Dilithium titanate

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Genetic toxicity in vitro

Description of key information

The genetic toxicity properties of dilithium titanate were investigated in an in-vitro study on Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. The result is negative; no evidence of the genetic toxicity of the test item was found, either with or without metabolic activation.

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

Experimental start date 30 August 2019 Experimental completion date 16 March 2020

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.13/14 (Mutagenicity - Reverse Mutation Test Using Bacteria)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 870.5100 - Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test (August 1998)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Identification: Lithium titanate
Chemical Name: Lithium titanium oxide
CAS Number: 12031-82-2
Empirical Formula: Li2TiO3
Molecular Mass: 109.8 g/mol
Batch Number: SLEA 7084
Sample Number: 2914
Date of Receipt: 12 July 2019
Expiry Date: 23 September 2021
Purity: > 98 %
Storage Conditions: Room temperature in the dark

Target gene:

Salmonella: Histidine operon
E-coli: Tryptophan operon

Species / strain / cell type:

S. typhimurium TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98, TA 100 and E. coli WP2

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

The Phenobarbitone / β-Naphthoflavone induced S9 Microsomal fractions (Sprague-Dawley) used in this study were purchased from Moltox; Lot No. 4146 and the protein level was adjusted to 20 mg/mL.

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

1.5, 5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate

The maximum concentration was 5000 µg/plate (the OECD TG 471 maximum recommended dose level.

Vehicle / solvent:

Sterile distilled water

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Remarks:

Spontaneous mutation rate

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Remarks:

Sterile distilled water

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

N-ethyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

Remarks:

Absence of S9-mix

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Remarks:

Spontaneous mutation rate

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Remarks:

Sterile distilled water

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

9-aminoacridine

Remarks:

Absence of S9-mix

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Remarks:

Spontaneous mutation rate

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Remarks:

Sterile distilled water

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide

Remarks:

Absence of S9-mix

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Remarks:

Spontaneous mutation rate

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Remarks:

Sterile distilled water

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

other: 2-aminoanthracene (2AA)

Remarks:

Presence of S9-mix

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Remarks:

Spontaneous mutation rate

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

Remarks:

Sterile distilled water

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

benzo(a)pyrene

Remarks:

Presence of S9-mix

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

Test for Mutagenicity: Experiment 1 – Plate Incorporation Method

Dose selection
The test item was tested using the following method. The maximum concentration was 5000 µg/plate (the OECD TG 471 maximum recommended dose level). Eight concentrations of the test item (1.5, 5, 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate) were assayed in triplicate against each tester strain, using the direct plate incorporation method.

Without Metabolic Activation
A 0.2 mL aliquot of the appropriate concentration of test item or solvent vehicle or 0.1 mL of the appropriate positive control was added together with 0.1 mL of the bacterial strain culture, 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer and 2 mL of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media. These were then mixed and overlayed onto a Vogel Bonner agar plate. Negative (untreated) controls were also performed on the same day as the mutation test. Each concentration of the test item, appropriate positive, vehicle and negative controls, and each bacterial strain, was assayed using triplicate plates.

With Metabolic Activation
The procedure was the same as described previously except that following the addition of the test item formulation and bacterial culture, 0.5 mL of S9 mix was added to the molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media instead of phosphate buffer.

Incubation and Scoring
All of the plates were incubated at 37 ± 3°C for between 48 and 72 hours and scored for the presence of revertant colonies using an automated colony counting system. The plates were viewed microscopically for evidence of thinning (toxicity). Sporadic manual counts were performed due to spreading colonies which prevented an accurate automated count.

Test for Mutagenicity: Experiment 2 – Pre-Incubation Method
As the result of Experiment 1 was considered negative, Experiment 2 was performed using the pre-incubation method in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix).

Dose selection
The dose range used for Experiment 2 was determined by the results of Experiment 1 and was 15, 50, 150, 500, 1500 and 5000 µg/plate.

Six test item concentrations were selected in Experiment 2 in order to ensure the study achieved both four non toxic dose levels as required by the test guideline, the lack of cytotoxicity noted in Experiment 1, and the potential for a change in the cytotoxicity of the test item following the change in test methodology from plate incorporation to pre-incubation.

Without Metabolic Activation
A 0.1 mL aliquot of the appropriate bacterial strain culture, 0.5 mL of phosphate buffer and 0.2 mL of the appropriate concentration of test item formulation or solvent vehicle or 0.1 mL of appropriate positive control were incubated at 37 ± 3°C for 20 minutes (with shaking) prior to addition of 2 mL of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media and subsequent plating onto Vogel Bonner plates.

Negative (untreated) controls were also performed on the same day as the mutation test employing the plate incorporation method. All testing for this experiment was performed in triplicate.

With Metabolic Activation
The procedure was the same as described previously except that following the addition of the test item formulation and bacterial strain culture, 0.5 mL of S9 mix was added to the tube instead of phosphate buffer, prior to incubation at 37 ± 3°C for 20 minutes (with shaking) and addition of molten, trace amino-acid supplemented media. All testing for this experiment was performed in triplicate.

Incubation and Scoring
All of the plates were incubated at 37 ± 3°C for between 48 and 72 hours and scored for the presence of revertant colonies using an automated colony counting system. The plates were viewed microscopically for evidence of thinning (toxicity).

Rationale for test conditions:

As the result of Experiment 1 was considered negative, Experiment 2 was performed using the pre-incubation method in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix).

Evaluation criteria:

There are several criteria for determining a positive result. Any, one, or all of the following can be used to determine the overall result of the study:

1. A dose-related increase in mutant frequency over the dose range tested (De Serres and Shelby, 1979).

2. A reproducible increase at one or more concentrations.

3. Biological relevance against in-house historical control ranges.

4. A fold increase greater than two times the concurrent solvent control for TA100, TA98 and WP2uvrA or a three-fold increase for TA1535 and TA1537 (especially if accompanied by an out of historical range response (Cariello and Piegorsch, 1996)).

5. Statistical analysis of data as determined by UKEMS (Mahon et al., 1989).

A test item will be considered non-mutagenic (negative) in the test system if the above criteria are not met.

Although most experiments will give clear positive or negative results, in some instances the data generated will prohibit making a definite judgment about test item activity. Results of this type will be reported as equivocal.

Statistics:

Statistical significance was confirmed by using Dunnett’s Regression Analysis (* = p < 0.05) for those values that indicate statistically significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies compared to the concurrent solvent control. Values that are statistically significant but are within the in-house historical vehicle/untreated control range are not flagged for statistical significance in the data tables.

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium, other: TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 100, TA 98

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity, but tested up to precipitating concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

True negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

E. coli WP2 uvr A

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity, but tested up to precipitating concentrations

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

True negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Additional information on results:

Experiment 1 (plate incorporation)
The maximum dose level of the test item in the first experiment was selected as the OECD TG 471 recommended dose level of 5000 µg/plate.

There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix).

A test item precipitate (white and cloudy in appearance) was noted at and above 1500 g/plate in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix). This observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies.

There were no significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix).

Experiment 2 (pre-incubation)
The maximum dose level of the test item in the second experiment was the same as for Experiment 1 (5000 µg/plate).

There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix).

A test item precipitate (white and cloudy in appearance) was noted at and above 1500 g/plate in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix). This observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies.

No biologically relevant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies were recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix). Three statistically significant values were noted (TA100 at 1500 and 5000 µg/plate and WP2uvrA at 150 µg/plate in the absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), however as the maximum fold increase was only 1.6 times the concurrent vehicle controls and the mean colony count was within the in-house historical vehicle/untreated control range for the relevant strains the responses were considered of no biological relevance. Therefore, these values have not been highlighted in Table 4 as they did not meet the required criteria for a positive response.

Prior to use, the relevant strains were checked for characteristics (deep rough character, ampicillin resistance, UV light sensitivity and histidine or tryptophan auxotrophy), viability and spontaneous reversion rate (all were found to be satisfactory). The amino acid supplemented top agar and the S9-mix used in both experiments were shown to be sterile. The test item formulation was also shown to be sterile. These data are not given in the report.   

Results for the negative controls (spontaneous mutation rates) and viability were considered to be acceptable. These data are for concurrent untreated control plates performed on the same day as the Mutation Test.

The vehicle (sterile distilled water) control plates gave counts of revertant colonies within the normal range. All of the positive control chemicals used in the test induced marked increases in the frequency of revertant colonies, both with and without metabolic activation. Thus, the sensitivity of the assay and the efficacy of the S9-mix were validated.

Conclusions:

In this Reverse Mutation Assay ‘Ames Test’ using strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (OECD TG 471) the test item Lithium titanate did not induce an increase in the frequency of revertant colonies that met the criteria for a positive result, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix). Under the conditions of this test Lithium titanate was considered to be non-mutagenic.

Executive summary:

  Introduction

The test method was designed to be compatible with the guidelines for bacterial mutagenicity testing published by the major Japanese Regulatory Authorities including METI, MHLW and MAFF, the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals No. 471 "Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test", Method B13/14 of Commission Regulation (EC) number 440/2008 of 30 May 2008, the ICH S2(R1)guideline adopted June 2012 (ICH S2(R1) Federal Register. Adopted 2012; 77:33748-33749)and the USA, EPA OCSPP harmonized guideline - Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test.

Methods

Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100 and Escherichia coli strain WP2uvrA were treated with suspensions of the test item using both the Ames plate incorporation and pre-incubation methods at up to eight dose levels, in triplicate, both with and without the addition of a rat liver homogenate metabolizing system (10% liver S9 in standard co-factors). The dose range for Experiment 1 (plate incorporation) was based on OECD TG 471 and was 1.5 to 5000 mg/plate. The experiment was repeated on a separate day (pre-incubation method) using fresh cultures of the bacterial strains and fresh test item formulations. The dose range was amended following the results of Experiment 1 and was 15 to 5000 µg/plate. Six test item concentrations were selected in Experiment 2 in order to ensure the study achieved both four non‑toxic dose levels as required by the test guideline, the lack of cytotoxicity noted in Experiment 1, and the potential for a change in the cytotoxicity of the test item following the change in test methodology from plate incorporation to pre-incubation.

Results

The vehicle (sterile distilled water) control plates gave counts of revertant colonies within the normal range. All of the positive control chemicals used in the test induced marked increases in the frequency of revertant colonies, both with and without metabolic activation. Thus, the sensitivity of the assay and the efficacy of the S9-mix were validated.

The maximum dose level of the test item in the first experiment was selected as the OECD TG 471 recommended dose level of 5000 µg/plate. There was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), in the first mutation test (plate incorporation method).

Based on the results of Experiment 1, the same maximum dose level (5000 µg/plate) was employed in the second mutation test (pre-incubation method). Similarly, there was no visible reduction in the growth of the bacterial background lawn at any dose level, either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix). 

A test item precipitate (white and cloudy in appearance) was noted at and above 1500 mg/plate in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiments 1 and 2. This observation did not prevent the scoring of revertant colonies.

There were no significant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 1 (plate incorporation method).

Similarly, no biologically relevant increases in the frequency of revertant colonies were recorded for any of the bacterial strains, with any dose of the test item, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix) in Experiment 2 (pre‑incubation method). Three statistically significant values were noted (TA100 at 1500 and 5000 µg/plate and WP2uvrAat 150 µg/plate in the absence of metabolic activation (S9-mix), however as the maximum fold increase was only 1.6 times the concurrent vehicle controls and the mean colony count was within the in-house historical vehicle/untreated control range for the relevant strains the responses were considered of no biological relevance. 

Conclusion

In this Reverse Mutation Assay ‘Ames Test’ using strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (OECD TG 471) the test itemLithium titanatedid not induce an increase in the frequency of revertant colonies that met the criteria for a positive result, either with or without metabolic activation (S9-mix). Under the conditions of this test Lithium titanate was considered to be non-mutagenic.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (negative)

Justification for classification or non-classification

Under the conditions of the in-vitro (Ames) test, Lithium titanate was considered to be non-mutagenic. A classification according to CLP classification criteria (Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008) is, therefore, not justified.