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technical guidance documents - Institute for Health and Consumer ...

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APPENDIX XI<br />

<strong>and</strong> Kow need to be determined <strong>for</strong> the neutral <strong>for</strong>m. The choice of relevant pH values to be used<br />

in the calculation should be based on the pKa/pKb of the compound in concern <strong>and</strong> any relevant<br />

knowledge of the actual toxic <strong>for</strong>m of the substance. For experimentally determined partition<br />

coefficients the need <strong>for</strong> correction should be assessed on a case by case basis, depending on the<br />

pH in the test.<br />

These principles apply also to the fate of the substance in sewage treatment plant. However,<br />

since the STP is a well buffered environment, a default pH of 7 can be used in the calculations.<br />

The role of pH in the experimental determination of the bioconcentration should also be<br />

acknowledged.<br />

Effects assessment<br />

Ionisation can markedly alter the toxicity of the substance. Normally, this is caused by the<br />

different bioavailability of the dissociated <strong>and</strong> neutral species. Consequently, when testing<br />

toxicity, the tests should preferably be carried out at both sides of the pKa, to fully characterise<br />

the possible differences in toxicity. Since this may not be possible in every case, the role of pH<br />

should at least be discussed qualitatively in the assessment.<br />

Risk characterisation<br />

Care should be taken that the PEC <strong>and</strong> the PNEC in the risk characterisation represent similar<br />

conditions. PEC/PNEC comparisons should preferably be made at both sides of the pKa values,<br />

within environmentally relevant pH-range. The higher PEC/PNEC ratio should be used in the<br />

risk characterisation, following the realistic worst-case approach. If it is not possible to carry out<br />

a quantitative analysis, the assessor should take the pH effect into account qualitatively.<br />

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