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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

As tetrachlorophthalic anhydride decomposes rapidly in water, the hydrolysis product tetrachlorophthalic acid (CAS 632-58-6) is taken into account for assessment on bioaccumulative properties. A BCF of 3.16 has been calculated with the EPI Suite Estimation Program (BCFWIN) taking the measured log Kow in account, indicating no significant potential for bioaccumulation.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

BCF (aquatic species):
3.161 L/kg ww

Additional information

There is no measured data available on aquatic bioaccumulation neither for tetrachlorophthalic anhydride nor for tetrachlorophthalic acid (CAS 632-58-6). According to REACH Annex XI, alternative approach should be considered before a new vertebrate test is conducted.

Despite the high calculated log Kow (4.65), it is considered that it is not necessary to assess further the bioaccumulation potential of tetrachlorophthalic ahydride. Due to the fast hydrolysis, exposure of the environment to the substance is unlikely or very low.

Therefore, the hydrolysis product tetrachlorophthalic acid is considered to assess the bioaccumulation potential in aquatic organisms. A BCF has been calculated with the EPI Suite Estimation Program (BCFWIN) taking the measured octanol-water partition coefficient in account. A default log BCF value of 0.5, resulting in a BCF of 3.16 was applied, as tetrachlorophthalic acid is identified as an ionic compound by the program, indicating no significant potential for bioaccumulation.

As in general ionised organic substances do not readily diffuse across respiratory surfaces and tetrachlorophthalic acid is significantly deprotonated at physiological conditions (pH 3-9), it is expected that the substance has no significant potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.