Tetraethylammonium chloride

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Short term toxicity to fish:

Based on nominal concentrations, experimental median lethal Concentrations [LC-50 (96 h)] for CAS No.56-34-8 on Zebra Fish Danio rerio was determine to be >100 mg/l.

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

The median effective concentration (EC50) for the test substance Tetraethylammonium chloride, in Daphnia magna was determined to be 18.7 mg/L on the basis of mobility inhibition effects in a 48 hour study. Based on the EC50 value, substance is likely to be hazardous to aquatic invertebrate. Since the test chemical is readily biodegradable in nature, chemical can be considered as not hazardous to aquatic organisms and thus can be considered to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Based on the effect concentrations which is >200 mg/l give the conclusion that test substance Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS: 56-34-8) is likely to be not toxic to aquatic algae at environmentally relevant concentrations and can be considered to be“Not Calssified”as per the CLP classification criteria.

Additional information

Short term toxicity to fish:

Study was conducted to assess the effect of test chemical Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS No. 56-34-8) on the mortality of fish Danio rerio. Test conducted according to OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test). The test substance was soluble in water. Therefore, the test solution was prepared by dissolving 1 g of the test substance in 1 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) with continuous stirring. This test solution was then added to the remaining three liters of water for achieving test concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/L and Zebra FishDanio reriowere exposed to these concentration for 96 hours. Bowl aquaria containing 2 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) were loaded with 8 fishes. A static procedure was used for the study and it was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 203. After 96 hours of exposure to test item to various nominal test concentrations, LC50 was determine to be >100 mg/l . Based on the LC50, it can be consider that the chemical was not hazardous and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Aim of this study was to assess the short term toxicity of Tetraethylammonium chloride to aquatic invertebrates daphnia magna. Study was performed according to the OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test) in a static system for the total exposure period of 48 hrs.

 

The stock solution 100 mg/l was prepared by dissolving white powder in reconstituted water. Test solutions of required concentration as were prepared by mixing the stock solution of the test sample with reconstituted test water. 100 mg/lconcentration was used in the study. Effects on immobilisation were observed for 48 hours. With the test substance one positive control Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was also run simultaneously. After the exposure of chemical, effect concentration EC50 was calculated using nonlinear regression by the software Prism 4.0.

 

The median effective concentration (EC50) for the test substance Tetraethylammonium chloride, in Daphnia magna was determined to be 18.7 mg/L on the basis of mobility inhibition effects in a 48 hour study. Based on the EC50 value, substance is likely to be hazardous to aquatic invertebrate. Since the test chemical is readily biodegradable in nature, chemical can be considered as not hazardous to aquatic organisms and thus can be considered to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Following three studies of target chemical to conclude the aquatic algae toxicity of Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS: 56-34-8) is summarized below:

The study was designed to assess the toxic effects of the test compound Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS No. 56-34-8) on the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. Test was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 201 (Alga, Growth Inhibition Test). Test was carried out in 100mL conical flasks which were carefully autoclaved and sterilized. The test solution in each of these test vessels was kept constant which is 60 ml so that a sufficient amount of head space was left. The test substance was prepared by adding 50 mg of test item in 250 ml of BBM to get the final concentration of 200mg/L. This stock solution was kept for stirring/ sonication for 10 minutes to obtain a homogenous solution for the experiment. The test concentrations 0.9mg/l, 2.7mg/l, 8.1mg/l, 24.3mg/l,72.9mg/l, 218.7mg/l were chosen according to the available data of the test item. The concentrations chosen were set up to the water solubility limit. The remaining test solutions were prepared by dilution from the above stock solution. For the assessment of algal growth, the test was conducted in replicates. The control flask was maintained in triplicates as recommended in the OECD guideline and the test concentration was selected in geometric series which were maintained in duplicates. To obtain a quantitative concentration-response relationship by regression analysis, a linearizing transformation of the response data into probit was performed. Using the same, effective concentration (EC) was determined. Algal growth was calculated daily by counting the cells microscopically with the help of haemocytometer. For microscopic observations the cultures were observed daily with the help of a microscope to verify a normal and healthy appearance of the algal culture and also to observe any abnormal appearance of the algae (as may be caused by the exposure of the test item). Apart from this, the cell count of each test vessel was also noted with the help of a microscope and haemocytometer. By spectrophotometer the absorbance values of each test vessel and control vessel was noted at 680nm.The BBM was taken as blank for both control and test vessels. The absorbance value of each vessel was in line with the average specific growth rate. As per OECD 201, the biomass in the control cultures should have increased exponentially by a factor of at least 16 within the 72 hr test period. This corresponds to a specific growth rate of 0.92 per day. Thus, the observed specific growth rate in the control cultures during the experiment was 0.358 per day. Secondly the mean coefficient of variation for section by section specific growth rates (days 0-1, 1-2 & 2-3, for 72 hr tests) in the control cultures must not exceed 35%. Thus, the observed mean coefficient of variation in the control cultures during the experiment was 33.42%. Thirdly the coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the whole test period in replicate control cultures must not exceed 10%. Thus, the observed coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the experiment in control cultures was 8.26%. Hence, the test is considered valid as per OECD guideline, 201 After 72 hours of exposure to test item Tetraethylammonium chloride to various nominal test concentrations, EC50 was determine to be >200 mg/l graphically and through probit analysis. Based on the EC50, it can be concluded that the chemical was non hazardous and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

In a similar study, Aim of this study was to evaluate the nature of chemical test chemical when comes in contact with the test organism Desmodesmus subspicatus (previous name: Scenedesmus subspicatus). Test was conducted according to the OECD guideline 201. The stock solution 100 mg/l was prepared by dissolving white powder in OECD growth medium. Test solutions of required concentrations were prepared by mixing the stock solution of the test sample with OECD growth medium and inoculum culture. With the test substance one positive control Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) was also run simultaneously. After the exposure of chemical, effect concentration EC50 was calculated using nonlinear regression by the software Prism 4.0. Effect on the growth of algae was determined after an exposure period of 72 hrs. The % inhibition for the test substance Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS 56 -34 -8), in algae was determined to be 0.5% on the basis of growth rate inhibition effects in a 72 hour study. Based on the % inhibition, which indicates that the substance is likely to be non-hazardous to aquatic algae and can be classified as Not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Thus based on the effect concentrations which is >200 mg/l give the conclusion that test substance Tetraethylammonium chloride (CAS: 56-34-8) is likely to be not toxic to aquatic algae at environmentally relevant concentrations and can be considered to be“Not Calssified”as per the CLP classification criteria.