Registration Dossier

Data platform availability banner - registered substances factsheets

Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.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

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

According to Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, Annex VII, 9.1.2, toxicity testing on algae species does not need to be conducted if there are mitigating factors indicating that aquatic toxicity is unlikely to occur, for instance if the substance is highly insoluble in water. Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, C18-22-alkyl esters (CAS No. 201305-16-0) is poorly soluble in water (water solubility < 0.05 mg/L). Significant concentrations in the water phase are thus not expected to be reached, and the substance is not expected to be bioavailable for algae. Additionally, since the algal test (OECD 201) is a static test, the low water solubility and high adsorption potential (log Kow > 10) may critically hinder the technical feasibility of the study. Highly hydrophobic and adsorptive substances tend to adsorb to the walls of the test vessels and to the surface of algae cells, often causing effects on biomass and growth by direct physical interaction with the algae (e.g. hindering the access to light and nutrients, whereas dissolved concentrations in the test medium are actually close to zero (OECD Guidance document No. 23, OECD, 2000)).

Based on the technical difficulties associated to the performance of an algae study with Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, C18-22-alkyl esters, its low solubility in water, algae testing for this substance is not deemed necessary.

A detailed reference list is provided in the technical dossier (see IUCLID, section 13) and within the CSR.