Aluminium sulphate

Additional ecotoxological information

Administrative data

Endpoint:

additional ecotoxicological information

Type of information:

other: handbook data

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: handbook with reliable values

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Environmental and ecotoxicological effects of aluminium in water

Author:

Lenntech organization

Year:

1993

Bibliographic source:

/http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/aluminium/aluminum-and-water.htm

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of study / information:

Environmental and ecotoxicological effects of aluminium in water

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Aluminium

EC Number:

231-072-3

EC Name:

Aluminium

Cas Number:

7429-90-5

IUPAC Name:

aluminum

Test material form:

solid: compact

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Aluminum may negatively affect terrestrial and aquatic life in different ways. Regular aluminum concentrations in groundwater are about 0.4 ppm, because it is present in soils as water insoluble hydroxide. At pH values below 4.5 solubility rapidly increases, causing aluminum concentrations to rise above 5 ppm. This may also occur at very high pH values.
Dissolved Al3+-ions are toxic to plants; these affect roots and decrease phosphate intake. As was mentioned above, when pH values increase aluminum dissolves. This explains the correlation between acid rains and soil aluminum concentrations. At increasing nitrate deposition the aluminum amount increases, whereas it decreases under large heather and agricultural surfaces. In forest soils it increases.

Aluminum is not a dietary requirement for plants, but it may positively influence growth in some species. It is taken up by all plants because of its wide distribution in soils. Grass species may accumulate aluminum concentrations of above 1% dry mass.
Acid rain dissolves minerals in soils, and transports these to water sources. This may cause aluminum concentrations in rivers and lakes to rise.

Aluminum naturally occurs in waters in very low concentrations. Higher concentrations derived from mining waste may negatively affect aquatic biocoenosis. Aluminum is toxic to fish in acidic, unbuffered waters starting at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L. Simultaneous electrolyte shortages influence gull permeability, and damage surface gull cells. Aluminum is mainly toxic to fish at pH values 5.0-5.5. Aluminum ions accumulate on the gulls and clog these with a slimy layer, which limits breathing. When pH values decrease, aluminum ions influence gull permeability regulation by calcium. This increases sodium losses. Calcium and aluminum are antagonistic, but adding calcium cannot limit electrolyte loss. This mainly concerns young animals. An aluminum concentration of 1.5 mg/L turned out to be fatal to trout. The element also influences growth of freshwater bony fish.
Phytoplankton contains approximately 40 -400 ppm aluminum (dry mass), which leads to a bioconcentration factor of 104-105 compared to seawater.

Terrestrial organisms also contain some aluminum. Examples: mosquito larvae 7-33 ppm, springtails 36-424 ppm (dry mass). Together, pH values and aluminum concentrations determine larvae mortality.

A number of LD50 values for rats are known for aluminum. For oral intake this is 420 mg/kg for aluminum chloride, and 3671 mg/kg for aluminum nonahydrate. The mechanism of toxicity is mainly based on enzyme inhibition.

Only one non-radioactive aluminum isotope occurs naturally. There are eight instable isotopes.

 

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Aluminum is not a dietary requirement for plants, but it may positively influence growth in some species. It is taken up by all plants because of its wide distribution in soils. Grass species may accumulate aluminum concentrations of above 1% dry mass.
Acid rain dissolves minerals in soils, and transports these to water sources. This may cause aluminum concentrations in rivers and lakes to rise.
Aluminum naturally occurs in waters in very low concentrations. Higher concentrations derived from mining waste may negatively affect aquatic biocoenosis.
The element also influences growth of freshwater bony fish.
Phytoplankton contains approximately 40-400 ppm aluminum (dry mass), which leads to a bioconcentration factor of 104-105 compared to seawater.
Terrestrial organisms also contain some aluminum. Examples: mosquito larvae 7-33 ppm, springtails 36-424 ppm (dry mass).