Fatty acids, C16-18 and C18-unsatd., compds. with triethanolamine

Sediment toxicity

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

sediment toxicity: short-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2005

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Remarks:

Guideline compliant study with good documentation, no dose verification

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: OSPOARCOM (1995) A sediment Bioassay using an amphipod Corophium sp.

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

yes

Details on sediment and application:

PREPARATION OF SPIKED SEDIMENT

- Collection and characterization of the used sediment: The sediment used for testing was collected from a site adjacent to the site of Corophium collection. On return to the laboratory, the sediment was wet sieved through 0.6 mm mesh to remove larger interfaunal organisms and Corophium within the test size range, and allowed to settle in tall polyethylene containers. After settling, the supernatant water decanted and the sediment stored in a room at approximately 4 ± 2°C until required for testing.

Particle size analysis characterized the sediment as well-sorted, fine sand with a silt/clay content of 3.56 % by weight. Median particle diameter was 151 µm. The organic carbon content was estimated from weight loss on ignition to be 1.34 %.

Initially prior to testing the sediment was thoroughly homogenized and a representative sample was taken for wet and dry weight determination.

- Method of mixing:
- Details of spiking: A small amount of dried sediment was spiked using appropriate amount of test material solved in a solvent of low toxicity such as acetone, ethanol or triethylene glycol. The dried sediment was then incorporated with the wet sediment (in the mixing container).
- Equilibration time: The mixing vessel was then placed for 3 hours on a platform shaker at 150 rpm. After this period, the contents of each container were equally distributed between the replicate vessels, three for test concentrations and five for control vessels.
- Equilibration conditions: On a shaker
- Controls: Handled like the test sediments
- Chemical name of vehicle (organic solvent, emulsifier or dispersant): Solvent of low toxicity such as acetone, ethanol or triethylene glycol, but the solvent was not further specified in report
- Concentration of vehicle in test medium (stock solution and final test solution): No information provided
- Evaporation of vehicle before use: Not mentioned


PREPARATION OF THE OVERLYING WATER
- Details of sampling: Seawater for testing was supplied by a pump from Scapa Flow, Orkney. All seawater was UV sterilized and filtered to 1 µm before being employed for testing.

The water phase was not spiked.

Test organisms (species):

Corophium volutator

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Corophium volutator
- Source: Wild caught, bay of Suckquoy, near Sebay farm in Orkney
- Details on collection: Specimen were gently sieved from their native sediment and held in plastic containers (approximately 5L) containing some ambient water with a small amount of detritus until transfer to the laboratory.

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: On return to the laboratory the Corophium were transferred in ambient water to polythene tanks of approximately 200 L capacity, gentle aeration was supplied. The tanks were held in a controlled temperature room at approximately 15 ± 2°C.
Stock animals were gradually acclimated from the ambient salinity of less than 5 ‰ to that of undiluted seawater (approximately 35‰) in increments of about 10 ‰ per day. Once acclimation is complete the stock tanks were maintained under semi-static conditions until the initiation of the test. The holding period on the laboratory is between 3 and 14 days. Sufficient detrial material is retained in each tank to provide food and some bottom cover, but not of a density that prevents daily observation of mortality and morbidity. Dead or impaired animals are removed when observed.
Specimen of approximately 5 mm in body length (excluding the rostrum) were used in the toxicity tests.
- Duration of accilmation: 7 days
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): No (only at the end since the salinity is gradually adapted)
- Type and amount of food: Not mentioned, based on the description it can be assumed that the natural occurring detritus was used as food source.
- Feeding frequency: NA
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): No information provided

Study type:

laboratory study

Test type:

static

Water media type:

saltwater

Type of sediment:

natural sediment

Limit test:

no

Duration:

10 d

Exposure phase:

total exposure duration

Test temperature:

14.8 - 15.9°C

pH:

7.85 - 8.34

Dissolved oxygen:

97 - 101 %

Salinity:

46.0 - 51.7 mS/cm

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal 10, 100, 320, 1000, 10000 mg/kg (wet);
Nominal 14.73, 147.90, 471.99, 1465.54, 14111.34 mg/kg (dry)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test container (material, size): 1 L glass beakers
- Sediment volume: About 150 mL
- Overlying water volume: 850 mL
- Depth of sediment and overlying water: Sediment: 2 cm; water: no information provided
- Aeration: Yes
- Aeration frequency and intensity: Stream of air bubbles in about 6 cm depth
- Replacement of evaporated test water, if any: No information provided

EXPOSURE REGIME
- No. of organisms per container (treatment): 20
- No. of replicates per treatment group: 3
- No. of replicates per control / vehicle control: 5, no vehicle group
- Feeding regime: No information provided
- Type and preparation of food: NA
- Amount of food: NA

OVERLYING WATER CHARACTERISTCS
- Type of water (e.g. deionized, ground water, sea water, Elendt medium acc. to OECD 219): Sea water, UV sterilized and 1 µm filtered
- Source of water (if non-standard medium): Natural sea water, Scapa Flow, Orkney
- Location: Scapa Flow, Orkney
- Filtration: 1 µm

SOURCE OF NATURAL SEDIMENT
- Location and description of sampling site: See above
- Contamination history of site: Not provided

HANDLING OF NATURAL SEDIMENT
- Time of collection: No information provided
- Core depth: No information provided
- Water depth: No information provided
- Storage conditions: 4 ± 2°C
- Storage duration (prior to test): No information provided

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Light quality: No information provided
- Photoperiod: Constant dim illumination
- Light intensity: No information provided

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable): Mortality

VEHICLE CONTROL PERFORMED: Yes, only a vehicle control was performed

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 3.2 to 10
- Justification for using less concentrations than requested by guideline: Not provided

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

10 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

1 465.54 mg/kg sediment dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Duration:

10 d

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 411.34 mg/kg sediment dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Duration:

10 d

Dose descriptor:

other: LC90

Effect conc.:

> 14 111.34 mg/kg sediment dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The 10 day LC50, LC90 and NOEC values were calculated using an appropriate statistical method from the ToxCalc Version 5 software.

Control mortality : 13% (validity criterion: max 15%)

Mortality after 10 days. The test was started with 20 animals per replicate.

Nominal concentration (mg/kg dw)	Mortality (portion dead after 10 days)
	Replicate					Mean
	1	2	3	4	5
0 (Control)	0.10	0.20	0.00	0.15	0.20	0.13
14.73	0.00	0.00	0.10	-	-	0.03
147.90	0.05	0.05	0.15	-	-	0.08
471.99	0.10	0.10	0.05	-	-	0.08
1465.54	0.05	0.20	0.05	-	-	0.10
14111.34	0.20	0.30	0.40	-	-	0.30

 

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Executive summary:

In the Klimisch 2 study from Hudson (2004) the toxicity of the test material to the marine amphipod Corophium volutator was determined in a 10 day static GLP sediment water test. The test design was based on OSPOARCOM (1995): "A sediment Bioassay using an amphipod Corophium sp.".

Since the test substance has a low water solubility the test was performed using spiked sediment. The nominal sediment concentrations were 0 (control), 14.73, 147.90, 471.99, 1465.54, 14111.34 mg test item/kg dry sediment. A small amount of dried sediment was spiked using appropriate amount of test material solved in a solvent of low toxicity such as acetone, ethanol or triethylene glycol. The dried sediment was then incorporated with the wet sediment (in the mixing container). The mixing vessel was then placed for 3 hours on a platform shaker at 150 rpm. After this period, the contents of each container were equally distributed between the replicate vessels, three for test concentrations and five for control vessels. Sediment height was 2 cm (about 150 mL). The sediment was overlaid with 850 mL UV-sterilized seawater (filtered with 1 µm).

The test organisms were wild caught Corophium volutator collected in the bay of Suckquoy in Orkney. Specimen of approximately 5 mm in body length (excluding the rostrum) were used in the toxicity tests. Each replicate received 20 animals. In total 5 control replicates and 3 replicates for each of the concentrations were set up.

The validity criteria for this test were met. The NOEC was determined to be 1465.54 mg test item/kg dry sediment and the LC50 was determined to be > 14111.34 mg test item/kg dry sediment.

This study is considered to be acceptable for the risk assessment.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 or LC50 for freshwater sediment:

14 111.34 mg/kg sediment dw

EC10, LC10 or NOEC for marine water sediment:

1 465.54 mg/kg sediment dw

Additional information

In the Klimisch 2 study from Hudson (2004) the toxicity of the test material to the marine amphipod Corophium volutator was determined in a 10 day static GLP sediment water test. The test design was based on OSPOARCOM (1995): "A sediment Bioassay using an amphipod Corophium sp.".

Since the test substance has a low water solubility the test was performed using spiked sediment. The nominal sediment concentrations were 0 (control), 14.73, 147.90, 471.99, 1465.54, 14111.34 mg test item/kg dry sediment. A small amount of dried sediment was spiked using appropriate amount of test material solved in a solvent of low toxicity such as acetone, ethanol or triethylene glycol. The dried sediment was then incorporated with the wet sediment (in the mixing container). The mixing vessel was then placed for 3 hours on a platform shaker at 150 rpm. After this period, the contents of each container were equally distributed between the replicate vessels, three for test concentrations and five for control vessels. Sediment height was 2 cm (about 150 mL). The sediment was overlaid with 850 mL UV-sterilized seawater (filtered with 1 µm).

The test organisms were wild caught Corophium volutator collected in the bay of Suckquoy in Orkney. Specimen of approximately 5 mm in body length (excluding the rostrum) were used in the toxicity tests. Each replicate received 20 animals. In total 5 control replicates and 3 replicates for each of the concentrations were set up.

The validity criteria for this test were met. The NOEC was determined to be 1465.54 mg test item/kg dry sediment and the LC50 was determined to be > 14111.34 mg test item/kg dry sediment.

This study is considered to be acceptable for the risk assessment.