Fatty acids, lanolin, lithium salts

Ecotoxicological Summary

Conclusion on classification

No data are available for aquatic toxicity with the substance fatty acids, lanolin, lithium salts. Read across from dilithium sebacate and fatty acids, lanolin is used to complete these endpoints. For the read across substances the 48-hour EC50 values for immobilisation of Daphnia were determined to be >100 mg/L. In algal growth inhibition studies the 72 hr EC50 values were > 100 mg/L (growth rate) for both read across substances. Therefore, fatty acids, lanolin, lithium salts is not expected to be acutely toxic in the aquatic environment and does not need to be classified for acute aquatic toxicity.

Chronic toxicity data are only available for algae for the read across substances. The lowest 72h NOEC for growth rate inhibition was 10 mg/L for dilithium sebacate. Based on a NOEC > 1 mg/L, the substance does not need to be classified for chronic aquatic toxicity.

However, as chronic toxicity data for read across substances are only available for one trophic level, acute toxicity data together with environmental fate data are also assessed. Fatty acids, lanolin, lithium salts is expected to be rapidly biodegradable based on data for the read across substance, fatty acids, lanolin. The source substance is considered to be readily biodegradable but failing the 10-day window criterion based on an OECD 301B study where 71% degradation was achieved after 28 days. The short-term EC50/LC50 values for both read across substances are > 100 mg/L, therefore the substance, fatty acids, lanolin, lithium salts is not considered to be hazardous to the aquatic environment with long-lasting effects and no classification for chronic toxicity is required.