Tributyl phosphate

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Toxicity to fish

 

The acute toxicity of tributylphosphate has been investigated in a number of studies in various fish species. The results of the studies are summarised below.

 

Species	LC50 (mg/L)	Time (h)	Comment	Reference
Oryzias latipes	9.6	96		Sasaki et al, 1981a
Carassius auratus	8.8	96		Sasaki et al, 1981b
Leuciscus idus	7.6	96		Juhnke & Luedemann, 1978
Oryzias latipes	14.2	48		CITI, 1992
Pimephales promelas	8.18-11	96		Geiger et al, 1986
Oryzias latipes	17	96		Yoshioka & Ose, 1993
Oryzias latipes	5.85-18.5	24-48	Effects of temperature	Tsuko et al, 1985
Oryzias latipes	1.3	48		Yoshioka et al, 1985
Oncorhynchus mykiss	13	96		Bowman & Schrier, 1990
Oncorhynchus mykiss	11	96		ABC Labs, 1978
Salmo gairdneri	11.5-13.5	96		Dave & Lidman, 1978
Pimephales promelas	6.4	96		ABC labs, 1978
Salmo gairdneri	4.2-11.8		Effects of temperature key value for chemical safety assessment	Dave et al, 1979

 

Dave et al (1981) report a 7 -day LC50 of 11.4 mg/L and a 10 -Day NOEC of 13.5 mg/L in Danio rerio. The same authors report a 50 -day NOEC for the embryo and larval stages of Oncorhyncus mykiss of 18.3 mg/L. In a proprietary study summarised in the OECD SIDS, a NOEC of 0.82 mg/L (key value for chemical safety assessment) is reported for a fish ELS toxicity test using Oncorhyncus mykiss.

 

Toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

 

The results of a large number of studies are available and are sumamrised below. In addition, the range-finding study for the 21-day reproduction test, Kuehn et al (1989) reports 24 -hour LC0 and LC50 values for tributylphosphate in Daphnia magna of 9.3 and 35 mg/L respectively.

 

Species	EC50 (mg/L)	Time (h)	Comment	Reference
Daphnia magna	30	96		Bringmann & Kuehn, 1982
Daphnia magna	5-28.75	96		Bayer, 1985
Daphnia magna	33	24		Bringmann & Kuehn, 1977
Gammarus pseudolimnaeus	1.7	96		England & Cramer, 1991
Daphnia magna	12.8	24		Dave et al, 1981
Daphnia magna	1.8	48	key value for chemical safety assessment	ABC Laboratories, 1978
Daphnia magna	52	6		Wakabayashi et al, 1988
	35	24
Daphnia magna	2.6	48		ABC Laboratories, 1990
Daphnia pulex	6	93		Wakabayashi et al, 1988
	24	68
Hyalella azteca	2.4	96		England & Schrier, 1990
Moina macrocopa	1.8	3		Yoshioda et al, 1986
Dugesia japonica	1.3	3

 

A 21-day reproduction test was carried out in Daphnia magna to determine the NOEC for tributyl phosphate (Kuehn et al, 1989). Evaluation parameters for fixing the NOEC were parent animal mortality, reproduction rate and the appearance of the first offspring during the test period. Animals were aged 24 hours at the start of the test. A semi-static procedure was used with open vessels maintained under fluorescent lighting, animals were fed daily with algae suspension (the test was carried out in accordance with an FEA guideline). The 24 hour EC50 value was also determined. The NOEC was found to be 1.3 mg/l (key value for chemical safety assessment) in the 21 day reproduction test.

 

The 21 day EC50 (immobilisation) of tributyl phosphate in Daphnia magna is also reported to be >2.1mg/l (ABC Laboratories, 1991).

 

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

The results of a number of studies in different species are available and are summarised below. The lowest and thus most conservative LC50 value (Kuehn & Pattard, 1990, 96h-LC50: 1.1. mg/L based on biomass) was chosen as key value for chemical safety assessment.

Species	Endpoint	Time	Comment	Reference
Microcystis aeruginosa	Toxicity threshold: 4.1 mg/L	8d		Bringmann & Kuehn, 1978
Scenedesmus subspicatus	Toxicity threshold: 3.2 mg/L	8d		Bringmann & Kuehn, 1978
Scenedesmus subspicatus	EC50 1.1-1.3 mg/L (biomass); 2.8-4.2 mg/L (growth)	96h	key value for chemical safety assessment	Kuehn & Pattard, 1990
Selenastrum capricornutum	EC50 4.4 mg/L	96h		Burgess & Wirth, 1990
Chlorella emersonii	EC50 5-10 mg/L	48h		Dave et al, 1979
Phytoplankton species	EC100 50 mg/L LOEC 5 mg/L	14d		Blanck et al, 1984

 

 

Toxicity to microorganisms

 

A number of studies have been performed in various organisms and are summarised below.

 

Species	Endpoint	Time	Comment	Reference
Activated sludge	EC50: 100 mg/L	3h	key value for chemical safety assessment	Yoshioka et al, 1986
Pseudomonas putida	Toxicity threshold: >100 mg/L	16h		Bringmann & Kuehn, 1977
Tetrahymena pyriformis	EC 50: 20 mg/L	24h		Yoshioka, 1985
Activated sludge	EC50: 300 mg/L	3h		Bayer, 1985
Entosiphon sulcatum	Toxicity threshold: 14 mg/L	72h		(Bringmann & Kuehn, 1979)
Chilomonas paramecium	Toxicity threshold: 42 mg/L	48h		(Bringmann et al, 1980)
Uronema parduczi	Toxicity threshold: 21 mg/L	20h		(Bringmann & Kuehn, 1980)