Copper chloride

Long-term toxicity to fish

Administrative data

Endpoint:

fish life cycle toxicity

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Basic data given. Method not in accordance with guideline standards. Test results might have been influenced by oxygen- or temperature fluctuations. Nevertheless, data for reproduction should be considered as supportive.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Chronic toxicity of copper to Fathead minnows (Pimephales Promelas, Rafinesque)

Author:

Mount D.

Year:

1968

Bibliographic source:

Water Research Vol 2; pp:215-223

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

life cycle test

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Copper sulfate

IUPAC Name:

Copper sulfate

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): copper sulfate; results are given for the metal copper
- Purity: not stated

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Pimephales promelas

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Fathead minnow
- Source: Fish were obtained from eggs collected in the ponds at the Newtown hatchery

Study design

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

11 mo

Test conditions

Hardness:

200 mg/L (CaCO3)

Test temperature:

16 - 225.5 °C

Nominal and measured concentrations:

A nominal concentration range of 99, 33, 11 and 3.7 µg/L of copper was used.
All concentrations of copper are expressed as µg/L of the metal.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Emybro cups: nylon screen to a 3 in. section of a 2 in. dia. polythylene water hose.
-Fish: Frys are 10-15 mm long and six weeks old at the beginnig of test. No fish were replaced during the test.
- Test vessel: stainless steeel with glass ends
-fill volume: 12 Liter
- Type of flow-through: test water was introduced at one end and drained down a standpipe at the other and of the test chamber
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): flow through the chambers was 25 ml/min, initially, but this rate was increased several times over 3 months to 85 ml/min
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 2

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Duration:

11 mo

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 14 - < 32 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

copper

Basis for effect:

reproduction