Physicochemical Testing Case Study: Handling Difficult Substances - Gases

Gases, by their very nature, are difficult to handle and analyze. They are, however, generally bound by the same regulatory requirements as solid or liquid substances, so the same endpoint data is required. Physicochemical endpoints such as partition coefficient are requested because they are used to estimate the bioaccumulation potential of a substance. Yet the test guidelines for partition coefficient (OECD 107 and EC A8) are not designed with gases in mind, so procedures must be revised to enable adequate testing. Our Physicochemical Testing Department was approached by a customer with a gas that was undergoing REACH registration. The customer needed a range of physicochemical endpoints assessed, including the partition coefficient.