Citric acid

Toxicity to other above-ground organisms

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to other above-ground organisms

Remarks:

bat

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

other information

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Remarks:

The study did not follow any guideline and is not GLP, but is acceptable for assessment.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Potential citric acid exposure and toxicity to Hawaiian hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) associated with Eleutherodactylus frog control

Author:

William C. Pitt, W. Witmer, Susan M. Jojola, Hans Sin

Year:

2014

Bibliographic source:

Ecotoxicology (2014) 23:429-436

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

No guideline present
Two methods of gavage treatment were performed: 1) holding volume constant at 1mL and adjusting concentration
2) holding concentration constant and adjusting volume. One animal was treated and effects observed after 48h and then treating a second animal with either a higher or lower dose, depending on previous response. Doses were seperated by a factor of 1.4.
Bats were fed with a syringe with a 5.08 cm gavage needle.
Only females were used.
Observation in the first hour, then every hour up to 6h, then every 4h up to 24h and periodic observations from 24 to 48h.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Citric acid

EC Number:

201-069-1

EC Name:

Citric acid

Cas Number:

77-92-9

Molecular formula:

C6H8O7

IUPAC Name:

2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Details on preparation and application of test substrate:

Aqueous citric acid solutions were prepared.
Two methods of gavage treatment were performed: 1) holding volume constant at 1mL and adjusting concentration
2) holding concentration constant and adjusting volume. One animal was treated and effects observed after 48h and then treating a second animal with either a higher or lower dose, depending on previous response. Doses were seperated by a factor of 1.4.
Bats were fed with a syringe with a 5.08 cm gavage needle.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

other: bat

Details on test organisms:

females
big brown bats: Eptesicus fuscus

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Test conditions

Test temperature:

22 °C

Nominal and measured concentrations:

542 - 7341 mg/kg

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

542 mg/kg bw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: Emesis

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: LOEC

Effect conc.:

759 mg/kg bw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: Emesis

Effect concentrations 3

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: LOEC

Effect conc.:

2 811 mg/kg bw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Details on results:

No effect occured to bats at the lowest concentration of 542 mg/kg bw. At 759 mg/kg emesis occured in 1 of 3 exposed bats.
The dose of 2811 mg/kg was toxic.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

In a 48 h bat study, no effect was observed up to a concentration of 759 mg/kg bw, where emesis was observed, whereas at 2811 mg/kg bw it was toxic.