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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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: 203-726-8 | CAS number: 109-99-9
- 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
Neurotoxicity
Administrative data
Description of key information
Single, 6-hour exposures in rats to THF at concentrations as high as 5000 ppm resulted in transient sedation. Similarly, after 90-day exposures to THF (6 hours/day, 5 days/week) at concentrations as high as 3000 ppm there were no biologically relevant changes in behavioral parameters, in any clinical measurements of neurotoxicity, or in any morphological endpoints observed following neuropathology. Compound-related and transient sedation was noted in the 90-day exposures.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Effect on neurotoxicity: via inhalation route
Endpoint conclusion
- Dose descriptor:
- NOAEC
- 1 457 mg/m³
Additional information
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been tested for neurotoxicity in rats following single 6 -hour inhalation exposures to concentrations of 0, 500, 2500 or 5000 ppm. Exposure at the highest two concentrations produced sedative effects which occured immediately following exposures and that resolved within a few hours at 2500 ppm and within 19 hours at 5000 ppm. Neurobehavior, as measured by motor activity (MA) tests and a functional observational battery (FOB) assessment, indicated minor decreases in the number and duration of movements in female rats at the 5000 ppm concentration. The FOB assessment showed a lack of effects. The NOAEC was reported as 500 ppm and was based on the transient sedation.
THF has also been tested in rats for neurotoxicity following inhalation exposures for approximately 90 days at concentrations of 0, 500, 1500 or 3000 ppm (6 hours/day, 5 days/week). In this study there were no biologically relevant compound-related clinical observations, changes in body weights, mortality, changes in food consumption, behavioral endpoints or changes in morphology observed in neuropathological evaluations. A NOEL of 500 ppm was determined in this study based on clinical signs of transient sedation. There was no evidence of progressive or permanent damage to the nervous system. A NOEL of 3000 ppm was assigned based on a lack of neurological or neuropathological findings.
Justification for classification or non-classification
Based on a NOAEC of 500 ppm (1.5 mg/L) for sedative effects determined in both single and repeated inhalation exposure studies in rats, THF would receive an R67 rating (Vapors may cause drowsiness and dizziness) based on the EU DSD classification criteria (EU Directive 67/548/EEC). THF is rated for Specific Target Organ Systemic Toxicity (Single Exposure) as a Categroy 3 due to the sedative (narcotic) effects under the EU CLP (GHS) criteria (EU Regulation 1272/2008).
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.