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EC number: 233-072-9 | CAS number: 10028-22-5
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
![](https://poisoncentres.echa.europa.eu/o/diss-blank-theme/images/factsheets/A-REACH/factsheet/print_ecotoxicological-information.png)
Toxicity to microorganisms
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
No relevant effects
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
- Broglio P (1987). Toxicity of Ferric Chloride. Inquinamento 29(3):112-4
- Calleja MC, Persoone G, Geladi P (1994). Human acute toxicity prediction of the first 50 MEIC chemicals by a battery of ecotoxicological tests and physicochemical properties. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32:173-87.
- Bradford RW, Young JW, Lyne VD, Lamb TD, Haskard KA (1999). Has jarosite dumping at a deepwater site off eastern Tasmania, Australia, had a measurable effect on the midwater zooplankton and micronekton communities? DOI 10.1023/A:1005172831507 Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 116 (3):639-63.
- Johnson I, Sorokin N, Atkinson C, Rule K, Hope S-J (2007). Proposed EQS for Water Framework Directive Annex VIII substances: iron (total dissolved). ISBN: 978-1-84432-660-0. Science Report: SC040038/SR9. SNIFFER Report: WFD52(ix). Product Code SCHO0407BLWB-E-E. Self-published by Environment Agency, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD, U.K. 65 p.
- Klimisch H-J, Andreae M, Tillmann U (1997). A systematic approach for evaluating the quality of experimental toxicological and ecotoxicological data. Regul Toxicol Pharm 25:1-7.
- OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007). SIDS Initial Assessment Report for SIAM 24. Chemical Category: Iron Salts. Self-published, Paris, France, 17-20 April. 138 p.
- Sauvant MP, Pepin D, Bohatier J, Groliere CA (1995). Microplate technique for screening and assessing cytotoxicity of xenobiotics with Tetrahymena pyriformis. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 32(2):159–65.
- Vangheluwe M, Versonnen B (2004). Critical review on acute and chronic aquatic ecotoxicity data to be used for classification purposes of iron sulfate. Commissioned by ARCELOR SA, CEFIC, EUROFER, Rio Tinto plc. Final report - 25 August 2004. Prepared by EURAS, Rijvisschestraat 118, box 3. B-9052 Gent, Belgium. 76 p.
This endpoint is covered by the category approach for soluble iron salts (please see the section on physical and chemical properties for the category justification/report format).
Testing for this endpoint has been waived in accordance with column 2 and Annex XI, part 1 and 2, restrictions.
Information from Literature Searches and earlier Assessment Approaches
The literature reviews of Vangheluwe & Versonnen (2004), Johnson et al. (2007) and OECD (2007) revealed some data. The results of the studies, selected as “reliable” by the respective authors are listed in the following tables. Nonetheless the experiments must be rated “not reliable” (Klimisch 3) according to the Klimisch et al. (1997) scale due to methodological objections against testing of aquatic organisms as concluded in the beginning of this chapter (section „Ecotoxicological information“). True, intrinsic toxicity of iron kations in aerobic aquatic test organisms cannot be determined in studies when the solubility of the dissolved ferric kation (as the ferrous form will readily be oxidized to ferric species) is exceeded. None of the experiments found effects at such low levels (depend on pH, section “water solubility”). Notwithstanding the methodological objections formally expressed in the waiving argument for the standard aquatic test organisms, the following data are mentioned for completeness.
Table: Data from the EURAS critical review (Vangheluwe & Versonnen 2004, table 3, p 13)
Test |
Test organism |
Test medium |
Test |
Nominal / Measured |
Duration |
Endpoints |
L(E)C50 [mg/L] |
Reference |
Reliability |
FeSO4 |
Vibrio fischeri |
Reconstituted water |
SOP |
N |
15 min |
Bioluminescence |
40 |
Calleja et al. 1994 |
R1 |
N: Nominal concentration
R1: Reliable without restriction according to the scheme of the authors (set out in chapter 3.2 of their publication), corrected to Klimisch 3 “not reliable” as discussed above
SOP: Toxkit standard operation procedure
Table: Data according to Johnson et al. (2007, table 2.7, p 24)
Scientific name |
Common name |
Endpoint |
Effect |
Test duration [h] |
Concentration [mg/L] # |
Exposure |
Toxicant analysis |
Comments (Author's Reliability) |
Reference |
Tetrahymena pyriformis |
Protozoan |
EC50 |
Growth |
9 |
105 |
s |
n |
As FeCl3 (R3) |
Sauvant et al. 1995 |
R3: Not reliable according to the authors (set out in Annex 1, p 56 of their publication)
Exposure: s = static
Toxicant analysis: n = not measured.
An overview on the evaluated literature toxicity data is given in OECD (2007) as follows: “In acute toxicity studies in micro-organisms, an IC50 result for ferrous sulfate of 40 mg Fe/L in a reliable study using luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) is available. (Calleja et al. 1994) It is supported by results (“acute toxicity”, endpoint and duration not stated, and one EC0 value; it is not stated whether the results are as mg Fe/L or mg salt/L.) in the range of 100-183 mg/L in studies of uncertain reliability using Pseudomonas putida, P. fluorescens and Photobacterium phosphoreum). Several IC50 values (1-10 mg/L) have been measured for Fe(Cl)3 using 14 micro-organism species, in studies of uncertain reliability. Available data on test conditions is minimal but in some cases the acidic pH (4-5) was noted. The observed effects may be associated with the intrinsic acidity of Fe (III) salts.
Effects on aquatic micro-organisms appear to be related to the pH of the test medium, which decreases as more iron is added. Inhibition of cellular respiration in activated sludge biomass was observed, with an IC50 of ca. 500 mg FeCl3/L (equivalent to ca. 170 mg Fe(III)/L) (Broglio 1987).”
Table: Data from the OECD (2007) assessment (table 24, p 68)
Test substance |
Test organism |
Test duration |
Effect |
LC50 [mg Fe/L] |
Reference |
Author’s Reliability |
FeSO4 |
Vibrio fischeri |
15 min |
Bioluminescence |
40 (n.t) |
Calleja et al. 1994 |
R2 |
n.t = nominal total Fe
R2 = Rating by the authors (OECD 2007) referring to the Klimisch et al. (1997) scale, corrected to Klimisch 3 “not reliable” as discussed above.
Soluble iron (III) salts are commonly used as flocculating agent and for phosphate removal in sewage water treatment plants (SWTP. The range of loading rate varies between ca. 1 – 100 g Fe/m³ waste water. The reported typical overall average usage (15 g Fe/m³ waste water) is reported to result in concentrations of 200-500 mg Fe/L in activated sludge (Kronos, Phosphate elimination by simultaneous precipitation pamphlet). Higher levels have been reported but this may be a seasonal or occasional effect; loading rates of iron vary significantly for different applications at different stages of the wastewater treatment processing, and the maximum concentration to which activated sludges are regularly exposed could easily be much higher than this.
At these levels the soluble iron salt loadings have no detrimental effects on the functioning of SWTP. On the contrary the intention of the procedure is to increase the capacity of SWTP, which is confirmed by the professional practice. Thus is can be concluded the soluble iron salts are not toxic to sewage micro-organisms.
Marine field study data
No effects attributable to Jarosite (CAS 12207-14-6, the Potassium salt of Hydronium jarosite, EC 940-441-4, (H3O)Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6) have been identified in the study of Bradford et al. (1999). The authors compared a deep-ocean dumpsite southeast of Tasmania, Australia, with surrounding water masses in terms of biomass, abundance, species diversity and length-frequency distribution of macrozooplankton and micronekton.
Information on Registered Substances comes from registration dossiers which have been assigned a registration number. The assignment of a registration number does however not guarantee that the information in the dossier is correct or that the dossier is compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (the REACH Regulation). This information has not been reviewed or verified by the Agency or any other authority. The content is subject to change without prior notice.
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