File No: STD/1507

September 2014

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS NOTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SCHEME

(NICNAS)

PUBLIC REPORT

1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-(1-oxobutoxy)-, 1,2,3-trihexyl ester

This Assessment has been compiled in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (Cwlth) (the Act) and Regulations. This legislation is an Act of the Commonwealth of Australia. The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) is administered by the Department of Health, and conducts the risk assessment for public health and occupational health and safety. The assessment of environmental risk is conducted by the Department of the Environment.

For the purposes of subsection 78(1) of the Act, this Public Report may be inspected at our NICNAS office by appointment only at Level 7, 260 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

This Public Report is also available for viewing and downloading from the NICNAS website or available on request, free of charge, by contacting NICNAS. For requests and enquiries please contact the NICNAS Administration Coordinator at:

Street Address: / Level 7, 260 Elizabeth Street, SURRY HILLS NSW 2010, AUSTRALIA. /
Postal Address: / GPO Box 58, SYDNEY NSW 2001, AUSTRALIA.
TEL: / + 61 2 8577 8800
FAX: / + 61 2 8577 8888
Website: / www.nicnas.gov.au

Director

NICNAS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY 3

CONCLUSIONS AND REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS 3

ASSESSMENT DETAILS 5

1. APPLICANT AND NOTIFICATION DETAILS 5

2. IDENTITY OF CHEMICAL 5

3. COMPOSITION 6

4. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES 6

5. INTRODUCTION AND USE INFORMATION 7

6. HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS 8

6.1. Exposure Assessment 8

6.1.1. Occupational Exposure 8

6.1.2. Public Exposure 9

6.2. Human Health Effects Assessment 9

6.3. Human Health Risk Characterisation 10

6.3.1. Occupational Health and Safety 10

6.3.2. Public Health 10

7. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS 10

7.1. Environmental Exposure & Fate Assessment 10

7.1.1. Environmental Exposure 10

7.1.2. Environmental Fate 11

7.1.3. Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC) 11

7.2. Environmental Effects Assessment 12

7.2.1. Predicted No-Effect Concentration 13

7.3. Environmental Risk Assessment 13

Appendix A: Physical and Chemical Properties 14

Appendix B: Toxicological Investigations 16

B.2. Acute toxicity – oral 16

B.3. Acute toxicity – dermal 17

B.4. Irritation – skin 17

B.5. Irritation – eye 18

B.6. Skin sensitisation 18

B.7. Skin sensitisation 19

B.8. Repeat dose toxicity 20

B.9. Genotoxicity – bacteria 21

B.10. Genotoxicity – bacteria 22

B.11. Genotoxicity – in vitro 22

B.12. Genotoxicity – in vitro 23

B.13. Genotoxicity – in vivo 24

Appendix C: Environmental Fate and Ecotoxicological Investigations 25

C.1. Environmental Fate 25

C.1.1. Ready biodegradability 25

C.1.2. Ready biodegradability 26

C.2. Ecotoxicological Investigations 27

C.2.1. Acute toxicity to fish 27

C.2.2. Acute toxicity to aquatic invertebrates 27

C.2.3. Chronic toxicity to aquatic invertebrates 28

C.2.4. Algal growth inhibition test 29

BIBLIOGRAPHY 31

September 2014 NICNAS

SUMMARY

The following details will be published in the NICNAS Chemical Gazette:

ASSESSMENT REFERENCE / APPLICANT(S) / CHEMICAL OR TRADE NAME / HAZARDOUS chemical / INTRODUCTION VOLUME / USE
STD/1507 / Cintox Australia Pty Ltd / 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-(1-oxobutoxy)-, 1,2,3-trihexyl ester / Yes / ≤ 10 tonnes per annum / Component of inks, coatings and plastics

CONCLUSIONS AND REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS

Hazard classification

Based on the available information, the notified chemical is not recommended for classification according to the Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), as adopted for industrial chemicals in Australia, or the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances (NOHSC, 2004).

The environmental hazard classification according to the Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is presented below. Environmental classification under the GHS is not mandated in Australia and carries no legal status but is presented for information purposes.

Hazard classification / Hazard statement
Acute Category 1 / H400 – Very toxic to aquatic life
Chronic Category 1 / H410 – Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Human health risk assessment

Under the conditions of the occupational settings described, the notified chemical is not considered to pose an unreasonable risk to the health of workers.

When used in the proposed manner, the notified chemical is not considered to pose an unreasonable risk to public health.

Environmental risk assessment

On the basis of the PEC/PNEC ratio and the reported use pattern, the notified chemical is not considered to pose an unreasonable risk to the environment.

Recommendations

Control Measures

Occupational Health and Safety

·  No specific engineering controls, work practices or personal protective equipment are required for the safe use of the notified chemical itself. However, these should be selected on the basis of all ingredients in the formulation.

  Guidance in selection of personal protective equipment can be obtained from Australian, Australian/New Zealand or other approved standards.

·  A copy of the (M)SDS should be easily accessible to employees.

·  If products and mixtures containing the notified chemical are classified as hazardous to health in accordance with the Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) as adopted for industrial chemicals in Australia, workplace practices and control procedures consistent with provisions of State and Territory hazardous substances legislation should be in operation.

Disposal

·  Where reuse or recycling are unavailable or impracticable, dispose of the chemical in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with relevant Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government legislation.

Emergency procedures

·  Spills or accidental release of the notified chemical should be handled by containment, physical collection and subsequent safe disposal.

Transport and Packaging

·  The notified chemical is classified as UN 3082, environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s./(n-butyryltri-n-hexyl citrate, 9, PG III. The transport and packaging of the notified chemical should be in accordance with State and Territory laws based on the requirements under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code) (NTC, 2007).

Regulatory Obligations

Secondary Notification

This risk assessment is based on the information available at the time of notification. The Director may call for the reassessment of the chemical under secondary notification provisions based on changes in certain circumstances. Under Section 64 of the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act (1989) the notifier, as well as any other importer or manufacturer of the notified chemical, have post-assessment regulatory obligations to notify NICNAS when any of these circumstances change. These obligations apply even when the notified chemical is listed on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS).

Therefore, the Director of NICNAS must be notified in writing within 28 days by the notifier, other importer or manufacturer:

(1) Under Section 64(2) of the Act; if

-  the function or use of the chemical has changed from component of inks, coatings and plastics (exclusive of plastics for food/potable water contact and children’s toys), or is likely to change significantly;

-  the amount of chemical being introduced has increased, or is likely to increase, significantly;

-  the chemical has begun to be manufactured in Australia;

-  additional information has become available to the person as to an adverse effect of the chemical on occupational health and safety, public health, or the environment.

The Director will then decide whether a reassessment (i.e. a secondary notification and assessment) is required.

(Material) Safety Data Sheet

The (M)SDS of the notified chemical provided by the notifier was reviewed by NICNAS. The accuracy of the information on the (M)SDS remains the responsibility of the applicant.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

1.  APPLICANT AND NOTIFICATION DETAILS

Applicant(s)

Cintox Australia Pty Ltd (ABN: 63 122 874 613)

Suite 1, Level 2

38-40 George Street

PARRAMATTA NSW 2150

Notification Category

Standard: Chemical other than polymer (more than 1 tonne per year).

Exempt Information (Section 75 of the Act)

Data items and details claimed exempt from publication: analytical data, degree of purity, impurities, use details, import volume and identity of manufacturer/recipients.

Variation of Data Requirements (Section 24 of the Act)

Variation to the schedule of data requirements is claimed as follows: dissociation constant and acute inhalation toxicity

Previous Notification in Australia by Applicant(s)

None

Notification in Other Countries

USA (2014), Canada (1998), EU (2013) and Philippines (2000)

2.  IDENTITY OF CHEMICAL

Marketing Name(s)

Citroflex B-6

CAS Number

82469-79-2

Chemical Name

1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-(1-oxobutoxy)-, 1,2,3-trihexyl ester

Other Name(s)

Butyryl tri-n-hexyl citrate

Butyryl trihexyl citrate

Citric acid, butanoyl-, trihexyl ester

Citroflex B 6

Trihexyl butyrylcitrate

Trihexyl citrate butyrate

Molecular Formula

C28H50O8

Structural Formula

Molecular Weight

514.69 Da

Analytical Data

Reference NMR, IR, and UV-Vis spectra were provided.

3.  COMPOSITION

Degree of Purity

> 99%

4.  PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance at 20 ºC and 101.3 kPa: Clear oily liquid
Property / Value / Data Source/Justification
Freezing Point / < -20 °C / Measured
Boiling Point / 247 °C at 103.3 kPa / Measured
Relative Density / 0.994 at 21 °C / Measured
Vapour Pressure / 2 × 10-12 kPa at 20 °C
6 × 10-12 kPa at 25 °C
1 × 10-9 kPa at 50 °C / Measured
Water Solubility / 6.1 x 10-4 g/L at 20 °C / Measured
Fat Solubility / Miscible / Measured
Hydrolysis as a Function of pH / Conducted at 50°C
61% degradation (pH 7)
64% degradation (pH 9) / Measured
Partition Coefficient
(n-octanol/water) / log Pow = > 4.11 at 21 °C / Measured
Surface Tension / 56.0 mN/m at 20 °C / Measured
Adsorption/Desorption / log Koc > 5.6 / Measured
Dissociation Constant / Not determined / No dissociable functionality
Flash Point / 234 ± 8 °C at 101.3 kPa / Measured
Flammability / Not flammable / Measured
Autoignition Temperature / 384 ± 5 °C / Measured
Explosive Properties / Not explosive / Measured
Oxidising Properties / Predicted negative / Estimated
Discussion of Properties

For full details of tests on physical and chemical properties, refer to Appendix A.

Reactivity

The notified chemical is expected to be stable under normal conditions of use. The notified chemical did not evolve gas on contact with water (ICI, 1991c).

Physical hazard classification

Based on the submitted physico-chemical data depicted in the above table, the notified chemical is not recommended for hazard classification according to the Globally Harmonised System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), as adopted for industrial chemicals in Australia.

5.  INTRODUCTION AND USE INFORMATION

Mode of Introduction of Notified Chemical (100%) Over Next 5 Years

The notified chemical will be imported in to Australia as a component of finished inks in writing instruments at ≤ 10% concentration.

The notified chemical may also be imported into Australia for use as a component of ink or coating products or as a component of plastic articles (exclusive of plastics for food/drinking water contact, children’s toys or cosmetic/personal care products). The above uses may involve importing notified chemical in a neat form (>99% concentration).

Maximum Introduction Volume of Notified Chemical (100%) Over Next 5 Years

Year / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Tonnes / < 2 / < 3 / < 4 / < 5 / < 10

Port of Entry

Melbourne and Sydney

Transportation and Packaging

The notified chemical is classified as UN 3082, environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s./(n-butyryltri-n-hexyl citrate, 9, PG III. The transport and packaging of the notified chemical should be in accordance with State and Territory laws based on the requirements under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code) (NTC, 2007).

The notified chemical will be imported in writing instruments. If imported into Australia for use as a component of ink or coating products or as a component of plastic articles the notified chemical may be packaged in 1 – 10L cans (coatings), 25 kg bags (resin compound pellets for moulding of plastic articles) or in 205 L drums when imported as the neat chemical.

Use

The notified chemical will be used as a component of finished inks in writing instruments at ≤ 10% concentration. It is anticipated by the notifier that in the future the notified chemical may be imported as a component of coatings at ≤ 10% concentration or in the neat form for reformulation in inks and coatings. The notified chemical may also be imported as a component of plastics (exclusive of plastics for food/potable water contact and children’s toys) at ≤ 10% concentration (in final products) or ≤ 50% concentration (in masterbatches).

Operation description

Imported as a component of finished inks and coatings

The notified chemical will be imported in finished ink products (writing instruments) which will be sold to end-users without repackaging.

In the future, the notified chemical may also be imported in finished coating products which will be sold to end-users without repackaging.

Imported in the neat form for reformulation into inks/coatings and masterbatch pellets (potential future use)

The notified chemical in the neat form will be blended with other components to form finished ink/coating products or masterbatch pellets. The reformulation processes are expected to involve transfer between the imported drums and the blending tank, mixing in an enclosed system, QA testing, dispensing of finished products into 1-10 L cans, and routine cleaning and maintenance. In the case of formulation of masterbatches the mixture will be extruded into a waterbath before being chopped into pellets of the appropriate length. The notifier states that local exhaust ventilation is expected to be in place during such operations. The finished products are expected to contain the notified chemical at up to 10% concentration.

End use of masterbatches for reformulation into plastic articles (potential future use)

The masterbatch pellets will be transferred into the feeding hopper on the injection moulding machine either manually or by vacuum. Inside the injection-moulding machine the masterbatch pellets will be melted and injected into a mould before being cooled and ejected into a suitable receptacle.

End-Use of coatings and inks (potential future use)

At a typical printing facility, the ink cartridge is expected be inserted into the printing machine or a pipe or hose will be connected to the containers holding the ink formulations and the ink containing the notified chemical (at up to 10% concentration) will be transferred to the printing machines via an automated and enclosed process. Any residual ink within printing equipment will be wiped clean using rags and solvents.