Vinyl chloroacetate

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.036 µg/L

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

0.358 µg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.004 µg/L

Assessment factor:

10 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (freshwater)

PNEC value:

0.806 µg/kg sediment dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC sediment (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.081 µg/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:

0.379 µg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Conclusion on classification

A hydrolysis study was performed on vinyl chloroacetate (VCA). It concluded that the substance hydrolyses rapidly in water (half-life = 1.22 hours at pH 7) and releases acetaldehyde and chloroacetic acid as its degradation products. Therefore the toxicity of VCA in the aquatic environment is expected to be driven by the toxicity of its degradation products.

 

The short-term toxicity to the aquatic environment of VCA was investigated using reliable studies and literature data available on its degradation products acetaldehyde and chloroacetic acid. Algae was identified as the most sensitive species based on results on the short-term toxicity of chloroacetic acid to Scenedesmus subspicatus with a 48-hour EC₅₀ of 0.028 mg/L. It is required to hydrolyse 0.03584 mg/L of VCA in order to obtain 0.028 mg/L of chloroacetic acid. Therefore the 48-hour EC₅₀ of VCA for freshwater algae was determined to be 0.03584 mg/L. Considering that the 48-hour EC₅₀ for algae is below 1 mg/L based on the hazardous properties of chloroacetic acid, VCA meets the criteria for classification as Aquatic Acute 1; H400 in accordance with Regulation (EC) N° 1272/2008. This Classification is consistent with the classification of chloroacetic acid as Aquatic Acute 1; H400. A M-factor of 10 is proposed for the acute aquatic toxicity of the registered substance, based on the lowest 48-hour EC₅₀ of VCA being comprised between 0.01 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L, in accordance with Regulation (EC) N° 1272/2008.

 

There is no available data on the chronic toxicity of VCA to the aquatic environment. As the substance is being registered under REACH in the 10-100 tonnage band there is no requirement for information on long-term studies to aquatic species. Therefore the Classification of the registered substance for chronic effects is based on the aquatic toxicity of the degradation products of VCA. Considering that the 48-hour EC₅₀ for algae is below 1 mg/L based on the hazardous properties of chloroacetic acid, and it cannot be proven that the substance is ‘rapidly biodegradable’, VCA meets the criteria for classification as Aquatic Chronic 1; H410 in accordance with Regulation (EC) N° 1272/2008. This Classification is consistent with the classification of chloroacetic acid as Aquatic Chronic 1; H410. A M-factor of 1 is proposed for the chronic aquatic toxicity of the substance based on the expected ready biodegradability of the substance and the M-Factor attributed to chloroacetic acid for its chronic effects.