Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate)

Toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to soil macroorganisms except arthropods: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2018-2019

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2019

Report date:

2019

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 222 (Earthworm Reproduction Test (Eisenia fetida/Eisenia andrei))

Version / remarks:

2016

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate)

EC Number:

229-722-6

EC Name:

Pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate)

Cas Number:

6683-19-8

Molecular formula:

C73H108O12

IUPAC Name:

3-{[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]oxy}-2,2-bis({[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]oxy}methyl)propyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate

Test material form:

solid

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Details on preparation and application of test substrate:

Due to the low solubility, the test substance was mixed with quartz sand for application. (required amount of test substance + 25g quartz sand)
The required amounts of artificial soil were weighed into a mixing tray. The test substance / quartz sand mixtures were added and thoroughly mixed with the soil. Thereafter, the water content of the soil was adjusted to about 50% WHCmax using deionized water and was mixed once again. The test mixtures were distributed to the test units.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Eisenia fetida

Animal group:

annelids

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: earthworm
- Source: BASF SE, Experimental Toxicology and Ecology, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany
- Age at test initiation (mean and range, SD): adult worms with clitellum, ca. 11 months,
- Weight at test initiation (mean and range, SD): 300 - 600mg fresh weight

BREEDING:
- in horse manure

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: through overnight under permanent light and without feeding.
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): under test conditions, plastic box, filled with ca 750g (dw) test substrate

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

artificial soil

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

56 d

Test conditions

Test temperature:

20.5-21.5°C

pH:

6.0 - 6.7 (control), 5.9 - 6.7 (test concentrations)

Moisture:

control 48.7-58.7% WHCmax, test concentrations 48.3-60.8% WHCmax.
A slightly higher value of water content above the required criteria of 50 ±10% WHCmax was observed, probably due to the excessive spraying of deionised water during the moisturisation of food. However, an effect to the test results can be excluded.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test container (material, size): Bellaplast plastic containers (inert and non-toxic plastic), bottom area: 15.5*11*6 cm (L * W *H), covered with tranparent perforated lids
- Amount of soil or substrate: 677g wwt (moistened), 550g dwt, layer of about 4 cm and a corresponding surface area of about 170 cm2
- No. of organisms per container (treatment): 10
- No. of replicates per treatment group: 4
- No. of replicates per control: 8
- Worm weight at start of exposure: 300-600mg
- Introduction of worms: Acclimatized worms were washed with tap water in a fine meshed sieve and gently dried on a paper towel. Ten worms were randomly selected and placed on the surface of the test substrate in each test container. The body weight of the worms was determined
per animal before introduction of the worms. Only worms without morphological defects were used in the test.


SOURCE AND PROPERTIES OF SUBSTRATE (if soil)
- Composition (if artificial substrate):
-- quartz sand 74%
-- kaolin clay 21%
-- sphagnum peat 5% With respect to the adsorptive properties of the test item (log Kow >2), 5% of peat instead of 10% were used, considering the influence on bioavailability (OECD 222 and EPPO 2003).
-- CaCO3 0.3%
- Organic carbon (%): 5%
- Water holding capacity (dry weigth): 46.2g/100g (mean value of 2 single detrminations)

FEEDING:
- food: finely ground cow manure (free of growth promoters, nematicides or similar veterinary pharmaceuticals, source: Jesus Bruderschaft e.V. Gnadenthal, Huenfelden, Germany)
Initial food supply was given one day after the introduction of worms into test substrate with the test substance. Thereafter, the adult worms were fed weekly during the initial 4 weeks of the test. An amount of 5 g finely ground cow manure moistened with about 5-6 mL deionized water was sprayed on the test substrate surface of each test container. If food remained unconsumed, the ration was reduced on demand. After removing the adults on day 28, further 5 g of food moistened with about 5-6 mL deionized water was mixed with the test substrate of each test vessel.

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Illumination: Light/dark cycle of 16:8 hours, over the exposure period
- Light intensity: start of exposure: 539 Lux, (mean of 5 single measurements: 709, 521, 467, 506, 494 [Lux]), start of adaption 722Lux
-Temperature: In a separate vessel, filled with about 750 g test substrate (dry weight), around two times per week during the exposure time with an electronic thermometer. The water content of this vessel was adjusted initially (on day 0) to the water content of test vessels.

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED AND OBSERVATIONS (with observation intervals if applicable) :
- consumption of feed
- survival of adults (28d) (Worms were classified as dead when they did not respond to a gentle mechanical stimulus to the front end)
- biomass (start of exposure + 28d)
- number of juveniles (56d)
- abnormalties and changes in morphology and behaviour

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 2
- Test concentrations: 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg dw

Nominal and measured concentrations:

0 (control), 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg Dw as nominal concentrations

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

Carbendazim CAS 10605-21-7

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Key result

Duration:

56 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Effect concentrations 3

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: biomass change

Details on results:

Validity criteria:
Mean mortality in the control should be ≤ 10 %. The reproduction in the controls should be at least 30 juveniles per container and the coefficient of variance of reproduction in the control should be ≤ 30 %.
All validity criteria were met.
After 28 days, no adult worm in the control assay was dead. Between 300-400 juveniles (mean value: 361) were counted in the test units of the control assay. The mortality of the adult worms in the control was <10 % and the coefficient of variation concerning to the offspring juvenile worms in the control assay was 6.4 %.

No changes in behaviour and morphology or other abnormalities were observed in this test. No effects on food consumption were observed.

The results in this study are consistent with all validity criteria and the test is valid according to the test guideline of this study. No deviations from the test guidelines or other incidents occurred during the reported test, which may have influenced the results.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

non-GLP project 68E0902/00G026 (start of exposure 16 January 2018)
ECx values [mg/kg soil (dw)], reproduction by counting of juvenile worms, conf. limits 95%
EC10: 0.80 LCL: 0.68 UCL: 0.95
EC50: 1.19 LCL: 1.03 UCL: 1.37
These observed effects show a high sensitivity of the test system and the derived EC50 value is within the expected range from the test guideline (1-5 mg/kg carbendazim/kg soil (dw)) and hence acceptable sensitivity of the test system is assured.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

SAS System computer software
changes in body weight: Williams trend test (statistical unit: test container) one sided and not significant, therefore Dunnett's test was carried out
number of juveniles (offsprings): the Jonkheere-Terpstra trend test (statistical unit: test container). one-sided and not significant, therefore Wilcoxon-test was conducted.
The trend tests showed no significant result in both parameters: change in bodyweights as well as in the number of offsprings.
No ECx calculations were performed, because there was no dose response relationship.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes