Benzyl propionate

PBT assessment

PBT assessment: overall result

PBT status:

the substance is not PBT / vPvB

Justification:

Classification of benzyl propionate for effects in the environment

Several major guideline – estimation values (Klimisch 2) are available for benzyl propionate, which indicates considerable toxic effect in the three key trophic levels (fish, invertebrates and algae) when exposed to the substance, benzyl propionate at concentrations up to its limit of solubility in the respective test media. Among the values lower values which lead to the classification of the substance the value which have been considered for further calculation (algae) is EC50 = 8.045 mg/L.

 

In determining the classification appropriate to benzyl propionate, it is necessary to consider all available evidence concerning its persistence, potential to accumulate and predicted or observed environmental fate and behaviour that may present a long-term and/or delayed danger to the structure and/or functioning of aquatic ecosystems. These points are considered below.

 

 

Persistence

Reliable studies are available to demonstrate that benzyl propionate is non persistent in nature and so is considered to be biodegradable in the environment. In other words benzyl propionate may therefore be expected to degrade rapidly. Thus it can be inferred that benzyl propionate is non persistent in environment. 

 

Thus, benzyl propionate is non persistent and does not satisfy the criteria for classification as persistent (P). 

 

Potential to accumulate

Predicted and measured log Kow values for benzyl propionate are less than 4 (Log Kow = -0.3). The potential for benzyl propionate to bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms that inhabit aquatic or terrestrial matrices is negligible as the BCF factor for the substance is less than 1000.  

  

The calculated BCF of cinnamaldehyde is 23 dimensionless and below the threshold of 2000. 

 

So, benzyl propionate does not satisfy the criterion for classification as bioaccumulative (B).

 

The toxicity values of fish, invertebrates and algae are LC50 = 18.8 mg/L, LC50 = 11.223 mg/L are EC50 = 8.045 mg/L, respectively. All the values of the 3 trophic levels fall in the criteria for classification based on the values (as per CLP regulation in category 3), but since the log Kow and BCF factor do not support the same criteria in category 3 so the substance will not qualify for classification as per the CLP regulation in the above mentioned criteria.

Benzyl propionate does not satisfy the environmental effects criterion for classification as toxic (T).

 

Benzyl propionate is neither P & B (or vPvB) substance, nor will qualify as T.