2

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

................................ ................................ ................................ 3

I. BACKGROUND

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 6
II. INERT INGREDIENT PROFILE

................................ ................................ ...................... 8
A. Summary of Uses

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8

B. Physical Chemical Properties

................................ ................................ ................. 9

III. HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT

................................ ................................ ................ 10
A. Summary of Toxicity Data

................................ ................................ .................... 10

B. Toxicity Endpoint Selection

................................ ................................ ................. 23

C. Special Considerations for Infants and Children

................................ .................. 23

IV. EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

................................ ................................ ........................... 23
A. Dietary Exposure:

................................ ................................ ................................ . 23 i. Acute exposure

................................ ................................ ................................ ... 23 ii. Chronic exposure

................................ ................................ ............................... 24 iii. Cancer exposure

................................ ................................ ............................... 24

B. Residential (Non

- Occupational) Exposure:

................................ .......................... 24

i. From non

- dietary exposure.

................................ ................................ ................ 24

V. OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE/RISK PATHWAY

................................ ....................... 24
VI. CUMULATIVE EXPSOURE

................................ ................................ .......................... 24
VII. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE S TATEMENT

................................ ............................... 25
VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE CONSIDERATIONS

................................ ......................... 26
IX. ECOTOXICITY

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 26
X. RISK CHARACTERIZATION

................................ ................................ ........................ 30
REFERENCES

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. 333

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Technology Sciences Group on behalf of BYK Additives Inc. ( 1600 West Hill Street Louisville, KY 40210 ) submitted a petition to the EPA to amend 40 CFR 180.920 by establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for the use of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alky l)dimethylammoniu m salts with sepiolite (CAS Reg. No. 1574487

- 61

- 8 ) as an inert ingredient (suspending or structuring agent) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops in
accordance with 40 CFR 180.920 with l imitation s of 2 .0 % in formulation , asbestos free and

cont aining less than 1% crystalline silica

.

A variety of clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds are used throughout this document as structurally similar analogs to quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydr ogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite . These clays are often named for the predominant, but not exclusive mineral in a particular deposit, so variation between the substances may not be as great as it would initially appear. Most of t he substances referenced were also used in the OECD HPV Chemical Program for the SIDS dossier on organoclays. The diversity of closely

- related treated clays is partly a result of the different combinations of the four different but related clays: smectites

, hectorite, bentonite, and montmorillonite. These four are closely/inter

- related and have been
described in som e datasets interchangeably . Smectite is actually the name describing a group of
cla y minerals, of which hectorite, bentonite, and montmorillonite and sepiolite (the clay type in the petitioned substance) are members. It is primarily the identity of counter ions that distinguishes these clays. Where saponite contains calcium, magnesium and iron,
bentonite/montmorillonite c ontains sodi um, calcium, aluminu m, and magnesium, and hectorite has sodium, lithium, and magnesium counter ions. In treated clays, the naturally

- occurring counter ions on the clays' surface have been readily exchanged for quaternary ammonium ions. The diversity of the structurally similar treated clays is further derived from the combinations of quaternary ammonium compounds th at have been exchanged for counter ions on the clays'

sur face. These quaternary ammoniu m compounds can have between one and four
substitutions/R

- groups: 1

- 2 methyls, 0

- 1 benzyls, and/or 1

- 3 alkyl C14

- C22 groups derived from
tallow oil.

Despite this diversity, the treated smectite clays described in this petition have similar structures, toxicological properties, and physical

- chemical properties, including particle size distribution, to one another and to the petitioned substance, q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite

.

Based on data in structu rally similar clay substances, q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite has low acute toxicity via the oral, dermal and inhalation routes in rats. The
sub stance is expected to be a slight skin and eye irritant. A structurally similar substance did not cause skin sensitization in guinea pigs.4

In multiple 28

- day r epeat

- dose studies consistently showed high No Observed Adverse Effect Levels (NOAELs), typically the highest dose tested, which was 1000 mg/kg /day in rats.
There was an absence of test substance

- related toxicologically significant effects at any of the doses administered, including for neurological and immunological endpoints. Similarly, the re were no effects on reproductive or developmental endpoints and no evidence for genotoxicity in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays (OECD 471, 474 and 476 on multiple quaternary ammonium compounds)

.

Clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds hav e low water solubility, a high hydrophobic partition coefficient and relatively high molecular weight. All three factors indicate likely limited absorption following ingestion, dermal exposure or inhalation. Based on similarities in treated clays (high mol ecular weights, low water solubility, high hydrophobicity),
the treated sepiolite would also be almost completely eliminated from the body shortly after oral dosing. Therefore, the biological availability is expected to be low.

The available toxicity stud ies indicate that of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite has a very low overall toxicity. The NOAELs were > 10 00 mg /kg/day (limit dose). Since signs of toxicity were not observed at the limit dose an endpoint of concern for risk

assessment purposes was not identified

. Therefore, s ince no endpoint of concern was identified for the acute and chronic dietary exposure assessment and for short and interme diate dermal and inhalation exposure, a quantitative risk assessment for of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite is not necessary.

Since there is no endpoint of concern selected for dermal or inhalation routes of exposure, a qualitative occupation exposure assessment was not completed and occupational exposure is not of concern.

Acute ecotoxicity testing of treated clays h aving structural similarity to q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite typically gave results in the low or slight concern category (10

- >100 mg/L) for aquatic and terre strial organisms including fish, aquatic invertebrates, algae, and earthworms. Chronic ecotoxicity tests suggest a moderate concern for aquatic invertebrates and fish. However, at least part of the toxicity was attributed to a physical
effect of the test s ubstance, rather than a true toxicological effect.

Potential areas of environmental justice concerns, to the extent possible, were considered in this human health risk assessment, in accordance with U.S. Executive Order 12898, "Federal
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low

- Income Populations," http://www.eh.doe.gov/oepa/guidance/justice/eo12898.pdf.

Taking into consideration all available information on q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite , EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm to any population subgroup will result from aggregate exposure to q uaternary5

ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogen ated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite when considering occupation, dietary exposure and all other nonoccupational sources of pesticide exposure for which there is reliable information. Therefore, the establishment of an exemption from tolerance under 40 CFR 180.920 for residues
of q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite (CAS Reg. No. 1574487

- 61

- 8 ) whe n used as an inert ingredient (suspending or structuring agent) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops with limitation s of 2.0% in formulation , asbestos free and containing less than 1% crystalline silica can be considered assessed as safe under section 408(q)
of the FFDCA.6

I. BACKGROUND

Technology Sciences Group on behalf of BYK Additives Inc. (1600 West Hill Street Louisville, KY 40210) submitted a petition to the EPA to amend 40 CFR 180.920 by establishing an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for the use of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite (CAS Reg. No. 1574487

- 61

- 8 ) as an inert ingredient (suspending or structuring agen t) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops in
accordance with 40 CFR 1 80.920 with limitation s of 2.0% in formulation , asbestos free and containing less than 1% crystalline silica

.

A variety of clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds are used throughout this document as structurally similar analogs to of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite . These clays are often named for the pred ominant, but not exclusive mineral in a particular deposit, so variation between the substances may not be as great as it would initially appear. Most of the substances referenced were also used in the OECD HPV Chemical Program for the SIDS dossier on orga noclays, which was submitted by industry and reviewed by OECD member countries and US EPA (OECD 2007).

Table 1. Treated Smectitle Clays Referenced in t his Petition

Treated Clay (and synonyms, abbreviations) CAS Reg. No. (and equivalent CAS Reg. No.)
Stearalkonium Bentonite (Benzenemethanaminium, N,N

- dimethyl

- N

- octadecyl

- , reaction products with bentonite; Commercial names: Tixogel VZ

- V, Tixogel VZ) 130501

- 87

- 0 **

Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl, chlorides, compounds with hectorite (Stearalkonium hectorite; [B(Alk)2M] hectorite) 71011

- 26

- 2 (94891

- 33

- 5; 12691

- 60

- 0)

Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl(hydrogenated tallow
al kyl)dimethyl, chlorides, compounds with bentonite {[BfAlk)2M] bentonite) 71011

- 24

- 0 (71011

- 25

- 1; 121888

- 68

- 4;
89749

- 78

- 0) Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, chlorides, compounds with bentonite ([B(2Alk)M] bentonite) 68153

- 30

- 0 (121888

- 66

- 2; 89749

- 77

- 9)

Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, salts with hectorite ([B(2Alk)M] hectorite) 121888

- 67

- 3

Quaternary ammonium compounds, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl, salts with bentonite Quaternium

- 18 bentonite ([2M(2Alk)] bentonite) 68953

- 58

- 2 (1340

- 69

- 8; 73138

- 28

- 0)

Quaternary ammonium compounds, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl, chlorides, compounds with hectorite ([2M(2Alk)] hectorite) 71011

- 27

- 3; 94891

- 31

- 3; 97280

- 96

- 1; 12001

- 31

- 9

Bis(hydrogenated tal low alkyl)dimethylammonium with smectite ([2M(2Alk)] smectite) 91081

- 06

- 0***

Bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethylarnmonium with montmorillonite ([2M(2Alk)] montmorillonite) 68911

- 87

- 57

Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, salts with montmorillonite ([B(2Alk)M] montmorillonite) 97952

- 68

- 6

Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl, chlorides, compounds with smectite ([B(Alk)2M] smectite) 91080

- 57

- 8; 91080

- 567***

*AII alkyl R

- groups are C14

- C22, except ** is C22 and *** is di

- C10

- C22 alkyl

Compared to those in the petitioned substance, the quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats") on the clays in Table 1 are the same or similar. The quaternary ammoniu m compound
R

- 10 of 43 groups in Table 1 are benzyl, methyl, and/or alkyl

- (primarily C14

- C22) substituted
and derived from tallow oil. The fact that the organic components of the treated clays are essentially the same adds validity to the use of data on t he treated smectites in Table 1 to describe properties of the treated sepiolite. A comparison of the physical properties of these quats to the representative quat benzyldimethylstearylammonium chloride (i.e. stearalkonium chloride; CAS Reg. No. 122

- 19

- 0) c onfirms this (Table 2). Stearalkonium chloride R

- groups are dimethyl, C18 alkyl, and benzyl. All quats in Table 2 have negligible water solubility, a high
octanol

- water partitioning coefficient, and a high propensity to adsorb, rather than mobilize.
Additi onally, benzyl methyl dialkyl ammonium chloride and dimethyl dialkyl ammonium chloride are considerably less soluble and have higher Kow/Koc values than stearalkonium chloride. All other things being equal, this suggests that Benzyl methyl dialkyl ammonium chloride and Dimethyl dialkyl ammonium chloride are actually more likely to stay adsorbed to
surfaces than stearalkonium chloride. Furthermore, a similar trend is apparent for measured
values of the stearalkonium bentonite, the treated clay analog and a s tearalkonium chloride derivative (see Table 2). Hence the use of stearalkonium bentonite as an analog is expected to be a conservative strategy for describing the potential bioavailability of the quaternary compounds on treated sepiolite.

Table 2. Physical Properties of some Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Stearalkonium Bentonite (Data are from NICNAS 2013a)

Name CAS Reg.
No. Solubility (g/L) Log Kow Log Koc

Benzyl methyl dialkyl ammonium
chloride 61789

- 73

- 9 5.47 x10

- 10 (est) 10.29 ( est) 6.530 (est)

Dimethyl dialkyl ammonium chloride 61789

- 80

- 8 4.85 x10

- 8 (est) 8.59 (est) 5.589 (est)
Stearalkonium chloride (reference quat) 122

- 19

- 0 2.08 x10

- 5 (est) 5.87 (est) 4.085 (est)
Stearalkonium bentonite (treated clay analog) 130501

- 87

- 0 <4. 0x 10

- 5 (meas) 5.87 (meas) unable to
determine

The clay component of the structurally similar treated clay analogs shown in Table 1 is
smectite. Smectite is actually the name describing a group of clay minerals, of which hectorite, bentonite, and montmorillonite are members. These four are closely/inter

- related and have been described in some datasets interchangeably (OECD 2007). Smectites are sheet silicates consisting of two tetrahedral layers of SiO 4 and one octahedral layer typically of Al O 4

. Smectites all have large surface areas (700

- 800 m 2 /g; Brady 1990) and can accommodate additional interlayers of water, which cause them to swell. Each individual crystal is about one nanometer thick and up to 1000 nanometers across. Each crystal carries a net negative charge of approximately 0.8

- 1.5 mEq/g, making smectites highly hydrophilic (OECD 2007). The net negative charge on smectites can be accounted for by isomorphous substitution of Mg2+ for Al8

3+ or Al 3+ for Si4+, and by pH (Brady 1990). The CEC o f smectites is high, ranging from 80 to 120 cmol positive charge per kg.

Although the sepiolite clays are physically dissimilar to the smectite group clays that are
listed in Table 1, once they are treated with quaternary ammonium compounds, the treated c lays

are expected to have very similar physical and toxicological properties. In treated clays of either type, the naturally

- occurring counter ions on the clays' surface have been readily exchanged for quaternary ammonium ions. As the CEC of smectites is h igher, they can be said to have more capacity to bind cations via the CEC mechanism compared to sepiolite. However at high quat loading the CEC sites will eventually saturate and the chain

- chain interactions become more important.

The ions are strongly bo und to the clays' surface through ionic and hydrophobic forces
and this is not expected to be different between sepiolite and smectites. As a result, both treated sepiolite and smectite are expected to be non

- reactive in the environment and essentially

una vailable biologically. This supports the use of treated smectite group clay minerals as proxies for treated sepiolite in both environmental fate and toxicological properties

.

Another argument supporting the validity of bridging data on the treated clays i n Table 1

to describe properties of Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite is that they have similar particle size distributions.

II. INERT INGREDIENT PROF ILE

A. Summary of Uses

A trade name the inert mixture of which Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite is a component, is used as a rheological additive for epoxy and vinyl ester systems and solvent born systems.

Sepiolite alone (i.e. untreated) has multiple household uses; it is in cat litter and other products that require or function as moisture and odor control. It also functions as an industrial absorbent, contaminant remediation tool, chemical carrier, and stabilizer in fertilizers. Sepiolite
is used in roof panels and other construction materials to improve binding and increasing
resistance to the elements, including fire. It is a common rheological additive for organic systems including solvent

- based paints, greases, resins and inks. Sepiolite is also registered in the ED as a technological additive for animal feed (E

- 562). It lends binding and an ti

- caking properties to
feed and acts as a suspending agent in liquid feeds for pigs and ruminants (IMA Europe, undated). The Cosmetics Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel and British and US Pharmacopeias list sepiolite as magnesium trisilicate (Lopez

- Gal indo 2007). The CIR Expert
Panel concluded that sepiolite/magnesium trisilicate is "safe as currently used in cosmetic
formulations." Magnesium trisilicate is also listed in the OTC Active Ingredient State Report as being used in antacids, digestive aids, and overindulgence remedies (CIR 2003).9

B. Physical Chemical Properties The clay component is sepiolite (CAS Reg. No. 63800

- 37

- 3 ) and the quaternary ammonium compounds are:

 Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl,
chlorides (CAS Reg. No. 61789

- 73

- 9) (top molecule shown below under structure).

 Quaternary ammonium compounds, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl, chlorides (CAS Reg. No. 61789

- 80

- 8) (bottom molecule shown below under structure).

Sepiolite is a hydrated magnesi um silicate with fibrous morphology with the ideal
formula Si 12 Mg 8 O 30 (OH) 4 (OH 2 ) 4 .8H 2 O. One magnesium octahedron is sandwiched between two tetrahedra of silicon arranged as a quincunx where every 6 or 4 silicon tetrahedra, the structure
inverts 180° creating a structure of chains parallel to the a axis, each of which has a 2:1 structure. This creates open channels making the clay highly porous and giving sepiolite a high surface
area of about 300 m 2 /g (IMA undated). The clay is highly hydrophilic due to silanol groups (

- SiOH) on the surface

. The high density of silanol groups (

- SiOH) on the surface explains the hydrophilicity of this clay. The silicate chain has a low negative charge giving the clay a low cation exchange capacity (CEC). The channels in the structure and the outer surface contain the native counter ions that can readily exchange for organic cations like quaternary ammonium compounds, resulting in treated clay that is highly hydrophobia Once bound, the quaternary ammonium compound is unli kely to dissociate under natural conditions as ionic and adsorbing forces would need to be overcome simultaneously, requiring a material with a very high cation exchange capacity that is also able to solubilize the quaternary ammonium moiety (OECD 2007).

NICNAS (2013b) reported the melting point of stearalkonium bentonite to be >390°C
and the boiling point of stearalkonium hectorite, per OECD TG 103, to be >500°C at 101.3 kPa. However, these values are somewhat misleading in that, al though extreme heat may degrade treated clays somewhat, they will not technically melt or boil. Similarly, treated clays do not dissolve measurably in water (see Table 3) or in or in lipids/octanol (OECD 2007). Therefore the concept of partitioning between these phases (Kow) is not relevant. Likewise, the organic carbon partitioning coefficient (Koc) cannot be realistically measured for organoclays. Vapor pressure and volatility are not applicable because this substance is essentially an inorganic solid. If fine particles are released to the air, they will tend to settle onto the ground. Those released into water will also eventually settle out and become part of soil/sediment. These substances will not hydrolyze or react with acids or bases over a pH range of 3

- 11 (OECD 2007), nor will they migrate between environmental compartments.

T able 2

. Physical and Chemical Properties of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

Parameter Value Source10 Structure Petition

CAS Reg. No. 1574487

- 61

- 8 Molecular Weight (g/mol)
Common Names Not Available Physical State Solid Melting Point (°C) Not Applicable Boiling Point (°C) @ 19 hPa Not Applicable Density (g/cm 3 @ 20°C) Vapor Pressure (mmHg @ 25°C) Not Applicable
Partition Coefficient (Log P) Not Applicable Water Solubility (g/L) Not Applicable pH Henry's Law Constant

III. HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT

A. Summary of Toxicity Data

Based on data in structurally similar clay substances, q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite has low acute toxicity via the oral, dermal
and inhalation routes in rats. The substance is expected to be a slight skin and eye irritant. A structurally similar substance did not cause skin sensitization in guinea pigs. Repeat

dose studies consistently s howed high No Observed Adverse Effect Levels (NOAELs), typically the highest dose tested, which was 1000 mg/kg /day in rats. There was an
absence of test substance

- related toxicologically significant effects at any of the doses administered, including for neurological and immunological endpoints. Similarly, there were no effects on reproductive or developmental endpoints and no evidence for genotoxicity in multiple in vitro and in vivo assays. The data presented in the following section support the notion t hat Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbisfhydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bisfhydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite is a biologically inactive substance that will
not result in adverse health effects when used as an inert mat erial in pesticide formulations intended for pre

- harvest use.

Acute Oral Toxicity11

Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0; trade name: Tixogel VZ

- V) was administered orally to 5 male and 5 fe male rats at 5000 mg/kg . The test substance was

prepar ed in a 12.5% gravimetric corn oil suspension. After a 14

- day observation period,
the LD 50 was determined to be >5000 mg/kg based on 1/10 deaths (CRT 1981 a).

An acute oral LD 50 of >5000 mg/kg [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2)
was establishe d in rats. The test method was considered similar to OECD guideline 401 (OECD 2008c). The test substance was prepared in corn oil as a 50% suspension. Sprague Dawley rats (5/sex) received a gavage dose o f 5000 mg/kg and were monitored for 14 days. There we re no deaths during the study. Two males had diarrhea; there were no other clinical signs of toxicity.

Similar results (LD 50 values exceeding 5000 mg/kg ) were obtained in acute oral studies in rats with [B(2Alk)M] bentonite, [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg . No. 68953

- 58

- 2 (OECD 2008d); B(Alk)2M bentonite, B(Alk)2M smectite, 2M(2Alk) hectorite, 2M(2Alk) montmorillonite, 2M(2Alk) smectite, B(2Alk)M hectorite, and B(2Alk)M montmorillonite (OECD 2007).

Dermal Toxicity An acute dermal toxicity study (OECD guide line 402) w as carried out on stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0; trade name: Tixogel VZ

- V). Stearalkonium
bentonite at 2000 mg/kg was administered to the dorsal thoracal region of 5 male and 5 female Sprague Dawley rats for 24 hours. Body we ights were measured 7 and 15 days post

- administration. There were no significant changes in body weight nor was there any mortality. The LD 50 was determined to be >2000 mg/kg (ARC 2004).

Inhalation Toxicity An acute inhalation toxicity test similar to OECD guideline 403 was carried out using
d ust of B(Alk)2M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0). Sprague

- Dawley rats (5/sex)
were whole

- body exposed to 5.2 mg/L (nominal) for four hours and then observed and weighed during the next 14 days. There were no dea ths during the study. Some (6/10)
animals showed a reduction in activity on day 2 that was not apparent by day 4. Other
observations were nasal discharge (7 animals, day 2), respiratory irr egularity (1 animal, days 2

- 3), transient decrease in average group body weight (not evident by day 8). The 4

- hour inhalation LC 50 was >5.2 mg/L (OECD 2008b).

Two OECD TG 403 acute inhalation toxicity tests of [2M(2Alk)J be ntonite (CAS Reg.
No. 68953

- 58

- 2) had similar results. One was a 4

- hour test at a concentrati on of 12.7 mg/L and one was a 1 hr exposure at 200 mg/L. There were no deaths, but some labored breathing. The 4

- hr and 1

- hr LC 50 values were >12.7 and >200 mg/L, respectively (OECD 2008d).

B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) was also tested for acute inhalation toxicity in rats. The 4

- hour LC 50 was >5.4 mg/L (OECD 2007).12

An OECD TG 403 study of B(2Alk)M hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 97952

- 68

- 6) derived an
LC 50 value of >5.2 mg/L in rats. Another acute inhalation study employed a lower dose of B(2Alk)M hectorite to assess the inflammatory/cytotoxic response in the lung following inhalation of aerosols. The MMAD was 6.6 μm , with 7 5% of particles less than 12 μm in size. Rats were exposed to 0.65 mg/L for four hours and then sacrificed after
two weeks. The re were no treatment

- related differences in body weight but lung weights were slightly higher compared to controls. Analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed elevated levels of protein, lactate dehydrogenase, beta

- glucuronidase and N

acetyl glu cosaminidase and measurement of cellular parameters revealed a greater number of cells, including inflammatory cells, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in rats exposed to the test material. Compared to negative controls these changes indicated some
level of biological activity of the test compound; however, changes were not as marked as those seen in positive control rats (OECD 2007).

Primary Eye Irritation Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0; trade name: Ti xogel VZ

- V) was
administered at 0.1 g to the eyes of 6 New Zealand rabbits (CRT 1981c). One eye in each
rabbit served as the control. The eyes were not washed for 24 hours and observations were scored according to the method of Draize at 24, 48, and 72 hours and 4 and 7 days
after treatm ent. Observations of eyes indicated that Stearalkonium bentonite was a moderate ocular irritant. In a more recent, OECD test guideline 405 eye irritation study of the same test substance, 0.1 mL instilled into the eye of rabbits produced only mild ocular
l esions (conjunctival redness and chemosis), all of which were reversible within 72 hours (ARC 2005a).

Eye irritatio n of [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2) was ev aluated in rabbits and reported by OECD (OECD 2008c). A volume of 0.1 ml of undil uted test article was instilled in one eye of nine rabbits, and the untreated eye served as a control. Six animals' treated eyes were not rinsed for the duration of the test. Three animals' eyes were exposed for 4 seconds and then rinsed. Rabbit eyes were examined with sodium fluorescein at 24, 48 and 72 hours and scored using the Draize Scale for Scoring Ocular Lesions. There was no irritation in the rinsed eyes at any time (mean score = 0). For the eyes that were not rinsed, at 24 hours the Maximum Mean T otal Score was 20.2, which is considered mildly irritating using the standard Kay and Calandra scoring system. By day 7, the mean score was 3.2, which is minimally irritating. OECD considered the test substance moderately irritating.

[2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) was not irri tating to rabbit eyes in three p rimary e ye i rritation studies using the FHSLA guidelines described in 16 CFR 1500.42 or by Draize methodology. The substance was moderately irritating in a fourth study that employed a GLP modified Draize methodology in which 0.1 g of undiluted substance was added to one eye of six rabbits for 24 hours (OECD 2008d).

2M(2Alk) hectorite gave mixed results in five ocular irritation tests in rabbits. All tests
scored eyes by the method FHSL A (16 CFR §1500.42). In two tests, some of the rabbits had positive scores, according to the FHSLA grading system. In the three other studies,13

ocular reaction to 0.1 mL instilled into rabbit eyes and graded on the same scale was found not to be irritating (OECD 2007).

Both [B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) and [B(2Alk)M] hectorite (0.1 g) were tested in rabbit eyes using the same procedure, where test material was rinsed from eyes of three of nine rabbits after 30 seconds. The eyes of the rema ining six rabbits
were not rinsed. The bentonite salt was minimally irritating to rabbits regardless of rinsing while the hectorite was not irritating to rabbit eyes under any condition tested (OECD 2007).

Primary Skin Irritation Stearalkonium bentonite ( CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0; trade name: Tixogel VZ

- V) was administered at 0.5 g to two sites on each of six New Zealand white rabbits (CRT 1981b).
One site was intact and one abraded. Both were occluded for 24 hours and then observed one time and then again at 72 hours. Based on a Primary Irritation Index of 0.3, stearalkonium bentonite was not considered a primary dermal irritant to rabbits under
conditions of this test.

A 50% solution (0.5 g in 0.5 mL saline) of [B(Alk)2M] hectorite was applied to the clip ped abraded and intact skin of 6 rabbits and covered with occlusive wrap. After 24 hours the sites were rinsed and examined and scored for erythema and edema. The sites were examined and scored again after 72 hours. The test substance was determined to be not irritating. This study did not follow a specific guideline, but was considered comparable to a guideline study and "valid with restrictions" by OECD (OECD 2008c). Similarly, a guideline primary skin irritation study (FHS A, 16 CFR 1500.41) of [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) and [B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg.
No. 68153

- 30

- 0) were negative for irritation when exposed on intact and abraded rabbit skin for 24 hours. [2M(2Alk)] hectorite and [2M(2Alk)] bentonite were also not irritating
to rabb it skin (OECD 2007).

Dermal Sensitization 2M(2Alk) bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) in a 0.1% suspension i n physiological
saline solution was administered intracutaneously to 12 guinea pigs (OECD 2007). Ten injections of 0. 05

- 0.1 ml were delivered fol lowed by the challenge dose of 0.05 ml . No
sensitization reaction was observed. A guinea pig maximization test (OECD test guide line 406) was carried out using B(Alk)2M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0). Twenty animals received an intr adermal injection of 0.5% of the test substance in liquid paraffin as an induction d ose. The topical challenge dose was 30 and 15% (w/w) in liquid paraffin. Ten animals were used as controls. The test substance did not induce a
sensi tization reaction (OECD 2008b).

The results of the available acute toxicity s tudies are summarized in Table 2

. Acute Toxicity14

Table 3 . Acute Toxicity Profile of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

Study Type Results Toxicity Category MRIDs # /Reference
Acute Oral

– rat Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0) LD 50 >5000 mg/kg IV CPT 1981a

Acute Oral

– rat [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2) LD 50 >5000 mg/kg IV OECD 2008c

Acute Dermal

– rat Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0) LD 50 >2000 mg/kg III ARC 2004

Acute Inhalation

– rat B(Alk)2M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0) L C 50 > 5.2 mg/L IV OECD 2008b

Acute Inhalation

– rat [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) L C 50 > 12.7 mg/L (4

- hr)
L C 50 > 200 mg/L (1

- hr) IV OECD 2008d

Acute Inhalation

– rat B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) L C 50 > 5.4 mg/L (4

- hr) IV OECD 2007

Acute Inhalation

– rat B(2Alk)M hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 97952

- 68

- 6) L C 50 > 5.2 mg/L IV OECD 2007

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit
Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. no. 130501

- 87

- 0) Moderate irritant III CPT 1981c

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit
Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. no. 130501

- 87

- 0) Mild ocular lesions (reversible 72 hrs) III ARC 2005a

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2) Minimally irritating N/A OECD 2008c

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit [2 M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) Not irritating in 3 studies Moderately irritating in 1 study N/A OECD 2008d

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit 2M(2Alk) hectorite Not irritating in 3 studies N/A OECD 200715

Table 3 . Acute Toxicity Profile of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

Study Type Results Toxicity Category MRIDs # /Reference Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit [B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) Minimally irritating N/A OECD 2007

Primary Eye Irritation

– rabbit [B(2Alk)m] hectorite Not irritating N/A OECD 2007

Dermal Irritation

– rabbit
Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0) Not dermal irritant N/A CPT 1981b

Dermal Irritation

– rabbit [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2) Not irritating N/A OECD 2008c

Dermal Irritation

– [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) Negative for irritation N/A OECD 2007

Dermal Irritation

– [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) Negative for irritation N/A OECD 2007

Dermal Sensitization

- guinea pigs 2M(2Alk) bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) Not dermal sensitizer N/A OECD 2007

Dermal Sensitization

- guinea pigs B(Alk)2M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0) Not dermal sensitizer N/A OECD 2008b

Subchronic Toxicity

- Three 28

- day OECD test guideline 407 studies (or close variat ions) were identified for
three treated clays that are structurally similar to Quaternary ammoniu m compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hy drogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

.

A 28

- day repeated dose oral toxicity study was carried out on stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0) under OECD test guideline 407. Rats received gavage
doses of 0, 100, 316, or 1000 mg/kg /day of the test substance in a 0.1% aqueous solution
of sodium carboxymethylcellulose. An additional high dose and control group of rats (5/sex/group) were kept for 14 days after cess ation of dosing to assess possible reversibility or persistence of lesions. Body weights and feed consumption were monitored throughout the study. Clinical biochemistry and hematology examinations16

were performed after the last dose and at necropsy, a gross pathological exam, organ weight measurements, and histopathological examination. There were no substance

related effects after 28 days of dosing. The recovery group/high dose females had statistically lower body weights (163.6 g on day 42 versus 172.6 g f or control/recovery rats on day 42) and lower absolute brain (1712 mg) and heart weights (632 mg) after recovery compared with control/recovery rats (1768 mg brain and 680 mg heart).
Because these effects were absent in the non

- recovery high dose group, th ey are not considered biologically relevant. The NOAEL in this study was the highest dose, 1000 mg/kg /day stearalkonium bentonite (ARC 2003).

Charles River/CD rats (5/sex/dose) received gavage doses of 0 or 1000 mg/kg/day of [B(Alk )2M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0) for 28 days (method similar to OECD test guideline 407). The test material was formulated daily as a 20% w/v suspension in
corn oil. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption
throu ghout the study. Full clinical chemistry analysis and hematology battery were conducted after the dosing period, and then a complete necropsy was carried out. There were no mortalities, clinical signs of toxicity, effects on body weight or food consumption , or statistically significant findings for hematology or clinical chemistry. The relative liver weights of female but not male rats were lower than in controls (p < 0.05). There were no accompanying macroscopic or microscopic findings in livers and
theref ore study authors consid ered the difference to be not to xicologically significant.
Authors concluded that the NOAEL was the highest dose, 1000 mg/kg /day [B(Alk)2M] bentonite (OECD 2008b).

A 28

- day gavage rat study was conducted with [B(2Alk)M] hectorite ( CAS Reg. No.
121888

- 67

- 3) (OECD 2008a). T he test method was comparable to OECD guideline 407 and used Charles River/CD rats (5/sex) and the si ngle limit dose of 1000 mg/kg /day. The endpoints monitored were the same as above study . There were no mortalities , clinical signs of toxicity, changes in body weight gains, food consumption or hematological parameters. In some measured parameters (thrombotest time (females), cholesterol (males), calcium levels (females)) there were statistically significant differenc es in treated rats compared to controls, but because these differences were small and values were all within normal ranges, they were not considered an effect of the test substance. Chloride levels were slightly reduced in female treated rats; authors did not consider this effect to be toxicologically significant because the difference compared to control animals was small and only was seen in females. In treated males, statistically significant higher adrenal weights were noted. There were no accompanying abnormalities observed in a macroscopic exam and all values were within the range of normal. Also, the control population was noted to have adrenal weights in the lower range of normal, perhaps accounting for some of the difference between them and the tre ated males. For these reasons, the study authors did not consider the adrenal weight effect to be toxicologically important. None of the histopathological findings was considered toxicolog ically significant by the study authors. T he NOAEL is considered to be 1000 mg/kg /day (OECD 2008a)

.17

In a test method similar to OECD TG 407, rats (6/sex/group) were fed diets containing 0, 1, 5, or 25% [2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) for 12 weeks. A fifth group of rats received 25% bentonite (untreated) in the diet. Monitored endpoints included food consumption, body weight, and clinical signs. Two rats per group underwent a hematological examination and all rats underwent necropsy that included measurement of liver and kidney weights. Growth rate was dep ressed in both groups receiving 25% dietary supplementation indicating that the effect was a result of reduced caloric intake rather than a systemic test substance effect. The efficiency of food utilization was not different in the control, 1% or 5% dose g roup, but was reduced in the two 25% groups. Authors concluded that 2M(2Alk) bentonite had no significant effect on growth or food utilization except that which was accounted for by reduced nutrient intake at high levels of replacement of basal diet (OECD 2008d). The NOAEL was the highest dose: 25%, or 12,500

- 25,000 mg/kg /day [2M(2Alk)] bentonite.

Chronic Oral Toxicity

- No chronic studies were available in the database for q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis (hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

.

Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity Stearalkonium bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0) was tested for mutagenicity in two independent reverse mutation a ssays in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA9 8, TA100, TA102, TA1535, and TA1537 (LPT 2000). Both assays were carried out in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Five stearalkonium bentonite concentrations ranged from 3.16 to 316 μ g/plate; cy totoxicity was observed at 316 μ g/plate and hi gher with
metabolic activation and in several strains at 31.6 μ g/plate without activation. There was

not a significant increase in the frequency of revertant colonies in any strain at any
concentration with or without metabolic activation.

A micronucleus test (OECD test guideline 474) in mice was run with stearalkonium
bentonite (ARC 2005b). The substance was suspended in carboxymethylcellulose, sodium salt (0.1% w/v in deionized water) and administered at 1000, 1500, or 2000 mg/kg by gavage to Crl: NMRI BR mice (5/sex). Two negative control groups with carboxymethylcellulose and one positive control group with cyclophosphamide were run.
Mice were sacrificed after 24 or 48 hours. At the high dose there was a statistically significant increase in micronucleat ed polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) compared to the negative control group. However, the frequency of micronucleated PCEs was still within the range of historical negative control data. Therefore, study authors concluded that
there was no effect of Stearal konium bentonite on chromosomes or the mitotic apparatus of mice under conditions of this assay.

OECD (2008b) reported an OECD test guideline 471 bacterial reverse mutation assay
carried ou t on [B(Alk)2M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0). The substance, suspended in dimethylsulfoxide, was tested on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and TA1538. Bacteria were exposed to 50, 150, 500, 1500, or
5000 μ g/plate in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. Negative and solvent18

control group were implemented concurrently. The highest concentration tested was slightly cytotoxic. The frequency of reverse mutations did not increase in any bacterial strain under any condition tested. These results indicate that B(Alk)2M bento nite is not mutagenic.

[2M(2Alk)] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2) was also tested in an Ames assay using S. typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, T A1537, and TA1538. There was

no significant increase in the frequency of reverse mutation s at concen trations of 10

- 3000

μ g/plate in the presence of absence of metabolic activation (OECD 2008d).

A bacterial reverse mutation assay (OECD test guideline 471) was also carried out on [B(Alk)2M] he ctorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2). The substance, suspended in dimethylsulfoxide, was tested on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and TA1538. Bacteria were ex posed to 50, 150, 500, or 1500 μ g/plate in the presence or absence of metabolic activation with Aroclor 1254 induced rat liver preparat ion and co

- factors. The frequency of reverse mutations did not increase in any bacterial strain under any condition tested. These results indicate that this treated clay is not mutagenic (OECD 2008b).

A mouse lymphoma assay (OECD test guideline 476) was c arried out on the same substance, [B(Alk)2M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2). Mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells were exposed to 1

- 50 g/mL test substance in the absence of Aroclor 1254 induced
rat liver mix and to 5

- 70 μg/mL in the presence of S

- 9 mix. No bio logically significant increases in mutant frequency were observed under these test conditions suggesting that [B(Alk)2M] hectorite is not mutagenic (OECD 2008b).

An in vivo micronucleus assay equivalent to OECD test guideline 474 and a modified
mammalian bone marrow chromosome aberration assay were identified in the literature
for [B(Alk)2M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0). In the micronucleus assay,
Charles River CD rats (5/sex) received 1000 mg/kg daily (i.e., the limit dose) of the test compound or corn oil for 28 days. Femur bone marrow specimens were obtained 24 hours after last dosing, stained and examined for micronucleated cells in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). No positive control was used. [B(Alk)2M] bentonite did not induce a significant increase in micronuclei in bone marrow PCEs or a significant decrease in the ratio of polychromatic to normochromatic erythrocytes and was therefore not considered clastogenic under the conditions of this assay (OECD 2008b).

In the chromosome aberration assay, Charles River CD rats (5/sex) received 1000 mg/kg/day [B(Alk)2M] bentonite (C14

- C22) for 28 days. Control rats received corn oil. No positive control group was run. Following the dosing period, blood was dra wn, cultured and stimulated with mitogen f or 48 hours. The culture was then treated with
colchicine and chromosomes were evaluated for aberrations. No significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was noted in treated rats versus controls. These results provide further evidence that [B(Alk)2M] bentonite is not clastogenic (OECD 2008b).19

Carcinogenicity There are no data specific to the carcinogenicity of Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite or any of the structurally similar treated clays. Carcinogenicity of some mineral clays is associated with the presence of respirable crystalline silica (e.g., quartz or cristabolite), a known human carcinogen, as an impurity.
It should be noted that the Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite when used in a specific trade name formulation does not contain detectable levels of crystalline s ilica (NICNAS 2013a). This trade name formulation with treated clays and other processed clay minerals that are used in pharmacy, cosmetics and other commercial products are processed prior to manufacture. Processing includes purification
and removal of ca rcinogenic impurities like quartz and cristabolite. In general, sepiolite is highly highly (>95%) pure even before processing (Lopez

- Galindo et al. 2007).

The presence of fibers in clay is sometimes related to its carcinogenicity. Santaren et al. (1994) and IARC (1997) reviewed potential health hazards of sepiolite because of its
fibrous morphology. In both reviews, authors made the distinction between geographical origins of different sepiolites. Animal studies on this clay, including inhalation, intrapl eural and intraperitoneal (ip) studies have shown that the sepiolite from Vallecas

Vicalvaro, Spain is not a health hazard. On the other hand, sepiolite with non

sedimentary geological origins (i.e. from Finland and China) could be a health risk. The sepiolite clay in this Garamite product is derived from Spain (Mattingly 2014a).

Bellmann et al. (1997) and IARC (1997) investigated sepiolite samples and
recommended the potential carcinogenicity of sepiolite was linked to the length of the
fibers. Becau se the fibers in Vallecas

- Vicalvaro sepiolite were not longer than 6 or 8 urn, they did not have the potential to increase tumor incidence. The IARC concluded that "Sepiolite cannot be classified as to its carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3)".

The Spanish sepiolite used in these studies is derived from the same geographical
location as the clay in the petitioned substance and is less than 6 urn (Mattingly 2014a).
Because of this and because Garamite 1958 does not contain detectable levels of crystalline si lica, there is not expected to be a significant risk for carcinogenicity from inhalation exposure to this treated clay.

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
A one

- generation reproductive toxicity study on [B(2Alk)M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No.
121888

- 67

- 3) using OECD guideline 415 (OECD 2008e). Female and male Sprague Dawley rats (24 sex/group) were dosed for 74 or 18 days, respectively, prior to mating.
Rats continued to be dosed during mating (21 days), throughout gestation and lactation, through post

- nat al day 21. Doses we re 0, 50, 225, and 1000 mg/kg test substance suspended in PEG 400. There was also a vehicle

- dosed group. On post

- natal day (PND) 21, survivors from the parental generation were sacrificed and examined microscopically
and selected tissues /organs were examined histopathologically. Periodically throughout the study the following were checked: morbidity/ mortality, clinical signs, body weight20

and food consumption during maturation, mating and gestation. Number of live/dead offspring, litter bod y weight and litter clinical signs were recorded. Litters were assessed for developmental landmarks including reflexes. Other parameter monitored were food conversion ratio; mating performance and fertility; pre

- coital interval; fertility indices (mating i ndex and pregnancy index); gestation length; gestation and parturition index; lactation data including live birth index, viability indices; sex ratio; and offspring physical development and reflexology. The only statistically significant effect of [B(2Alk) M] hectorite was on the mean litter weight in the high dose group on PNDs 7

- 21 . The mean number of pups per litter was less in this dose group, but could be attributed to a single dam's litter of only 2 pups. There was not an effect on the mean
individual offspring weight. Therefore, the difference in mean litter body wei ghts was not
considered to be to xicologically important. There were no effects on other developmental endpoints. T he NOAEL for systemic and reproductive/developmental effects to be the highest dose, 1000 mg/kg /day [B(2Alk)M] hectorite (OECD 2008e).

In the 28

- day toxicity study of stearalkonium bentonite described above, there were no histopathological findings in any reproductive organ including testis, epididymis, ovary, prostate, or u terus (ARC 2003).

Immunotoxicity
Due to the nonreactive nature of q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite , as well as its minimal absorption into mammalian systems, effects on the immune system are not anticipated. OECD Test Guideline 407, the Repeated Dose 28

- day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents is designed to identify chemicals with immunotoxic potential so that further testing can be carried out

on them (OECD 1995). Relevant endpoints measured in this test include thymus and spleen weights and histopathology. In the OECD TG 407 study of stearalkonium
bentonite described above, there were no test substance

- related effects on rats that
indicated immun otoxicity (ARC 2003).

Neurotoxicity
Due to the nonreactive nature of q uaternary ammonium com pounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite , as well as its minimal absorption in mammalian systems, effects on the nervous system are not anticipated. OECD Test Guideline 407, the Repeated Dose 28

- day Oral Toxicity Study in Rodents Includes

e ndpoints such as brain and peripheral nerve weight and h istopathology, and general behavioral observations that may indicate neurological effects (e.g. reactivity and reflex tests, observations of walking, sitting, and other daily behaviors). In the OECD TG 407 study of stearalkonium bentonite described above, there were no test substance related effects on rats that indicated neurotoxicity (ARC 2003).

Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics21

Clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds have low water solubility, a high hydrophobic partition co efficient and relatively high molecular weight. All three factors indicate likely limited absorption following ingestion, dermal exposure or inhalation.

A study of the treated clay quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylalkyl (C14

- C22) dimethyl, salts with bentonite (B(Alk)2M bentonite; CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0) showed that only a negligible concentration of treated clays is absorbed by orally dosed rats. Under methods similar to OECD test guideline 417, male rats (Alpk/ApfSD; bile duct cannulated) received single doses of 5 or 500 mg/kg radiolabeled organoclay by gavage. Urine, feces and CO 2 were collected over the subsequent 48 hours. Most of the radioactivity was eliminated in 48 hours via feces: 99% of the higher dose and about 97%
of the lower dose. Urin e contained 1.2

- 1.5% of the original dose and expired air accounted for less than 0.06% of the original dose. At the 24

- hour mark whole body autoradiography indicated radioactivity was only present in the gastrointestinal tract. The
concentration in other tissues including blood and in bile was very low. After 48 hours,
0.16% and 0.95% of the administered dose remained in the carcass of low

- and high

- dose rats, respectively. OECD rated this study "valid with restrictions" as it was comparable to a guideline study (OECD 2008b).

Based on similarities in treated clays (high molecular weights, low water solubility, high hydrophobicity), the treated sepiolite would also be almost completely eliminated from the body shortly after oral dosing. Therefore, the biolo gical availability of the petitioned
substance is expected to be low

.

Given that Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite contains particles in the respi rable size range, there is potential for accumulation following inhalation exposure of the raw material if it is still in dry particle form. Clearance from the lungs shows two phased clearance in which most of the fibers are cleared in the first phase. Fib ers of sepiolite derived from Vallecas

- Vicalvaro, Spain, such as those in the petitioned substance, have a total half

- rate of clearance from the lungs of 89 days, with 95% of the fiber mass eliminated with a half

- rate of 39 days (Bellman et al. 1997).

Tab le 4 . Toxicology Profile for Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite Guideline No./ Study Type Doses Levels Results MRID No. (year)/References
28

- day oral toxicity

– rats (gavage )

OECD 407 CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0 0, 100, 316 or 1000 mg/kg/day NOAEL = 1000 mg/kg/day

LOAEL = N/A ARC 200322

Tab le 4 . Toxicology Profile for Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite Guideline No./ Study Type Doses Levels Results MRID No. (year)/References
28

- day oral toxicity

– rats (gavage )

OECD 407 (similar) CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0 0 or 1000 mg/kg/day NOAEL = 1000 mg/kg/day

LOAEL = N/A OECD 2008b

28

- day oral toxicity

– rats (gavage )

OECD 407 (similar) CAS Reg. No. 121888

- 67

- 3 0 or 1000 mg/kg/day NOAEL = 1000 mg/kg/day

LOAEL = N/A OECD 2008a

12

- week oral toxicity study

– rats (diet)

OECD 407 (similar)
CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2 0, 1, 5, or 25% NOAEL = 25% (12,500

- 25,000 mg/kg/day)

LOAEL = N/A OECD 2008d

1

- Generation Reproductive Toxicity

– rats

OECD 415 CAS Reg. No. 121888

- 67

- 3 0, 50, 225, and 1000 mg/kg/day
in PEG 400 NOAEL (repro/develop)
= 1000 mg/kg/day

LOAEL = N/A OECD 2008e

Reverse Mutation Assay in Salmonella typhimurium

CAS Reg. No. 130501

- 87

- 0 3.16 to 316 μg/plate
with/without metabolic
activation Negative LPT 2000

Micronucleus Test (gavage)
OECD 474 1000, 1500, or 2000 mg/kg Negative ARC 2005b

Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay
OECD 471

CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0 50, 150, 500, 1500 or 5000 μg/plate with/without metabolic
activation Not mutagenic OECD 2008b

Ames Assay using S. Typhimurium

CAS Reg. No. 68953

- 58

- 2 10

- 3000 μg/plate with/without
metabolic activation Negative OECD 2008d

Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay
OECD 471

CAS Reg. No.71011

- 26

- 2 50, 150, 500 or 1500 μg/plate
with/without metabolic
activation Not mutagenic OECD 2008b

Mouse Lymphoma Assay
OECD 476

CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 26

- 2 1

- 50 g/mLwithout Aroclor 1254
5

- 70 μg/mL with S

- 9 mix Not mutagenic OECD 2008b23

Tab le 4 . Toxicology Profile for Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite Guideline No./ Study Type Doses Levels Results MRID No. (year)/References

In vivo Micronucleus Assay OECD 474 (similar)

CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0 1000 mg/kg/day Negative OECD 2008b

Chromosome Aberration Assay 1000 mg/kg/day Negative OECD 2008b

B. Toxicity Endpoint Selection The available toxicity studies indicate that quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite has a very low overall toxicity. The
NOAELs were > 10 00 mg /kg/day (limit dose). Since signs of toxicity were not observed at the limit dose an endpoint of concern for risk assessment purposes was not identified

. Therefore, s ince no endpoint of concern was identified for the acute and c hronic dietary exposure assessment and short and intermediate dermal and inhalation exposure, a quantitative risk assessment for of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium sa lts with sepiolite is not necessary

.

C. Special Considerations for Infants and Children As part of its qualitative assessment, the Agency did not use safety factors for assessing risk, and no additional safety factor is needed for assessing risk to infants and
children. Based on the lack of toxicity of ammonium acetate in the available studies and its chemical properties, EPA has concluded that there are no toxicological endpoints of concern for the U.S. population, including infants and children.

IV. EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

A. Dietary Exposure:

In evaluating dietary exposure to the quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite , EPA considered exposure under the p etitioned for exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance. EPA assessed dietary exposures from quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite in food as foll ows:

i. Acute exposure . No adverse effects attributable to a single exposure of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite were seen in the toxicity data bases. Therefore, acute dietary exposure assessment for quaternary ammonium compounds,24

benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite is not required.

ii. Chronic exposure

. No adverse effects attributable to chronic exposure s of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite were seen in the toxicity databases. Therefore, chronic dietary exposure assessment for quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite is not required.

iii. Cancer exposure

. Q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis (hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite is not genotoxic and no effects suggestive of potential carcinogenicity were observed in the available
database

. Therefore, based on the lack of concern for carcinogenicity of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite a cancer dietary exposure assessment is not necessary to assess cancer risk.

B. Residential (Non

- Occupational) Exposure:

i

. From non

- dietary exposure. The term ‘‘residential exposure’’ is used in this
document to refer to non

- occupational, non

- dietary exposure (e.g., for lawn and garden pest control, indoor pest control, termiticides , and flea and tick control on pets). In the
case of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite , the request is for use as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations for use on pre

- harvest crops

. Q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite may also be used
in personal care products and in products that are registered for specific uses that may result in residential exposure. However, based on the lack of toxicity, an exposure assessment from “residential exposures” was not performed.

V. O CCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE/RISK PATHWAY

The Agency believes that establishing a tolerance exemptio n to include 40 CFR §
180.920 will not significantly/measurably increase occupational exposure. Since there is no endpoint of concern selected for dermal or inhalation routes of exposure, a qualitative occupation

exposure assessment was not completed and occupational exposure is not of concern.

VI. C UMULATIVE EXPSOURE25

Cumulative effects from substances with a common mechanism of toxicity . Section 408(b)(2)(D)(v) of FFDCA requires that, when considering whether to establish, modify, or revoke a tolerance, the Agency consider “available information” concerning the cumulative effects of a particular pesticide's residues and “other substances that have a common mechanism of toxicity.”

EPA has not found quaternary ammonium comp ounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite to share a common mechanism of toxicity with any other substances, and that quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite does not appear to produce a toxic metabolite produced by other substances. For the purposes of this tolerance action, therefore, EPA has
assumed that quaternary ammonium com pounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite does not have a common mechanism of toxicity with other substances. For information regarding EPA's efforts to
determine which chemicals have a common mechanism of toxicity and to evaluate the cumulative effects of such chemicals, see EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/cumulative

.

VII. E NVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STATEMENT

Potential areas of environmental justice concerns, to the exte nt possible, were considered in this human health risk assessment, in accordance with U.S. Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low

- Income Populations," http://www.eh.doe.gov/oepa/guidance/justice/eo12898.pdf

.

As a part of every pesticide risk assessment, OPP considers a large variety of consumer subgroups according to well

- established procedures. In line with OPP policy, R D estimates risks to population subgroups from pesticide exposures that are based on patterns of that subgroup’s food and water consumption, and activities in and around the home that involve pesticide use in a residential setting. Extensive data on foo d consumption patterns are compiled by the USDA under CSFII and are used in pesticide risk assessments for all registered food uses of a pesticide. These data are analyzed and categorized by subgroups based on age, season of the year, ethnic group, and re gion of the country. Additionally, OPP is able to assess dietary exposure to smaller, specialized subgroups and exposure assessments are performed when conditions or circumstances warrant. Whenever appropriate, non

- dietary exposures based on home use of pesticide products and associated risks for adult applicators and for toddlers, youths, and adults entering or playing on treated areas post

- application are evaluated. Further considerations are currently in development as OPP has committed resources and expertise to the development of specialized software and models that consider exposure to bystanders and farm workers as well as lifestyle and traditional dietary patterns among specific subgroups26 VIII. E NVIRONMENTAL FATE CONSIDERATIONS

Bentonite has two silica tetrahedral sheets joined to a central octahedral alumina sheet, an arrangement that gives smectites a relatively high cation exchange capacity (CEC). In contrast, sepiolite has two tetrahedral sheets without the continuous octahed ral sheet. This yields a more
fiber

- like mineral that contains less accessible internal pores. The CEC of sepiolite is therefore
lower than that of the smectites: 15

- 45 mEq/100g versus 50

- 150 mEq/100g. However the quaternary ammonium compound can still ads orb to sepiolite's external surfaces and into the pores, if it is small enough, and both sepiolite and smectite group minerals are considered to have high adsorption capacities via both CEC and hydrophobic interactions and will therefore both strongly bind the quaternary ammonium compounds.

For both clay types, the quaternary ammonium compounds associated with these clays are not expected to dissociate or otherwise extract from the clay under ambient conditions because the ionic and adsorbing forces are ve ry strong (OECD 2007). These forces would need to be overcome simultaneously, requiring a material with a very high cation exchange capacity that is also able to solubilize the quaternary ammonium moiety. This is unlikely in the environment as soil adsorpt ion coefficients (Koc) of quaternary ammonium compounds are high (for e.g., dialkyl (C8

- C18) dimethyl ammonium chloride and mono and dialkyl (C8

- C18) methylated ammonium chloride compounds, log Koc 4.66 (US EPA 2006)), indicating a strong propensity to rem ain associated with clay under ambient conditions (see Table 3). This reality, combined with the fact that both quats in Garamite 1958 are substantially more hydrophobic than the comparison compound (stearalkonium chloride), suggest that stearalkonium bent onite can conservatively represent quat adsorption for both of these products.

Once organoclays settle into soil or sediment, some biotic and abiotic degradation of the quaternary ammonium compound part of the substance may take place over time, although the inorganic clay portion of the substance does not degrade, as it is a mineral. Degradation products of the organic moiety would be water and oxides of carbon and nitrogen. Stearalkonium bentonite was considered not readily biodegradable when tested in t he OECD TG 301B assay. In
the 28

- day test, an average of 23% and a maximum of 33% of the original stearalkonium bentonite biodegraded, as measured by CO2 generation (NICNAS 2013a; Springer 2000). Similarly in seawater the percent biodegradability of 1.8 an d 3.7 mg/L [B(2Alk)M] bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) was 19.2 and 33.4%, respectively after 28 days, as measured by
OECD TG 306 test. A different OECD TG 306 test with the same substance demonstrated 5.0 and 10.0 mg/L concentrations biodegrading by 7. 4% and 4.7%, respectively, in saltwater. Yet
another OECD TG 306 test showed 18.3 and 3.3% degradation after 28 days for 3.0 and 7.0 mg/L [B(2Alk)M] bentonite, respectively, in seawater (OECD 2008a). All of these results suggest limited biodegradability of the treated clays in seawater.

IX. E COTOXICITY

Acute ecotoxicity testing of treated clays having structural similarity to Quaternary
ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with se piolite typically gave results in the low or slight concern27

category (10

- >100 mg/L) for aquatic and terrestrial organisms including fish, aquatic invertebrates, algae, and earthworms. Chronic ecotoxicity tests suggest a moderate concern for aquatic inver tebrates and fish. However, at least part of the toxicity was attributed to a physical effect of the test substance, rather than a true toxicological effect.

Acute Ecotoxicity Acute toxicity studies were conduc ted on B(Alk)2M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 71011

- 24

- 0) using rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). The test method was the 1975 EPA Methods for Acute Toxicity Tests with Fish, Macroinvertebrates and Amphibians. Fish (n=10/group x duplicate groups) were exposed in static conditions to 0 or 500 ppm B( Alk)2M bentonite with triethylene glycol (TEG) or just TEG. Daily records of mortality, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were kept for 96 hours. There was no mortality in any group. The 96

- hour LC 50 was >500 mg/L for rainbow trout (OECD 2008b).

The ac ute toxicity of stearalkonium bentonite to zebra fish was tested in the standard acute toxicity for fish test provided under Annex 5 to Commission Directive 92/32/EEC (ARC 2005c). Aqueous extracts were of 10, 18, 32, 56, and 100 mg/L loading rate were
obta ined by filtration after 24 hours of stirring. Test solutions were made by diluting the

extracts with water. Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen levels were monitored throughout. The 96

- hour LC 50 for zebra fish was > 100 mg/L; no fish died in any of the concentration groups and all control groups were within acceptable limits.

Using the 1975 EPA Methods for Acute Toxicity Tests with Fish, Macroinvertebrates
and Amphibians, Daphnia magna (n=10/group x duplicate groups) were exposed to 50, 72, 103, 149, 21 4, 309 or 370 ppm B(Alk)2M bentonite with 240 ppm TEG. A TEG
control and blank group were run concurrently. Mortality, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH were recorded at 0, 24, 47, 72, and 96 hours. There were no deaths in the two control groups or the lowest two dose groups. There was 100% mortality at 370 ppm. The
48

- hour LC 50 was 300 ppm (95% Cl 283

- 318 ppm) and 96

- hour LC 50 was 230 ppm (95%
Cl 209

- 253 ppm). OECD determined that both of these studies were valid with restrictions (comparable to GLP, but not guideline) (OECD 2008b).

A Daphnia magna toxicity study was carried out using B(2Alk)M hectorite (CAS Reg.
No. 121888

- 67

- 3) under criteria set forth in the Official Journal of the European
Communities: Part C: Methods for the Determination of Ecotox icity. Culture medium and B(2Alk)M hectorite were sonicated together for two hours. The volume was adjusted to give a stock dispersion of 200 mg/L. Clay particles were allowed to settle out, then the aqueous phase was removed for testing. Sample preparatio n followed recommendations of Whitehouse and Mallet (1993: Aquatic Toxicity Testing for Notification of New Substances. An Advisory Document on dealing with 'Difficult' Substances . Report No: CP722 to the Chemical Notification Unit, U.K. Department of the Environment). TEG (300 ppm) was used as a solvent but the test medium still appeared to be primarily a fine dispersion, in which the test substance was in suspension or settled out onto the bottom of the test chamber. Daphnia were exposed for 72

- hours in a preliminary range finding study at 0.10, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/L, and then at 100 mg/L in the definitive study for 9628

hours under static conditions. The actual concentration of the test substance in the test
medium was determined analytically at the start of the test and after 72 hours; these
values were not reported. Temperature of the incubator was controlled and measured and recorded daily.pH was determined in each test vessel at the beginning and end of the test. Each of six replicate chambers held 5 Daph nia. A blank control was run concurrently in triplicate. The 96

- hour LC 50 was determined to be >100 mg/L B(2Alk)M hectorite. OECD (2008a) considered this study to be reliable with restrictions.

Stearalkonium bentonite ( 98% pure ) was tested using OECD TG 2 02, the Daphnia

magna acute immobilization test (Lebertz 2000). The test substance was prepared by diluting the aqueous extract of Stearalkonium bentonite with water to achieve the desired concentration for testing, shaking until equilibrium was reached, a nd then filtering. In the screening study D. magna were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 1, 10 or, 100 mg/L and in the main study, 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg/L. Analytical measurements
of the test substance were made as Total Organic Carbon; however, TOC measurements
did not correspond to relative concentrations, therefore only nominal concentrations were
available. Each chamber held 5 Daphnia and replicate chambers were run per concentration (2 in the screening study and 4 in the main study). Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were measured at 0 and 48 hours, and were always within recommended guideline levels. The 48

- hour EC 50 and NOEC were calculated to be 0.7 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L, respectively.

In a follow up study, the acute toxicity of S tearalkonium bentonite ( >97% ) to Daphnia

magna was tested in the standard acute toxicity test provided under Annex 5 (92/69/EEC) to Commission Directive 92/32/EEC (Part C, Methods for determination of ecotoxicity, publication No. L383, 29 Dec. 1992: C.2. A cute Toxicity for Daphnia). Nominal aqueous extracts of 10, 18, 32, 56, and 100 mg/L were prepared by dilution of the test substance with reconstituted water. These suspensions were stirred for 24 hours and then filtered (0.2

- μ m pore size). Temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen levels were monitored throughout and were always within recommended guideline levels. An attempt to
measure the actual concentration of the test substance was made by measuring the
dissolved Si concentration at 0 and 48 hours. However , the Si concentration in all dose
levels was approximately the same, most likely reflecting the poor water solubility of the
test substance. The 48

- hour LC 50 for Daphnia magna was >100 mg/L (nomin al concentration); there was no significant immobilization of Daphnia in any of the concentration groups or the negative control group (ARC 2005d).

In the Lebertz (2000) toxicity study of Stearalkonium bentonite on the invertebrate Daphnia, the toxicity of the aqueous fraction of the treated clay was high (48

- hr EC 50 <1 mg/L), while in the follow up study of Stearalkonium bentonite (ARC 2005d) and the two other Daphnia studies reported for treated clays (OECD 2008a,b), the EC 50 was consistently greater than 100 mg/L after 48 and 96 hours, indicating these substanc es are practically nontoxic to Daphnia. All studies were reported to be guideline studies or modifications of guideline studies (modified because the test substance is not soluble in water and must be filtered). BYK reported that the difference in stearalk onium bentonite toxicity was due to improvements in their manufacturing process between 2000 and 200529

that led to drastically reduced soluble quaternary ammonia in the final stearalkonium bentonite product (Mattingly 2014c). The low toxicity of stearalkoni um bentonite in particular and structurally similar treated clays in general is further supported by toxicity testing described above for fish, as well as toxicity testing in marine invertebrates, algae,
and earthworms described below. All results indicate that these substances are at most slightly toxic (acute toxicity values between 10 and 100 mg/L) and otherwise practically nontoxic (EC 50 and LC 50 values over 100 mg/L).

The marine copepod Acartia tonsa (n=5/concentration and 6/control x 4 replicates) wa s used to test the acute toxicity of water accommodated fractions of B(2Alk)M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) in a GLP study under test guideline ISO/CD 14669. Nominal concentrations of 100, 211.5, 477.2, 945.7, and 2000 mg/L were prepared in
filtered natural seawater. Parameters monitored included dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature. The %

- immobilization of A. tonsa was measured at 24 and 48 hours. The
48

- hour EC 50 > 2000 mg/L (OECD 2008a).

The amphipod Corophium volutator was exposed to 1000, 1778. 3, 3162.3, 5623.4 and
10000 mg B(2Alk)M bentonite per kg dry weight (dw) of sediment for 10 days. Mortality

never exceeded 40% in any test group and so the 10

- day LC 50 for this marine crustacean

was determined to be >10,000 mg/kg dw (OECD 2008a).

B(2Alk)M bentonite (CAS Reg. No. 68153

- 30

- 0) was tested for its toxicity to the marine algae Skeletenoma costatum in three tests under ISO/DIS 102 53 and in one ISQ/TC 147

assay. Methods were similar for all four tests; water accommodated fractions of the test

mat erial were prepared and the test substance had time to settle to the bottom of chambers before exposure. Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and temperature were determined
and mean cell numbers were measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Nominal test
concentrations w ere reported for three of the studies. In two studies, they ranged from
100

- 1000 mg/L B(2Alk)M bentonite, and in another they ranged from 1.0 to 100 mg/L.
The 72

- hour EC 50 values in both 100

- 1000 mg/L studies were reported as >1000 mg/L. In one of these, t he NOEC was 1000 mg/L and in one the NOEC was 562 mg/L. In the study where exposure ranged from 1.0

- 100 mg/L, the EC 50 was 82.3 mg/L. In a fourth study, S. costatum were exposed to nominal concentrations of 10

- 100 mg/L. The actual
concentration was measured in the "100 mg/L" test vessels at time 0 as 26.3 mg/L and at 72 hours as 16.9 mg/L. This was thought to be the result of the test substance settling on the bottom more and more over time. Based on complete inhibition of cell growth at this highest concentration, the 72

- hour EC 50 was equal to 23.8 mg/L B(2Alk)M bentonite (actual concentration). The NOEC was 10 mg/L (OECD 2008a).

An OECD TG 201 study was carried out on B(2Alk)M hectorite using the freshwater algae Scenedesmus subspicatus . Cells were exposed for 72 hours to a nominal
concentration of 100 mg/L B(2Alk)M hectorite. The concentration of B(2Alk)M hectorite
was measured at time 0 as 26.3 mg/L and at 72 hours as 16.9 mg/L. There was no effect
of the test substance on the biomass or growth ra te of algae cells. The 72 hour EC 50 was >100 mg/L (>16.9 mg/L actual concentration of B(2Alk)M hectorite)(OECD 2008a).30

An OECD TG 207 study (Earthworm, Acute Toxicity Test) was carried out in which
earthworms ( Eisenia fetida ) were exposed for 14 days to B (Alk)2M bentonite at 1

- 1000 mg/kg soil dry weight (dw). There was no test substance

- related mortality in this range

finding portion of the study. In the definitive test, there was a single death in worms exposed to 1000 mg/kg dw. OECD (2008b) reported that this was not due to the test
substance. The NOEC for earthworms was reported as 1000 mg B(Alk)2M bentonite/kg dw. This outcome suggests slight (at most) or negligible toxicity to earthworms. OECD rated the study "valid without restrictions" (OECD 2008b).

Subchronic/Chronic Ecotoxicity

A 21

- day toxicity test of [B(2Alk)M] hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 121888

- 67

- 3; purity >97%) was conducted in rainbow trout under OECD TG 204. The nominal concentration
of the test substance was 1.0 mg/L, which included the surfa ctant Tween 80. A vehicle control group and blank control were also assessed. The water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and appearance of the test medium were recorded daily. There
were no substance

- related mortalities or signs of toxicity . The 21

- day LC 5 0 was >1.0 mg/L [B(2Alk)M] hectorite and the NOEC was 1.0 mg/L (OECD 2008a).

The Daphnia magna Reproduction Test was conduc ted on B(2Alk)M hectorite (CAS Reg. No. 121888

- 67

- 3; 95% purity). Dispersions of the test substance were nominally at 0.32, 1.0, 3.2, 10 and 32 mg/L and were verified throughout the test. In this study, the
actual test concentrations were measured but could not be used to determine an EC 50 because measurement of the concentration of B(2Alk)M hectorite in the lowest two dose groups was below the limit of detection. In the higher three test groups, concentration variation was high, ranging from 0

- 109% of nominal. Renewal of test medium was made three times per week and dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured b efore and after renewal. Live and dead "parental" (P1) generation Daphnia were counted daily. The number of Daphnia with eggs or young in the brood pouch, the number of discarded, unhatched eggs and the numbers of live and dead "filial" (F1) Daphnia were d etermined
at each test media renewal. The 21

- Day EC 50 for immobilization was 7.6 mg/L. In the high dose test group, mortalities were considered to be due at least partly to the physical effect of the test substance. Exposure at this dose resulted in an imm ediate lethal effect, and at 10 mg/L a prolonged mortality effect. The 21

- day EC 50 for reproduction was between 3.2 and 10 mg/L as those two groups produced approximately 18% and 94% fewer young per adult, respectively, than the control group. The 3.2 and 10 mg/L test groups produced approximately 82% and 2% respectively of the total number of young produced by the control group. The NOEC was 3.2 mg/L based on no significant
differences in immobilization or reproduction between that group and the control (O ECD 2008e).

X. R ISK CHARACTERIZATION

Technology Sciences Group on behalf of BYK Additives Inc. (1600 West Hill Street Louisville, KY 40210) submitted a petition to the EPA to amend 40 CFR 180.920 by31

establishing an exemption from the requirement of a toler ance for the use of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite (CAS Reg. No. 1574487

- 61

- 8 ) as an inert ingredient (suspending or structuring agent) in pesti cide formulations applied to growing crops in
accordance with 40 CFR 180.920 with limitation s of 2.0% in formulation , asbestos free and containing less than 1% crystalline silica

.

A variety of clays treated with quaternary ammonium compounds are used throughout this document as structurally similar analogs to of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite . These clays are often named for the predominant, but not exclusive mineral in a particular deposit, so variation between the substances may not be as great as it would initially appear. Most of the substances referenced were also used in the OECD HPV Chemical Program for the SIDS dossier on organoclays. The diversity of closely

- related treated clays is partly a result of the different combinations of the four different but related clays: smectites, hectorite, bentonite, and montmorillo nite. These four are closely/inter

- related and have been
described in som e datasets interchangeably . Smectite is actually the name describing a group of
cla y minerals, of which hectorite, bentonite, and montmorillonite and saponite (the clay type in the p etitioned substance) are members. It is primarily the identity of counter ions that distinguishes these clays. Where saponite contains calcium, magnesium and iron,
bentonite/montmorillonite c ontains sodium, calcium, aluminu m, and magnesium, and hectorite
h as sodium, lithium, and magnesium counter ions. In treated clays, the naturally

- occurring counter ions on the clays' surface have been readily exchanged for quaternary ammonium ions. The diversity of the structurally similar treated clays is further derive d from the combinations of quaternary ammonium compounds th at have been exchanged for counter ions on the clays'

sur face. These quaternary ammoniu m compounds can have between one and four
substitutions/R

- groups: 1

- 2 methyls, 0

- 1 benzyls, and/or 1

- 3 alkyl C 14

- C22 groups derived from
tallow oil.

Despite this diversity, the treated smectite clays described in this petition have similar structures, toxicological properties, and physical

- chemical properties, including particle size distribution, to one another and likely to the petitioned substance, Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite

.

The available toxicity studies indicate that of quaternary ammonium com pounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite has a very low overall toxicity. The NOAELs were > 10 00 mg /kg/day (limit dose). Since signs of toxicity were not observed at the limit dose an endpoint of concern for risk

assessment purposes was not identified

. Therefore, s ince no endpoint of concern was identified for the acute and chronic dietary exposure as sessment and short and intermediate dermal and inhalation exposure, a quantitative risk assessment for of quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium
salts with sepiolite is not necessary.

Since there is no endpoint of concern selected for dermal or inhalation routes of32

exposure, a qualitative occupation exposure assessment was not completed and occupational exposure is not of concern.

Acute ecotoxicity testing of treated clay s h aving structural similarity to q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite typically gave results in the low or slight concern category (10

- >100 mg/L) f or aquatic and terrestrial organisms including fish, aquatic invertebrates, algae, and earthworms. Chronic ecotoxicity tests suggest a moderate concern for aquatic invertebrates and fish. However, at least part of the toxicity was attributed to a physical effect of the test substance, rather than a true toxicological effect.

Potential areas of environmental justice concerns, to the extent possible, were considered in this human health risk assessment, in accordance with U.S. Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low

- Income Populations," http://www.eh.doe.gov/oepa/guidance/justice/eo12898.pdf.

Taking into consideration all available information on q uaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrog enated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite , EPA concludes that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm to any population subgroup will result from aggregate exposure to q uaternary ammonium compounds , benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite when considering occupation, dietary exposure and all other nonoccupational sources of pesticide exposure for which there is reliable informat ion. Therefore, the establishment of an exemption from tolerance under 40 CFR 180.920 for residues
of Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzylbis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethylammonium salts with sepiolite (CAS Reg. N o. 1574487

- 61

- 8 ) when used as an inert ingredient (suspending or structuring agent) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops with limitation s of 2.0% in formulation , asbestos free and containing less than 1% crystalline silica can be considered assessed as safe under section 408(q)
of the FFDCA.33

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