Methyl benzoylformate

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Bioaccumulation potential:

no bioaccumulation potential

Additional information

There are no studies available in which the toxicokinetic properties of the test substance were investigated. Based on the absence of adverse findings in toxicity studies, and the presence of functional groups for metabolism, a potential for bioaccumulation is unlikely. Further details for this assessments are given below.

 

Chemistry

The test substance (molecular weight of 164 Da) is a yellow liquid those water solubility (deionised water) is 2 g/l and the logPow 1.9 at pH 6.3. The vapour pressure at 20 °C was determined to be 2.3 Pa which is considered to be low compared to water or ethanol. No hydrolysis was observed in any aqueous test solution at different pH values.

 

Absorption

In acute oral and dermal toxicity studies, rats were administered to the test substance. Mortality and clinical signs of toxicity were observed only after oral application at a concentration of 10.000 mg/kg bw. Dermal application did not provoke any effect up to the limit dose, indicating primarily a low level of oral and dermal toxicity. The NOAEL in male and female rats in a subacute oral repeated dose study is 1000 mg/kg bw. Regarding the results of the hydrolysis study mentioned above, hydrolytic degradation in the stomach is not expected. As the test item does not bear resemblance to fatty acids, uptake via micelles with bile acids is unlikely.

A slight skin penetration is expected based on a calculation according to the model of Fitzpatrick, et al., 2004.

Due to the low vapour pressure evaporation and subsequent respiratory uptake of the test item is not expected. In an animal study rats were exposed to vapour for 7h. Mortality of clinical signs of toxicity were not observed.

 

Metabolism

A single dose of the test item was administered by gavage to male and female Wistar rats at concentrations of 10000, 6810, 4640, 3160 mg/kg bw. Mortality occurred at the highest dose level. The LD50 after oral administration is considered to be > 5000 mg/kg bw. Single dermal application did not provoke any effect and LD50 was considered to be > 2000 mg/kg bw. Additionally

male and female rats each were exposed to test item vapour for 7h. All animals survived until the scheduled necropsy date, clinical signs of toxicity were no observed and gross pathology did not reveal any findings

Oral administration of the test substance to Wistar rats at doses of 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day, for 28 days resulted in no test item-related effects and no differences in food consumption or body weight development. The hematology, clinical biochemistry and urinalysis parameters did not show test item-related differences when compared with those of the controls. Organ weights of test item-treated animals were unaffected, and macroscopical/microscopical findings were of no toxicological relevance. Based on the results of this study, 1000 mg/kg/day was considered to be the no observed- adverse-effect-level (NOAEL).

In case the substance is absorbed via the gastrointestianl system, the material will be transported to the liver. Enzymatic activity may result in hydroxylation of keto-groups and probably subsequent phase-II substitution by chlorine.

  

Excretion 

In case of gastrointestinal uptake and metabolism through hydroxylation and phase-II substitution of chlorine it is expected that the test substance might be excreted predominantly via the urine. Overall, the test substance is not expected to accumulate in the body.

 

Used references:

Fitzpatrick, D., et al. (2004). "Modelling skin permeability in risk assessment-the future." Chemosphere 55 (10): 1309-14.