Isopropyl laurate

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Description of key information

No effects up the limit of water solubility 

Additional information

There are no studies available on the short-term toxicity of Isopropyl laurate (CAS 10233-13-3) to aquatic invertebrates. The assessment was therefore based on studies conducted with the structurally most similar category members, for which data is available Isopropyl myristate (CAS 110-27-0) and Isopropyl oleate (CAS 112-11-8), as part of a read across approach, which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex XI, 1.5. Grouping of substance and read across approach. Further justification is given within the endpoint summary 6.1 and within the category justification section 13. In this case of read-across, the best suited (highest degree of structural similarity, nearest physico-chemical properties) read-across substance was entered into IUCLID. Nevertheless, as can be seen in the data matrix of the category justification in Section 13, all reliable data in the category support the hazard assessment for this endpoint, by showing a consistent pattern of results.

In the selected key study conducted with Isopropyl myristate (CAS 110-27-0), three different treatments of test material were applied for the test performance according to EU Method C.2 and to GLP (Küch, 1995). Method 1: limit test 100 mg/L test substance and 5 min ultrasonic treatment; Method 2: limit test 100 mg/L, 24 h stirring and removal of undissolved test substance via filtration through glass fibre filter; Method 3: 3-5 times saturation, 24 h stirring. In all tests animals were swimming at the water surface. Furthermore, using method 1, an oily film was present. Method 1 (limit test without substance separation) resulted in an EC50 < 100 mg/L (nominal), whereas in method 2 and 3 (both tests with substance separation) the EC50 was established as greater than the water solubility. In conclusion: the results indicate that physical effects may occur in the prescence of undissolved test material.

In another study conducted with Isopropyl myristate (CAS 110-27-0), the acute toxicity to Daphnia magna was tested under static freshwater conditions according to OECD 202 (Kirch, 1993), resulting in an EC50(48h) value of 100 mg/L.

In the study conducted with Isopropyl oleate (CAS 112-11-8), the acute toxicity to the marine species Crangon crangon was tested under constant stirring (Clitherow 1991). Part of the test sample was observed to remain on the liquid surface, even with continuous stirring. The agitation was sufficient to maintain a distribution within the body of the liquid, but at higher concentrations the thickness of the floating layer increased. No mortalities occured up to the highest tested concentration of 8500 mg/L.

Thus, based on the above mentioned result, and due to the structural and profile similarities of the substances, as are explained with in the overall endpoint summary 6.1 it can be concluded that no toxicological effects on aquatic invertebrates are expected up to the limit of water solubility for Isopropyl laurate (CAS 10233 -13 -3).