Octyl laurate

Endpoint summary

Additional information

There are no data available on the aquatic toxicity of octyl laurate (CAS 5303-24-2). Therefore, the aquatic hazard of the target substance was assessed by a read-across approach in accordance with Annex XI, 1.5, of the REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to structurally and chemically related substances in order to fulfill the standard information requirements laid down in Annex VIII of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.

According to Article 13 (1) of this regulation, "information on intrinsic properties of substances may be generated by means other than tests, provided that the conditions set out in Annex XI are met.” In particular for aquatic toxicity, information shall be generated whenever possible by means other than vertebrate animal tests, which includes the use of information from structurally related substances (grouping or read-across). In regard to the general rules for grouping of substances and the read-across approach, the regulation specifies (Annex XI, Item 1.5) that substances may be predicted as similar provided that their physicochemical, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties are likely to be similar or follow a regular pattern as a result of structural similarity.

The target substance octyl laurate is a mono-constituent substance characterized as an ester of lauric acid and octan-1-ol. The source substance isooctyl laurate (CAS 84713-06-4) is characterized by the same fatty acid chain length (lauric acid) and a similar alcohol component (octanoic acid compared to isooctanoic acid for the source substance). The second source substance dodecanoic acid, hexyl ester (CAS 34316-64-8) is characterized by the same fatty acid (C12) compared to the target substance and a slightly longer alcohol chain (C10 compared to C8). The third source substance Fatty acids, C8-16, 2-ethylhexyl esters (CAS 135800-37-2) contains of mainly C12 fatty acids and a branched C8 alcohol. The fourth source substance octyl octanoate (CAS 2306-88-9) is characterized by a C8 fatty acid and a C8 alcohol. Based on the high degree of similarity between the structural and physico-chemical properties, the selected source substances are considered suitable representatives for the assessment of the aquatic toxicity of the target substance and it is assumed that the target substance will exhibit a similar ecotoxicological profile as the source substances. A detailed analogue approach justification is provided in the technical dossier (see IUCLID Section 13).

For the assessment of the aquatic toxicity of the target substance octyl laurate, GLP guideline studies are available for all three trophic levels (fish, aquatic invertebrates and algae) by means of the read-across approach. The compiled data on acute toxicity (fish, aquatic invertebrates and algae) and chronic toxicity (aquatic invertebrates and algae) indicates neither any short-term nor any long-term toxicity towards aquatic freshwater organisms up to the limit of the water solubility of the source substances. Furthermore, no toxicity towards microorganisms in activated sludge was recorded based on the results from a standard biodegradation study.

Due to the low water solubility, long-term testing on aquatic invertebrates was necessary to fully assess the potential aquatic toxicity. The available read-across study was performed with the source substance Fatty acids, C8-16, 2-ethylhexyl esters (CAS 135800-37-2) and resulted in a NOELR (21 d) ≥ 1 mg/L (nominal, OECD 211), indicating no effects on reproduction up to the limit of water solubility after 21 d exposure.