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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Environmental fate & pathways

Endpoint summary

Administrative data

Description of key information

Additional information

The bioaccumulation of DL-menthol in fish (Cyprinus carpio) was determined in a test according to standard method built by Japanese competent authority, and which is equivalent or similar to OECD guideline 305 C. Since the property of BCF was mostly related to the molecular size and lipid solubility, the isomers have similar bioaccumulation potential. It can be stated that menthols act as a prime example of substances that are suitable for read-across since menthols are (stereo) isomeres and, thus ideally fulfill the recommended criteria of structural similarity. Further, the OECD SIDS report on menthols (2003) assessed data of the isomers L-menthol (CAS no. 2216-51-5), D-menthol (CAS no. 15356-60-2), the racemate and menthol (unspecified isomers; CAS no. 1490-04-6). The report concludes on page 4 that “the menthols can be considered as a category because of their similarity in physico-chemical, toxicological, ecotoxicological and environmental fate properties” which is another requirement to justify the application of the read-across approach. Therefore, although the test substance in the report is DL-menthol, it can be considered as important information for L-menthol bioaccumulation potential. BCFs in the range of 0.5 - 15 L/kg with 0.2 mg menthol/L resp. 4.6 - 11 L/kg with 0.02 mg menthol/L were reported indicating no significant bioaccumulation potential. The variation of results may be partially explained by the variation of the lipid content in fish (2 - 6 %). To the worst case, the BCF of L-menthol for fish was selected as 15.

The BCFfish (15) indicates the L-menthol has no bioaccumulation potential, and does not meet the criteria of “B” or “vB” under REACH.