine whether there was any toxicity associated with the grease samples. The toxicity of WAFs was monitored using an in-vitro Microtox assay, a biosensor-based measurement system. The screening ecotoxicity data (using SPME-GC and the in-vitro Microtox assay), confirm a lack of toxicity of the greases.