Registration Dossier
Registration Dossier
Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets
Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.
The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.
Diss Factsheets
Use of this information is subject to copyright laws and may require the permission of the owner of the information, as described in the ECHA Legal Notice.
EC number: 273-729-7 | CAS number: 69012-29-9 By-product from the production of ferronickel from a complex ore. Consists primarily of oxides of aluminum, iron, magnesium and silicon.
- 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
Description of key information
Additional information
Ecotoxicity tests on Ferronickel slags show a lack of toxic effects and no need for classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment. The substance has very low solubility and its individual constituents are bound in the mineral matrix and are thus less bioavailable than in their free form. Such low concentrations tend to dissipate very quickly in large water bodies due to the currents, so it is improbable to maintain a sufficiently high concentration in the long-term. Literature read-across review was performed on the effects of the individual constituents of the substance.
Most of its main constituents are highly insoluble and only Calcium and Sulfur seem to have a more significant solubility, according to the results of the water solubility test. Sulfur has no toxic effects for the aquatic environment, while calcium's effect is mainly its contribution to the water's pH after its transformation to Ca(OH)2. However, in large dilutions (e.g. in sea or in rivers where constant current exists) this has insignificant effect and, furthermore, Calcium Oxide is bound in the mineral matrix of the slags which reduces significantly its reactivity (this was proven with the two acute irritation/corrosion tests that were performed in a high-CaO sample of ferronickel slags (Stelter 2010a, Stelter 2010b)).
Of the other components, Iron and Magnesium have no known toxic effects to the aquatic environment whatsoever and their solubility in water is insignificant. Aluminium has been found to produce toxic effects in short-term exposure, but its low solubility (due to its stable form of Aluminium Oxide and its inclusion in the matrix of the slag) and concentration in the slag prevent it from producing any adverse effects.
Nickel and Chromium are considered to be the two most potentially hazardous constituents. Nickel exists in the slag in its metallic form (in the form of ferronickel granules), while Chromium is in its less toxic form Cr(III). A study on the speciation of Chromium in Ferronickel slags using alkaline digestion and colorimetric analysis (EPA 3060A and EPA 7196A respectively) showed that no hexavalent Chromium species were present up to the limit of detection of the analytical method (20mg/kg) so all Cr in the substance is considered to be in trivalent form (NTUA 2011c).
The maximum solubilities in water of these elements that were identified with the water solubility test (Endpoint 4.8) are insufficient to produce adverse effects in short-term exposure of aquatic flora and fauna. Even though, long-term exposure requires lower concentrations of these elements, available chronic exposure tests in various aquatic organisms show no toxicity of the slags (Weber 2012, Gonsior 2012).
In-house and published studies have shown that there is some (inconclusive) evidence for bioaccumulation of slags. Generally, experimental studies in the local environment, where ferronickel slag is known to be deposited, indicate that the local environment is enriched with a variety of metals and these metals are accumulated by marine organisms. However, different species accumulate different metals to a different extent and assessments of the effects of pollution must be taken into account.
Based on the information above, there is sufficient data to characterise slags, ferronickel-manufg. as not dangerous for the aquatic environment. The information is also insufficient to classify it as dangerous for the aquatic environment for chronic effects, but care should be taken due to the presence of substances like Trivalent Chromium and Nickel and possible chronic aquatic hazards may be expected. The Aquatic toxicity of slags, ferronickel-manufg. is under continuous evaluation.
It is noted that the Chromium from the slags has been experimentally verified to be trivalent and no hexavalent chromium has been identified in measurements at aquatic environments near production plants (in-house stydy, available at request).
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
Reproduction or further distribution of this information may be subject to copyright protection. Use of the information without obtaining the permission from the owner(s) of the respective information might violate the rights of the owner.