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EC number: 266-046-0 | CAS number: 65997-17-3 This category encompasses the various chemical substances manufactured in the production of inorganic glasses. For purposes of this category, 'glass' is defined as an amorfous, inorganic, transparent, translucent or opaque material traditionally formed by fusion of sources of silica with a flux, such as an alkali-metal carbonate, boron oxide, etc. and a stabilizer, into a mass which is cooled to a rigid condition without crystallization in the case of transparent or liquid-phase separated glass or with controlled crystallization in the case of glass-ceramics. The category consists of the various chemical substances, other than by-products or impurities, which are formed during the production of various glasses and concurrently incorporated into a glass mixture. All glasses contain one or more of these substances, but few, if any, contain all of them. The elements listed below are principally present as components of oxide systems but some may also be present as halides or chalcogenides, in multiple oxidation states, or in more complex compounds. Trace amounts of other oxides or chemical compounds may be present. Oxides of the first seven elements listed* comprise more than 95 percent, by weight, of the glass produced. @Aluminium*@Lead@Boron*@Lithium@Calcium*@Manganese@Magnesium*@Molybdenum@Potassium*@Neodymium@Silicon*@Nickel@Sodium*@Niobium@Antimony@Nitrogen@Arsenic@Phosphorus@Barium@Praseodymium@Bismuth@Rubidium@Cadmium@Selenium@Carbon@Silver@Cerium@Strontium@Cesium@Sulfur@Chromium@Tellurium@Cobalt@Tin@Copper@Titanium@Germanium@Tungsten@Gold@Uranium@Holmium@Vanadium@Iron@Zinc@Lanthanum@Zirconium
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
Short description of key information on bioaccumulation potential result:
It is assessed that E-glass microfibre is not taken up into the body by ingestion or dermal contact. No systemic exposure is expected.
Inhaled fibres are cleared from the lungs and swallowed, and are disintegrated in the lung and the gastrointestinal fluids.
E-glass microfibre has been shown to induce lung tumours (carcinoma and adenoma) at high concentrations in long-term inhalation toxicity studies, probably due to the higher biopersistence of fibers longer than 20 µm. The mechanism of which E-glass microfibre induces lung tumours is not fully disclosed but overload of cellular clearance mechanisms have been suggested.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- Bioaccumulation potential:
- low bioaccumulation potential
Additional information
The most likely exposure route for E-glass microfibre is assessed to be inhalation (see section 4.5 of this registration, where granulometry of E-glass microfibre is presented and inhalation is evaluated to be a relevant exposure route). In long-term inhalation toxicity studies E-glass microfibre was observed to undergo congruent dissolution. E-glass microfibre has been shown to have low solubility at neutral pH and to disintegrate in an acidic environment. Inhaled E-glass microfibre dissolves in the rat lung and is subjected to breakage through the acidic attack of macrophages. Removal of fibres deposited on surfaces within the respiratory system involves dissolution and disintegration and phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages for shorter fibres.
E-glass microfibre has been shown to induce lung tumours (carcinoma and adenoma) at high concentrations in long-term inhalation studies, probably due to the higher biopersistence of fibers longer than 20 µm. The mechanism by which E-glass microfibre induces lung tumours is not fully elucidated but overload of cellular clearance mechanisms has been suggested (Searl et al., 1999).
It is evaluated due to the inert nature as well as low absorption potential, very low water solubility and low possibility of crossing biological barriers that systemic exposure to E-glass microfibre leading to toxic reactions is very unlikely.
Discussion on bioaccumulation potential result:
The most likely exposure route for E-glass microfibre is assessed to be inhalation, based on the following facts: 1) E-glass granulometry presented in section 4.5 suggested that E-glass microfibre is inhalable, 2) E-glass is inorganic, chemically inert and has very low absorption potential through skin and through ingestion.
In long-term inhalation toxicity studies E-glass microfibre was observed to undergo congruent dissolution. E-glass microfibre has been shown to have low solubility at neutral pH and to disintegrate in an acidic environment. Inhaled E-glass microfibre dissolves in the rat lung and is subjected to breakage through the acidic attack of macrophages. Removal of fibres deposited on surfaces within the respiratory system involves dissolution and disintegration and phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages for shorter fibres.
Finally, due to the inert nature and the low possibility of crossing biological barriers, systemic exposure to E-glass microfibre is very unlikely. Based on the data, it is evaluated that E-glass microfibre has low bioaccumulation potential.
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