Ammonium bromide

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial plants: long-term

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Reference 2

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial plants: short-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2008

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP study performed to current guideline with no major deviation or deficiencies

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

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

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material (migrated information):
Ammonium bromide is an inorganic salt that dissociates to its composite ions in aqueous solutions at environmental pH and temperature. Comparison of the available data on the various bromide salts have shown that the bromide ion is the relevant ion for determination of the toxicological profile with simple cations such as potassium, sodium or ammonium, that are ubiquitous in nature, having little or no influence on the bromide ion properties. It is therefore justified to read-across data from other inorganic bromide salts to ammonium bromide.

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Not applicable – nominal concentrations only

Vehicle:

no

Details on preparation and application of test substrate:

no further details

Species:

Avena sativa

Plant group:

Monocotyledonae (monocots)

Details on test organisms:

Seed

Species:

Lycopersicon esculentum

Plant group:

Dicotyledonae (dicots)

Details on test organisms:

Seed

Species:

Glycine max (G. soja)

Plant group:

Dicotyledonae (dicots)

Details on test organisms:

Seed

Test type:

other: seedling emergence and growth test

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

natural soil

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

21 d

Post exposure observation period:

After 50% seedling emergence

Test temperature:

10 to 36 degree C

pH:

not stated

Moisture:

21% to 88%

Details on test conditions:

Dose rates
1020 mL stock solution added to 10.2 kg (dry weight) soil
Substrate characteristics
Sandy soil with 0.8% organic carbon content, salt content (as electrical conductivity) of 2465 µS/cm and a pH of 8.3.
Watering of the plants
Initial watering was via the surface to encourage germination. All subsequent watering was by sub-irrigation as required
Light regime
16 hours light and 8 hours darkness

Nominal and measured concentrations:

100, 180, 320, 560 and 1000 mg bromide/kg

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Species:

Glycine max (G. soja)

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromine

Basis for effect:

seedling emergence

Species:

Glycine max (G. soja)

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

320 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromide

Basis for effect:

growth

Species:

Lycopersicon esculentum

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromide

Basis for effect:

seedling emergence

Species:

Lycopersicon esculentum

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromide

Basis for effect:

growth

Species:

Avena sativa

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromide

Basis for effect:

seedling emergence

Species:

Avena sativa

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

180 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

bromide

Basis for effect:

growth

Details on results:

no further details

Results with reference substance (positive control):

no further details

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Statistical analysis of the emergence and dry weight data for each species was performed using Bartlett's test for homogeneity of variance (Sokal and Rohlf 1981) and Dunnett's multiple comparison procedure for comparing several treatments with a control (Dunnett 1955). All statistical analyses were performed using the SAS computer software package (SAS 1999 - 2001).
An estimate of the EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) values was given by inspection of the data

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

A study to OECD No 208 was performed to assess the effects of sodium bromide on the emergence and growth of three plant species.
Following a preliminary range-finding test, three plant species; two dicotylendonous species, soybean (Glycine max) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and one monocotylendonous species, oat (Avena sativa) were exposed to concentrations of 100, 180, 320, 560 and 1000 mg bromide/kg. The number of seedlings emerged and any mortalities and/or morphological abnormalities were determined daily for 21 days after 50% emergence in the control for each species.
The EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) for the test material to soybean (Glycine max) based on nominal test concentrations were greater than 1000 mg bromide/kg. The No Observed Effect Concentration for emergence 1000 mg bromide/kg and growth was 560 mg bromide/kg however, as morphological effects were also observed therefore the overall No Observed Effect Concentration was considered to be 320 mg bromide/kg.
The EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) for the test material to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) based on nominal test concentrations were greater than 1000 mg bromide/kg. The No Observed Effect Concentration was 1000 mg bromide/kg as no significant effect on emergence or growth was observed and no morphological effects were observed throughout the duration of the test.
The EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) for the test material to oat (Avena sativa) based on nominal test concentrations were greater than 1000 mg bromide/kg. The No Observed Effect Concentration for both emergence and growth was 1000 mg bromide/kg however, morphological effects were observed therefore the overall No Observed Effect Concentration was considered to be 180 mg bromide/kg.
Analysis of the 10 g bromide/l stock solution used to prepare the test concentrations on Day 0 showed a measured test concentration of 98% of nominal value and so the results are based on nominal test concentrations only.

Description of key information

A study to OECD No 208 was performed to assess the effects of sodium bromide on the emergence and growth of three plant species. The EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) for the test material to the plants tested based on nominal test concentrations were greater than 1000 mg bromide/kg. The No Observed Effect Concentration for both emergence and growth was 1000 mg bromide/kg however, morphological effects were observed therefore the overall No Observed Effect Concentration was considered to be 180 mg bromide/kg to oat (Avena sativa).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Short-term EC50 or LC50 for terrestrial plants:

1 000 mg/kg soil dw

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

180 mg/kg soil dw

Additional information

Ammonium bromide is an inorganic salt that dissociates to its composite ions in aqueous solutions at environmental pH and temperature. Comparison of the available data on the various bromide salts have shown that the bromide ion is the relevant ion for determination of the toxicological profile with simple cations such as potassium, sodium or ammonium, that are ubiquitous in nature, having little or no influence on the bromide ion properties. It is therefore justified to read-across data from other inorganic bromide salts to ammonium bromide.

A study to OECD No 208 was performed to assess the effects of sodium bromide on the emergence and growth of three plant species.

Three plant species were exposed to concentrations of 100, 180, 320, 560 and 1000 mg bromide/kg. The number of seedlings emerged and any mortalities and/or morphological abnormalities were determined daily for 21 days after 50% emergence in the control for each species.

The EC50 (emergence) and EC50 (growth) for the test material to the plants tested based on nominal test concentrations were greater than 1000 mg bromide/kg. The No Observed Effect Concentration for both emergence and growth was 1000 mg bromide/kg however, morphological effects were observed therefore the overall No Observed Effect Concentration was considered to be 180 mg bromide/kg to oat (Avena sativa).