Amines, N-C16-18-alkyltrimethylenedi-

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Description of key information

One chronic earthworm test (OECD 222, GLP, reliability 2) has been performed. Effects on mortality, biomass and reproduction were not observed. Therefore the NOECearthworm is equal to the highest test concentration of 1000 mg a.i./kg soil dw after 56 days of exposure.

Main reason for selecting the C16-18 alkyl (evennumbered, saturated)-1,3- diaminopropane (HT diamine) for evaluation of its toxicity to soil macro-organisms is its use patern. It is considered justified to use this test result as obtained for HT diamine for read across to other members of the diamine category because a similar toxicity is anticipated for organisms living in the terrestrial compartments for diamines with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C10-18 based on the fact that the main exposure route for sorbing substances is via ingestion (comber 2008) and the limited expected difference in sorption to soil for a certain soil type because the main driver in alkyl-1,3 -diaminopropanes sorption is ionic interaction.  

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Long-term EC10, LC10 or NOEC for soil macroorganisms:

1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Additional information

Effects of N-(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)trimethylenediamines on mortality, biomass and the reproductive potential of the earthworm species Eisenia fetida fetida (Savigny) were determined according to the guidelines DIN ISO 11268 -2 (1998), OECD 222 (2004) and BBA (1994). The study was conducted under static conditions over 8 weeks with the four different application rates 125 - 250 - 500 - 1000 mg/kg soil dry weight (DW) mixed with natural soil (fresh LUFA 2.2). Eighty adult earthworms with clitellum in control and 40 test organisms in vehicle control and test item concentrations with an individual weight of 0.35 to 0.60 g, divided into eight and four replicates, respectively were inserted. For statistical evaluation, control and vehicle control were pooled because analysis of variance showed no significant differences between controls.

After 28 days no significant differences occurred concerning mortality, pathological symptoms or behaviour of the adult earthworms at all tested application rates and in the control groups. The individual body live weights increased in the control as well as in the test item groups. After a further 28 days the reproduction (average number of juveniles) ranged from 291 to 344 in the control groups and from 271 to 333 juveniles in the test item groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant change of mortality, biomass and reproduction compared to the pooled control at all application rates. The validity criteria recommended by the test guidelines were fulfilled. The NOEC after 56 was 1000 mg/kg soil dw for mortality, reproduction and biomass. The corresponding LOEC was > 1000 mg/kg soil dw.