Quaternary ammonium compounds, C12-14-alkylethyldimethyl, Et sulfates

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Description of key information

Based on reliable guideline studies, 14 day NOEC values for the read-across substance C12-16 ADBAC in earthworms were 517 and 953 mg a.i./kg soil dw. The LC0 and LC50 values were > 517 and 7,070 mg a.i./kg soil dw, respectively.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Short-term EC50 or LC50 for soil macroorganisms:

7 070 mg/kg soil dw

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

517 mg/kg soil dw

Additional information

An acute toxicity guideline study was conducted on earthworms with the read-across substance C12-16 ADBAC applied once at nominal concentrations of 100, 180, 320, 580 or 1,000 mg/kg dw of artificial soil. No analytical determination of the test substance was performed. The individual live weights of the worms were reported after 14 days of exposure. Other effects (pathological symptoms, behaviour of the worms) were reported after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Results of the reference test with 2-chloracetamide showed that the method was sensitive and valid. The substance did not cause a change in behaviour, weight and mortality of the earthworm at any of the tested concentrations after 14 days of exposure. This was probably due to adsorption onto soil. The highest tested concentration without mortality and any other effects was 1,000 mg/kg dw. Under the study conditions, the 14 day NOEC was 1,000 mg/kg dw (equivalent to 517 mg a.i./kg dw) and the LC₀ was > 1,000 mg/kg dw(> 517 mg a.i./kg dw) (Noack M, 1999).

A guideline study was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of the read-across substance C12-16 ADBAC to the earthworm Eisenia fetida in an artificial soil under laboratory conditions. Six groups of forty worms were allocated to an artificial soil containing 0, 953, 1,715, 3,086, 5,556 or 10,000 mg a.i./kg soil dw (nominal concentrations). No analytical determination was performed. Mortality was recorded on Days 7 and 14. Worms were weighed at the beginning and end of the study. After 7 days, all worms at 10,000 and 2 worms at 5,556 mg a.i./kg soil dw were dead. By Day 14, one additional worm died at 5,556 mg a.i./kg soil dw. A treatment-related reduction in body weight was observed. Group mean body weights were affected by treatment with test substance at 1,715 mg a.i./kg soil dw and above. Under the conditions of this test, the 14 day LC₅₀ was 7,070 mg a.i./kg soil dw and the NOEC was 953 mg a.i./kg soil dw (Rodgers MH, 2004).