Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-(2-aminomethylethyl)-.omega.-(2-aminomethylethoxy)-

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2010-09-29

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Remarks:

Study conducted in compliance with agreed protocols, with no or minor deviations from standard test guidelines and/or minor methodological deficiencies, which do not affect the quality of the relevant results. The study report was conclusive, done to a valid guideline and the study was conducted under GLP conditions.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 209 (Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.11 (Biodegradation: Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 850.6800 (Modified Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test for Sparingly Soluble Chemicals)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

- Name as cited in study report: POPDA
- Color: clear, colorless
- Lot/Batch number: LL100365
- Purity: 94%
- Impurity: polypropylene glycol (approximately 6%)
- Date of receipt: 2010-09-21
- Expiry date: 2011-12-31
- Storage: in the dark

Analytical monitoring:

no

Details on sampling:

Concentrations: 10, 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/l

Sampling method: Observations were made on the test preparations throughout the test period. Observations of the test item vessels at 0 hours were made prior to addition of activated sewage sludge and synthetic sewage. The pH of the control, reference item and test item preparations were measured using a WTW pH/Oxi 340I pH and dissolved oxygen meter at 0 hours and prior to measurement of the oxygen consumption rate after 3 hours contact time.

Sample storage conditions before analysis: not specified in report

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)

Definitive Test:
For the purpose of the test, the test item was dissolved directly in water.
An amount of test item (2000 mg) was dissolved in water and the volume adjusted to 1 litre to give a 2000 mg/l stock solution from which dilutions were made to give 200 and 20 mg/l stock solutions. An aliquot (250 ml) of the 20 mg/l stock solution was dispersed with synthetic sewage (16 ml), activated sewage sludge (200 ml) and water, to a final volume of 500 ml, to give the required concentration of 10 mg/l. Similarly, aliquots (80 and 250 ml) of the 200 and 2000 mg/l stock solutions were used to prepare the test concentrations of 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/l. The volumetric flasks containing the stock solutions were inverted several times to ensure homogeneity of the stock solutions.


Eluate:
At time "0" 16 ml of synthetic sewage was diluted to 300 ml with water and 200 ml of inoculum added in a 500 ml conical flask (first control). The mixture was aerated with clean, oil-free compressed air via narrow bore glass tubes at a rate of approximately 0.5 ¿ 1 litre per minute. Thereafter, at 15 minute intervals the procedure was repeated with appropriate amounts of the reference item being added. The test item vessels were prepared as described above. Finally a second control was prepared.

As each vessel reached 3 hours contact time an aliquot was removed from the conical flask and poured into the measuring vessel (250 ml darkened glass Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) bottle) and the rate of respiration measured using a Yellow Springs dissolved oxygen meter fitted with a BOD probe. The contents of the measuring vessel were stirred constantly by magnetic stirrer. The rate of respiration for each flask was measured over the linear portion of the oxygen consumption trace (where possible between approximately 6.5 mg O2/l and 2.5 mg O2/l). In the case of a rapid oxygen consumption, measurements may have been outside this range but the oxygen consumption was always within the linear portion of the respiration curve. In the case of low oxygen consumption, the rate was determined over an approximate 10 minute period.
The test was conducted under normal laboratory lighting in a temperature controlled room at 21±1 Deg C.
Observations were made on the test preparations throughout the test period. Observations of the test item vessels at 0 hours were made prior to addition of activated sewage sludge and synthetic sewage. The pH of the control, reference item and test item preparations were measured using a WTW pH/Oxi 340I pH and dissolved oxygen meter at 0 hours and prior to measurement of the oxygen consumption rate after 3 hours contact time.

Differential loading:
Not applicable.

Controls:
The control group was maintained under identical conditions but not exposed to the test material.

Chemical name of vehicle (organic solvent, emulsifier or dispersant):
Not applicable.

Concentration of vehicle in test medium (stock solution and final test solution(s) including control(s)):
Not applicable.

Evidence of undissolved material (e.g. precipitate, surface film, etc):
Observations made on the test preparations throughout the study are given in Table 3 (attached in any other information on materails and methods incl. tables section)

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage

Details on inoculum:

Laboratory culture:
The activated sewage sludge sample was maintained on continuous aeration in the laboratory at a temperature of approximately 21ºC and was used on the day of collection. The pH of the sample was 7.4 measured using a WTW pH/Oxi 340I pH and dissolved oxygen meter. Determination of the suspended solids level of the activated sewage sludge was carried out by filtering a sample (100 ml) of the activated sewage sludge by suction through a pre-weighed GF/A filter paper* using a Buchner funnel which was then rinsed 3 times with 10 ml of deionised reverse osmosis water and filtration continued for 3 minutes. The filter paper was then dried in an oven at approximately 105ºC for at least 1 hour and allowed to cool before weighing. This process was repeated until a constant weight was attained. The suspended solids concentration was equal to 3.9 g/l prior to use.

* rinsed three times with 20 ml deionised reverse osmosis water prior to drying in an oven

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Hardness:

The test water used for the test was laboratory tap water dechlorinated by passage through an activated carbon filter (Purite Series 500) and partly softened (Elga Nimbus 1248D Duplex water softener) giving water with a total hardness of approximately 140 mg/l as CaCO3. After dechlorination and softening the water was then passed through a series of computer controlled plate heat exchangers to achieve the required temperature. Typical water quality characteristics for the tap water as supplied, prior to dechlorination and softening, are given in Appendix 2 (attached in overall remarks and attachments section).

Test temperature:

The test was conducted under normal laboratory lighting in a temperature controlled room at 21±1 Deg C.

pH:

The pH values of the test preparations at the start and end of the exposure period are given in Table 2 (attached in any other information on materials and methods incl. tables section)

Dissolved oxygen:

In some instances, the initial and final dissolved oxygen concentrations were below those recommended in the test guidelines (6.5 mg O2/l and 2.5 mg O2/l respectively). This was considered to have had no adverse effect on the results of the study given that in all cases the oxygen consumption rate was determined over the linear portion of the oxygen consumption trace.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

10, 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/l.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
Preparation of test system
At time "0" 16 ml of synthetic sewage was diluted to 300 ml with water and 200 ml of inoculum added in a 500 ml conical flask (first control). The mixture was aerated with clean, oil-free compressed air via narrow bore glass tubes at a rate of approximately 0.5 ¿ 1 litre per minute. Thereafter, at 15 minute intervals the procedure was repeated with appropriate amounts of the reference item being added. The test item vessels were prepared as described in Details of test solutions section. Finally a second control was prepared.
As each vessel reached 3 hours contact time an aliquot was removed from the conical flask and poured into the measuring vessel (250 ml darkened glass Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) bottle) and the rate of respiration measured using a Yellow Springs dissolved oxygen meter fitted with a BOD probe. The contents of the measuring vessel were stirred constantly by magnetic stirrer. The rate of respiration for each flask was measured over the linear portion of the oxygen consumption trace (where possible between approximately 6.5 mg O2/l and 2.5 mg O2/l). In the case of a rapid oxygen consumption, measurements may have been outside this range but the oxygen consumption was always within the linear portion of the respiration curve. In the case of low oxygen consumption, the rate was determined over an approximate 10 minute period.
The test was conducted under normal laboratory lighting in a temperature controlled room at 21±1 Deg C.
Observations were made on the test preparations throughout the test period. Observations of the test item vessels at 0 hours were made prior to addition of activated sewage sludge and synthetic sewage. The pH of the control, reference item and test item preparations were measured using a WTW pH/Oxi 340I pH and dissolved oxygen meter at 0 hours and prior to measurement of the oxygen consumption rate after 3 hours contact time.


TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
DechlorinatedtTap water


OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH:
The pH values of the test preparations at the start and end of the exposure period are given in Table 2 (attached in any other information on materials and methods section)

- Photoperiod:
3 hours.

- Light intensity:
Normal laboratory lighting.

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) :
In order to calculate the inhibitory effect of the test and reference items the respiration rate was expressed as a percentage of the two control respiration rates.

where
RS = oxygen consumption rate for test or reference sample
RC1 + RC2 = oxygen consumption rates for controls 1 and 2
The percentage inhibition values were plotted against concentration, a line fitted using the Xlfit software package (IDBS) and the EC15, EC20, EC50 and EC80 values determined from the equation for the fitted line.
The EC80 value for the test item was determined by inspection of the inhibition of respiration rate data.
95% confidence limits were calculated for the reference item EC50 value using the method of Litchfield and Wilcoxon (Litchfield and Wilcoxon 1949).
The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) was taken as being the EC15 value.
The results of the study are considered valid if (i) the two control respiration rates are within 15% of each other and (ii) the EC50 (3-Hour contact time) for 3,5-dichlorophenol lies within the range 5 to 30 mg/l.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 3.2


- Range finding study
Not Applicable

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-dichlorophenol

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

other: EC20

Effect conc.:

380 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Remarks on result:

other: not specified

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

750 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Remarks on result:

other: not specified

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

other: EC80

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Remarks on result:

other: not specified

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

310 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Remarks on result:

other: not specified

Details on results:

Definitive Test
Oxygen consumption rates and percentage inhibition values for the control, test and reference items are given in Table 1 (attached in any other information on materials and methods incl. tables section). The pH values of the test preparations at the start and end of the exposure period are given in Table 2 (attached in any other information on materials and methods incl. tables section) and observations made on the test preparations throughout the study are given in Table 3 (attached in any other information on materials and methods incl. tables section).
Percentage inhibition is plotted against concentration for the test and reference items (Figures 1 to 2 attached in overall remarks and attchments section).

The following results were derived:
LCE07105/alkylpolyphosphate:
ECx (3 Hours) (mg/l) 95% Confidence Limits (mg/l)
EC20 380 -
EC50 750 -
EC80 >1000 -
NOEC 310 -

It was not possible to determine an EC80 value for the test item as no concentration tested resulted in greater than 80% inhibition. It was also not possible to obtain 95% confidence limits for the test item EC50 value as the data generated did not fit the models available for calculation.

3,5-dichlorophenol:
ECx (3 Hours) (mg/l) 95% Confidence Limits (mg/l)
EC20 2.1 -
EC50 7.0 5.3 - 9.2
EC80 24 -

Variation in respiration rates of controls 1 and 2 after 3 hours contact time was ± 1%.
The validation criteria for the control respiration rates and reference item EC50 values were therefore satisfied.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

Reference item preparation
For the purpose of the test a reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol (Sigma-Aldrich Batch No. 04621CJ) was used. Two stock solutions of 50 and 160 mg/l were prepared by dissolving the reference item directly in water with the aid of ultrasonication for approximately 20 minutes. Aliquots (10 and 100 ml) of the 160 mg/l stock solution were removed and dispersed with activated sewage sludge, synthetic sewage and water to give the final concentrations of 3.2 and 32 mg/l. Similarly, a 100 ml aliquot of the 50 mg/l stock solution was used to prepare the 10 mg/l concentration. The volumetric flasks containing the reference item were inverted several times to ensure homogeneity of the solutions.


- Results with reference substance valid?
Yes.

- Relevant effect levels:
The reference material gave a 3-Hour EC50 value of 7.0 mg/l, 95% confidence limits 5.3 - 9.2 mg/l.

- Other:
None.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

None.

 Synthetic Sewage

A synthetic sewage of the following composition, was added to each test vessel to act as a respiratory substrate:

16 g		Peptone
11 g		Meat extract
3 g		Urea
0.7 g		NaCl
0.4 g		CaCl2.2H2O
0.2 g		MgSO4.7H2O
2.8 g		K2HPO4
	dissolved in 1 litre of water with the aid of ultrasonication.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge micro-organisms gave a 3-Hour EC50 of 750 mg/l. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 310 mg/l.

Executive summary:

Introduction. A study was performed to assess the effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge. The method followed that described in the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals (1984) No 209 "Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test", Method C.11 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 440/2008 and US EPA Draft Ecological Effects Test Guidelines OPPTS 850.6800.

Methods. 

Activated sewage sludge was exposed to an aqueous solution of the test item at concentrations of 10, 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/l for a period of 3 hours at a temperature of 21 ± 1°C with the addition of a synthetic sewage as a respiratory substrate.

The rate of respiration was determined after 3 hours contact tiand compared to data for the control and a reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol.

Results.

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge gave a 3-Hour EC₅₀ of 750 mg/l. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 310mg/l.

The reference item gave a 3-Hour EC₅₀value of 7.0 mg/l, 95% confidence limits 5.3 ¿ 9.2 mg/l.

Conclusion

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge micro-organisms gave a 3-Hour EC₅₀ of 750 mg/l. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 310 mg/l.

Description of key information

The 3 hr EC50 of Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], alpha-(2-aminomethylethyl)-omega-(2-aminomethylethoxy)- to activated sludge microorganisms was found to be 750 mg/L (Clarke, 2010). The NOEC was 310 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for microorganisms:

750 mg/L

EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:

310 mg/L

Additional information

A 3 h Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test was conducted according to OECD Guideline 209 and GLP. The inoculum used was activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage. Concentrations tested were Control, 10, 32, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/L. Reference substance (3,5 dichlorophenol) validation with 3.2, 10 and 32 mg/L was run concurrently. The reference substance result was within required range, and control variability was valid. The 3 hr EC50 of Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], alpha-(2-aminomethylethyl)-omega-(2-aminomethylethoxy)- to activated sludge was found to be 750 mg/L. The NOEC was 310 mg/L.