Glucanase, endo-1,3(4)-β-

Ecotoxicological Summary

Hazard for aquatic organisms

Freshwater

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (freshwater)

PNEC value:

5.2 µg/L

Assessment factor:

1 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

PNEC freshwater (intermittent releases):

52 µg/L

Marine water

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC aqua (marine water)

PNEC value:

0.52 µg/L

Assessment factor:

10 000

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

STP

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC STP

PNEC value:

65 000 µg/L

Assessment factor:

1

Extrapolation method:

assessment factor

Sediment (freshwater)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no exposure of sediment expected

Sediment (marine water)

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no exposure of sediment expected

Hazard for air

Air

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no hazard identified

Hazard for terrestrial organisms

Soil

Hazard assessment conclusion:

PNEC soil

PNEC value:

0.001 mg/kg soil dw

Extrapolation method:

equilibrium partitioning method

Hazard for predators

Secondary poisoning

Hazard assessment conclusion:

no potential for bioaccumulation

Additional information

The aquatic toxicity data were obtained from short term toxicity studies in aquatic species.

Beta-glucanase was not tested for aquatic toxicity, however, another enzyme - alpha-amylase an enzyme belonging to the same enzyme sub-subclass IUB 3.2.1- was chosen for read-across due to sensitivity to aquatic organisms.

Invertebrates:

- The 48-h EC50 value for alpha-amylase with Daphnia magna was 2000 mg test material/L corresponding to 212 mg active enzyme protein/L.

Algae:

- Alpha-amylase was inhibitory to the growth of Desmodesmus subspicatus at concentrations in excess of 12.5 mg/L corresponding to 1.3 mg active enzyme protein (aep)/mL. The EbC50 (72h) value is 24 mg/L and the ErC50 (24-72h) is 49 mg/L corresponding to 2.5 and 5.2 mg aep/L, respectively.

Fish:

Alpha-amylase was not toxic at the the tested concentration of 100 mg/L (58.3 mg aep/L) and thus the NOEC was determined to be 100 mg/L (58.3 mg aep/L).The LC50 value could not be determnined due to the absence of toxicity of the test compound at the tested concentration.

The EC50 for beta-glucanase (read-across from alpha-amylase) is 5.2 mg active enzyme protein/L was used for PNEC derivation and the assessment factors 1000 and 10000 were applied for fresh and marine water, respectively.

The PNEC value for STP is based on actual measurements of enzyme concentration in STP connected to manufacturing site. Up to 65000 µg aep/L were detected in STP connected to manufacturing site and since there was no negative impact observed, this concentration is the estimated PNEC value for STP.

PNEC values for sediment exposure have not been derived because the enzyme is readily biodegradable, highly water soluble and has a very low potential for adsorption to sediments. Exposure of the sediment to toxicologically significant concentrations of the enzyme is thus not expected.

As no soil ecotoxicity data are available for alpha-amylase, the PNEC for soil is based on the PNEC for surface water using the equilibrium partitioning method. PNEC soil was estimated to 6.1*10-4mg aep/kg soil ww (wet weight) and PNEC for soil dry weight (dw) to 6.8*10^-4 mg aep/kg soil dw.

The enzyme is not expected to cause any significant secondary poisoning as it is ready biodegradable and has no bioaccumulation potential. Furthermore, as the test enzyme is a protein it is expected to be degraded in the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, PNEC oral is not relevant.

Conclusion on classification

Based on the aquatic toxicity studies and the ready biodegradation of the enzyme, the enzyme is not classified.