4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial plants: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 208 (Terrestrial Plants Test: Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth Test)

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

yes

Species:

other: other terrestrial plant

Details on test organisms:

Corn (Zea mays), oats (Avena sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), soybean (Glycine max), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Test type:

other: Seedling emergence and growth

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

natural soil

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

21 d

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Species:

Zea mays

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

130 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

Species:

Avena sativa

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

47 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

Species:

Triticum aestivum

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

47 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

Species:

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

50 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

Species:

Glycine max (G. soja)

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

320 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

Species:

Lycopersicon esculentum

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

20 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Remarks:

Analytical confirmation of dose closely approximated the nominal

Basis for effect:

other: dry shoot weight

The relative humidity ranged from 18 to 100% and temperature ranged from 24 to 42 ºC. The OECD Guideline #208 recommends relative humidity and temperature ranges of 45 to 95% and 12 to 32 ºC for greenhouse testing. Although the actual conditions exceeded the recommended ranges, the conditions maintained have been used in past studies and no negative impact on the plants has been observed.

Dosing stock measurements ranged from 85 to 100% of nominal concentration with the exception of one solution at 140% of nominal concentration. Since the measured stock solution concentrations closely approximated the desired nominal concentrations and the previous study (Springborn Smithers study number 13761.6123) indicated the soil mixing technique provided homogeneous dispersion of test substance in the sandy-loam, the results of this study are reported based on nominal application rate.

Analysis of the quality control samples resulted in measured concentrations which were consistent with the nominal fortified concentrations (0.0250, 0.0500 and 0.0750 mg a.i./mL) and ranged from 99.7 to 101% (N = 3) of nominal concentrations. Based on these results, it was established that the appropriate precision and quality control was maintained during the analyses of the stock solutions.

The effects of bisphenol A on each species are discussed in the following sections. To minimize the redundancy, where pooled control data is mentioned, the control and solvent control data were determined to be statistically similar based on a t-Test (p = 0.05). If the control and solvent control data were statistically different, the treatment data were compared to the solvent control data. Note that negative inhibition throughout the text represents increased growth relative to the appropriate control data.

Cabbage - The test levels for cabbage were: 20, 50, 130, 320 and 800 mg a.i./kg. No dead plants or plants with morphological abnormalities were observed among plants in the control, solvent control, or the treatments tested. Only one seed exposed to the 320 mg a.i./kg treatment and no seeds exposed to the 800 mg a.i./kg treatment emerged by test termination. Several seeds exposed to the controls and the remaining treatment levels had not emerged by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 53 and 65%, respectively (pooled control = 59%). The pooled control percent emergence (59%) is slightly less than 70% germination requested in the OECD Guideline #208. The cabbage seed was new and packed for the 2007 growing season. Although the pooled control percent emergence was less than requested, the concentration-response curve was well defined and characterized the sensitivity of cabbage to bisphenol A. The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 20, 50, 130, 320 and 800 mg a.i./kg treatments was 70, 88, 50, 2.5 and 0.0%, respectively, and yielded -19, 49, 15, 96 and 100% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 0.5574 and 0.2964 g, respectively. The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatments was 0.2165, 0.3058, 0.1622 and 0.0251 g, respectively, and yielded 27, -3, 45 and 92% inhibition, respectively, relative to the solvent control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was 130 (83-180), 190 (120-230), 320, and 130 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 82 (52-120), greater than 320 (SD not applicable), 130, and 50 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Corn - The test levels for corn were: 3.8, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg. No dead plants or plants with morphological abnormalities were observed among plants in the control, solvent control, or the treatments tested. One seed exposed to the 10 mg a.i./kg treatment level, two seeds exposed to the 3.8 and 50 mg a.i./kg treatment levels and several seeds exposed to the controls and the remaining treatment levels did not emerge by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 85 and 75%, respectively (pooled control = 80%). The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 3.8, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatments was 90, 95, 80, 90, 65 and 80%, respectively, and yielded -13, -19, 0, -13, 19 and 0% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 1.4665 and 2.2619 g, respectively. The control and solvent control data were significantly different, therefore, the treatment data were compared to the solvent control data. The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 3.8, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatments was 1.6899, 1.7635, 1.9959, 1.8348, 1.1461 and 0.7472 g, respectively, and yielded 25, 22, 12, 19, 49 and 67% inhibition, respectively, relative to the solvent control data. Kruskal-Wallis' Test determined there was a significant reduction in shoot dry weight in the highest treatment tested, 320 mg a.i./kg, only. The inhibition noted in the remaining lower treatments is therefore not considered to be treatment-related. Mean shoot dry weight data for the four lowest treatments were actually greater than the mean control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was greater than 130 (SD not applicable), greater than 130 (SD not applicable), greater than 320, and 320 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 83 (14-180), 160 (80-280), 320, and 130 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Oat - The test levels for oat were: 9.4, 19, 47, 120, 300 and 800 mg a.i./kg. One dead plant was observed in the 800 mg a.i./kg treatment. Two seeds exposed to the 19 mg a.i./kg treatment level and several seeds exposed to the controls and the remaining treatment levels did not emerge by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 64 and 88%, respectively (pooled control = 76%). The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 9.4, 19, 47, 120, 300 and 800 mg a.i./kg treatments was 86, 98, 68, 18, 84 and 64%, respectively, and yielded -14, -29, 11, 77, -11 and 16% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 0.2776 and 0.2991 g, respectively (pooled control = 0.2889 g). The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 9.4, 19, 47, 120, 300 and 800 mg a.i./kg treatments was 0.2802, 0.3133, 0.2736, 0.0894, 0.0530 and 0.0100 g, respectively, and yielded 3, -8, 5, 69, 82 and 97% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was greater than 800 (SD not applicable), greater than 800 (SD not applicable), greater than 800, and 800 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 69 (57-81), 100 (87-130), 120, and 47 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Soybean - The test levels for soybean were: 20, 50, 130, 320 and 800 mg a.i./kg. No dead plants or plants with morphological abnormalities were observed among plants in the control, solvent control, or the treatments tested. Several seeds exposed to the control and the 800 mg a.i./kg treatment level and two seeds exposed to the 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatment levels did not emerge by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 75 and 100%, respectively. The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 20, 50, 130, 320 and 800 mg a.i./kg treatments was 100, 100, 90, 90 and 75%, respectively, and yielded 0, 0, 10, 10 and 25% inhibition, respectively, relative to the solvent control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 2.3052 and 1.9170 g, respectively (pooled control = 2.1009 g). The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 20, 50, 130, 320 and 800 mg a.i./kg treatments was 1.4529, 2.0287, 1.7787, 1.4084 and 0.1869 g, respectively, and yielded 31, 3, 15, 33 and 91% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was 650 (370-800), greater than 800 (SD not applicable), greater than 800, and 800 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 220 (72-360), 460 (370-520), 800, and 320 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Tomato - The test levels for tomato were: 4.0, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg. No dead plants or plants with morphological abnormalities were observed among plants in the control, solvent control, or the treatments tested. One seed exposed to the 20 mg a.i./kg treatment level, two seeds exposed to the control and the 50 and 130 mg a.i./kg treatment levels and several seeds exposed to the solvent control and the remaining treatment levels did not emerge by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 90 and 80%, respectively (pooled control = 85%). The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 4.0, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatments was 85, 85, 95, 90, 90 and 25%, respectively, and yielded 0, 0, -12, -6, -6 and 71% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 1.1461 and 1.1154 g, respectively (pooled control = 1.1308 g). The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 4.0, 10, 20, 50, 130 and 320 mg a.i./kg treatments was 1.0774, 0.9528, 0.8137, 0.6790, 0.1568 and 0.0206 g, respectively, and yielded 5, 16, 28, 40, 86 and 98% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was 190 (160-210), 260 (230-300), 320, and 130 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 19 (9.8-32), 67 (52-79), 50, and 20 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Wheat - The test levels for wheat were: 3.8, 9.4, 20, 47, 120 and 300 mg a.i./kg. No dead plants or plants with morphological abnormalities were observed among plants in the control, solvent control, or the treatments tested. One seed exposed to the solvent control and the 3.8, 20, 120 and 300 mg a.i./kg treatment levels did not emerge by test termination.

The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the control and solvent control was 100 and 98%, respectively (pooled control = 99%). The day 21 mean percent seedling emergence for the 3.8, 9.4, 20, 47, 120 and 300 mg a.i./kg treatments was 98, 100, 98, 100, 98 and 98%, respectively, and yielded 1, -1, 1, -1, 1 and 1% inhibition, respectively, relative to the pooled control data. The day 21 mean shoot dry weight for the control and solvent control was 0.1900 and 0.1609 g, respectively. The control and solvent control data were significantly different, therefore, the treatment data were compared to the solvent control data. The day 21 shoot dry weight for the 3.8, 9.4, 20, 47, 120 and 300 mg a.i./kg treatments was 0.1685, 0.1541, 0.1858, 0.1678, 0.1230 and 0.0297 g, respectively, and yielded -5, 4, -15, -4, 24 and 82% inhibition, respectively, relative to the solvent control data. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for percent emergence was greater than 300 (SD not applicable), greater than 300 (SD not applicable), greater than 300, and 300 mg a.i./kg, respectively. The EC25 (95% confidence limits), EC50 (95% confidence limits), LOEC, and NOEC for dry shoot weight was 120 (98-140), 200 (180-210), 120, and 47 mg a.i./kg, respectively.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Executive summary:

An OECD Guideline 208 study assessing emergence and growth in 6 different species of terrestrial plant exposed to Bisphenol A was performed. The plant species tested were three monocotyledons, corn (Zea mays), oats (Avena sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), and three dicotyledons, cabbage (Brassica oleracea), soybean (Glycine max) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). For the endpoint of percent emergence, there were no effects at the highest dose tested with oat, soybean, corn, and wheat. Tomato and cabbage were equally sensitive for the endpoint percent emergence with an LOEC of 320 mg/kg dw and a NOEC of 130 mg ai/kg dw. The dry shoot weight endpoint, an assessment of growth, there were effects in all species. The most sensitive species was tomato with a LOEC and a NOEC of 50 and 20 mg/kg dw, respectively.

Description of key information

An OECD 208 study in 6 plant species was performed with Bisphenol A (Hoberg, 2007; Staples et al., 2010). The most sensitive plant was tomato with a LOEC and NOEC of 50 mg/kg dw soil and 20 mg/kg dw soil, respectively.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Long-term EC10, LC10 or NOEC for terrestrial plants:

20 mg/kg soil dw

Additional information

An OECD Guideline 208 study assessing emergence and growth in 6 different species of terrestrial plant exposed to Bisphenol A was performed (Hoberg, 2007; Staples et al., 2010). The plant species tested were three monocotyledons, corn (Zea mays), oats (Avena sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), and three dicotyledons, cabbage (Brassica oleracea), soybean (Glycine max) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). For the endpoint of percent emergence, there were no effects at the highest dose tested with oat, soybean, corn, and wheat. Tomato and cabbage were equally sensitive for the endpoint percent emergence with an LOEC of 320 mg/kg dw and a NOEC of 130 mg /kg dw. There were effects on dry shoot weight endpoint, an assessment of growth, in all species tested. The most sensitive species was tomato with a LOEC and a NOEC of 50 and 20 mg/kg dw, respectively.