Benzoic acid, C12-15-alkyl esters

PBT assessment

PBT assessment: overall result

PBT status:

the substance is not PBT / vPvB

Justification:

The substance has no health chronic toxicity or ecotoxicological chronic toxicity

The Partition coefficient n-octanol/water suggests potential for bioaccumulation. After oral take up and intestinal absorption, the test item will be hydrolysed by cleavage of the ester bond and then further metabolized. Slightly elevated liver weights after high dose exposure are indicative of an increased liver metabolism. High dose effects further demonstrate that some systemic distribution takes place. The rather low toxicity observed in repeated dose studies indicates that the test item is unlikely to exert adverse effects by dose accumulation. This is further supported by the fast degradation of the test item in biodegradation studies in which bacteria and single-cell eucaryotes demonstrated mineralisation of the test item to a degree that qualifies the test item to be readily biodegradable. Thus it is highly unlikely that the test item will bioaccumulate.

Likely routes of exposure:

Benzoic acid, C12-15-alkyl estersis a colourless liquid with a low vapour pressure value suggesting low potential for inhalative exposure.

The physico-chemical properties and the lack of effects observed in acute dermal and inhalation studies confirm that Benzoic acid, C12-15-alkyl esters is not absorbed to a significant degree via the dermal or inhalation route of exposures.