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EC number: 231-843-4 | CAS number: 7758-94-3
- 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)
Long-term toxicity to fish
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
No relevant effects
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Additional information
- Amelung M (1982). Auswirkungen gelöster Eisenverbindungen auf die Ei- und Larvalentwicklung von Salmo gairdneri (Richardson). Arch. Fischerei Wiss 32:77–87.
- Birge WJ, Black JA, Westerman AG, Short TM, Taylor SB, Bruser DM, Wallingford ED (1985). Recommendations on numerical values for regulating iron and chloride concentrations for the purpose of protecting warmwater species of aquatic life in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Memorandum of Agreement No. 5429, Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.
- Dave G (1985). The influence of pH on the toxicity of aluminium, cadmium and iron to eggs and larvae of the zebrafish Brachydanio rerio. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10:253-67.
- 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.
- Lappivaara J, Kiviniemi A, Oikari A (1999). Bioaccumulation and subchronic physiological effects of waterborne iron overload on whitefish exposed in humic and nonhumic water. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 37:196–204.
- 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.
- Reader JP, Everall NC, Sayer MDJ, Morris R (1989). The effects of eight trace metals in acid soft water on survival, mineral uptake and skeletal calcium deposition in yolk-sac fry of brown trout, Salmo trutta, L. Journal of Fish Biology 35:187–98.
- Smith EJ, Sykora JL (1976). Early developmental effects of lime-neutralized iron hydroxide suspensions on brook trout and coho salmon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 105:308-12.
- Smith EJ, Sykora JL, Shapiro MA (1973). Effect of Lime Neutralized Iron Hydroxide Suspension on Survival, Growth and Reproduction of the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas). Journal Fisheries Research Board of Canada 30(8):1147-53.
- van Anholt RD, Spanings FAT, Knol AH, van der Velden JA, Wendelaar Bonga SE (2002). Effects of iron sulfate dosage on the water flea (Daphnia magna Straus) and early development of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 42:182-92.
- 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.
Freshwater species:
Table: Data from the EURAS critical review (Vangheluwe & Versonnen 2004, table 3, p 11-12 & 15 and table 3, p 17-18)
Test |
Test organism |
Test medium |
Test |
Nominal / Measured |
Duration |
Endpoints |
NOEC [mg/L] |
LOEC |
L(E)C50 [mg/L] |
Reference |
Author’s Reliability |
FeCl3.6H2O |
Pimephales promelas |
reconstituted ASTM water |
pH: 7.7; T: 25; H: 103; Alk: 56 |
To, TD, T2 |
33 days |
Length |
1.00 (measured To) |
1.61 (measured To) |
|
Birge et al. 1985 |
R1 |
Weight |
1.61 (measured To) |
2.81 (measured To) |
|
||||||||
Fe(OH)3 |
Salvelinus fontinalis |
carbon filtered well water |
pH: 8.1; T: 11; H: 159-180 |
To, TD, T2 |
30 days |
Hatching, Survival, Growth |
|
>10.3 (measured To) |
|
Smith & Sykora 1976 |
R1 |
Hatching |
|
>10.3 (measured To) |
|
||||||||
Oncorhynchus kisutch |
Survival |
2.81 (measured To) |
4.91 (measured To) |
|
|||||||
Growth |
|
>10.3 (measured To) |
|
||||||||
FeSO4.7H2O |
Cyprinus carpio |
River water |
pH: 7.7-7.9; T: 15.7-22.6 |
To |
2 weeks |
Cortisol level |
0.52 |
0.62 |
|
van Anholt et al. 2002 |
R2 |
FeCl3.6H2O |
Danio rerio |
aerated, aged tap water |
pH: 4; T: 25; H: 40 |
N |
16 days |
Survival |
|
|
MST affected: 4 |
Dave G 1985 |
R2 |
pH: 5; T: 25; H: 40 |
16 days |
|
MST prolonged (all conc.) |
||||||||
pH: 6; T: 25; H: 40 |
16 days |
|
MST affected: 32 |
||||||||
pH: 7; T: 25; H: 40 |
16 days |
|
MST>32 |
||||||||
pH: 8; T: 25; H: 40 |
16 days |
|
MST>32 |
||||||||
pH: 9; T: 25; H: 40 |
16 days |
|
MST>32 |
Alk: alkalinity [mg/L CaCO3]
H: hardness [mg/L CaCO,]
MST: median survival time
N: Nominal concentration
R1: Reliable without restriction according to the scheme of the authors (set out in chapter 3.2, p 6, of their publication), corrected to Klimisch 3 “not reliable” as discussed above.
R2: Reliable with restrictions according to the authors (set out in chapter 3.2, p 6, of their publication), corrected to Klimisch 3 “not reliable” as discussed above.
T: temperature [°C]
T2: total Fe(II) ion measured
TD: dissolved total Fe measured
To: total Fe measured
Table: Data according to Johnson et al. (2007, table 2.6, p 23)
Scientific name |
Common name |
Endpoint |
Effect |
Test duration [d] |
Concentration [mg/L] # |
Exposure |
Toxicant analysis |
Comments (Author's Reliability) |
Reference |
Coregonus lavaretus |
Whitefish |
NOEC |
Physiology |
30 |
0.07 |
ss |
y |
As FeSO4 (R2) |
Lappivaara et al. 1999 |
Onchorynchus mykiss |
Rainbow trout eggs |
LOEC |
Embryogenesis |
28 |
5.7 |
f |
y |
As FeSO4; pH 6.8 |
Amelung 1982 |
Salmo trutta |
Brown trout |
NOEC |
Skeletal effects |
30 |
0.0235 |
f |
y |
As FeCl3; pH 6.5 (R3) |
Reader et al. 1989 |
Salmo trutta |
Brown trout |
LOEC |
Skeletal effects |
30 |
0.0196 |
f |
y |
As FeCl3; pH 4.5 (R3) |
Reader et al. 1989 |
# Concentration related to iron if not stated otherwise under comments (third-to-last column)
R2: Reliable with restrictions according to the authors (set out in Annex 1, p 56 of their publication), corrected to Klimisch 3 “not reliable” as discussed above.
R3: Not reliable according to the authors (set out in Annex 1, p 56 of their publication)
Exposure: ss = semi-static; f = flow-through.
Toxicant analysis: y = measured
Table: Data from the OECD (2007) assessment (table 30, p 70)
Test substance |
Test organism |
Test duration |
Effect |
Endpoint [mg Fe/L] |
Reference |
Author’s Reliability |
FeCl3.6H2O |
Pimephales promelas |
33 d |
Length at pH 7.5±0.2 |
1.0 (m.t., NOEC) |
Birge et al. (1985) |
R2 |
1.6 (m.t., LOEC) |
||||||
Weight at pH 7.5±0.2 |
1.6 (m.t., NOEC) |
|||||
1.8 (m.t., LOEC) |
||||||
FeSO4 |
Pimephales promelas |
12 months |
Growth, Hatching at pH 6.9-7.2 |
<1.5 (n.t., NOEC) |
Smith et al. 1973 |
R2 |
1.5 (n.t., LOEC) |
m.t = measured total Fe
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.
Saltwater species:
No relevant data were reported by Vangheluwe & Versonnen (2004), Johnson et al. (2007) and OECD (2007).
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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