Aluminium potassium bis(sulphate)

Toxicity to other aquatic organisms

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to other aquatic vertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Deriving freshwater quality criteria for copper, cadmium, aluminum and manganese for protection of aquatic life in Malaysia

Author:

M. Shuhaimi-Othman, Y. Nadzifah, R. Nur-Amalina, N.S. Umirah

Year:

2013

Bibliographic source:

Chemosphere, 90, 2013, 2631-2636

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

In this study, freshwater water quality criteria (WQC) were developed for metals (Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn) based on their acute toxicity to freshwater fish and invertebrates using domestic aquatic organisms. Acute Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn toxicity was determined in earlier studies. These experiments were performed for a 4-d period (96-h) using adult animals or larvae (fourth instar midge larvae and tadpole). Following a range-finding test, five Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn concentrations were chosen. The tests were carried out under static conditions with renewal of the solution every 2 d.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Aluminium sulphate

EC Number:

233-135-0

EC Name:

Aluminium sulphate

Cas Number:

10043-01-3

Molecular formula:

Al.3/2H2O4S

IUPAC Name:

aluminium sulphate

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Aluminium sulphate, Al2(SO4)3x18H2O, analytical grade; Supplier: Merck, Darmstadt, Germany

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples of water for metal analysis taken before and immediately after each solution renewal were acidified to 1 % with ARISTAR nitric acid (65%) (BDH Inc., VWR International Ltd., England) before metal analysis by a flame or furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS – Perkin Elmer (Massachusetts, USA), model – Analyst 800) depending on the concentrations. To avoid possible contamination, all glassware and equipment used were acid-washed (20% HNO3 (Dongbu Hitek Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea, 68%)), and the accuracy of the analyses was checked against blanks. Procedural blanks and quality control samples made from standard solutions for Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn (Spectrosol, BDH, England) were analyzed in every 10 samples in order to check for sample accuracy. Percentage recoveries for metals analyses were between 85% and 105%.

Test solutions

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

Standard stock solutions (100 mg/l) of Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn were prepared from analytical grade metallic salts (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). The stock solutions were prepared with deionised water in a 1-L volumetric container. Test solutions were prepared by dilution of a stock solution with dechlorinated tap water (filtered by several layers of sand and activated carbon; TC Sediment Filter (TK Multitrade, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia)). A control with dechlorinated tap water only was also used.

Test organisms

Aquatic vertebrate type (other than fish):

toad

Test organisms (species):

other: Duttaphrynus melanostictus (tadpoles)

Details on test organisms:

Tadpoles (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) were collected from the field. Prior to toxicity testing, the organisms were acclimatized for 1 week under laboratory conditions (28–30 °C with 12 h light:12 h d arkness) in 20-L stocking tanks using dechlorinated tap water aerated through an air stone. During acclimation the organisms were fed with commercial food.

Study design

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Test conditions

Hardness:

17.00 - 20.44 mg/l as CaCO3

Test temperature:

20 - 30 °C

pH:

6.48 - 6.88

Dissolved oxygen:

5.95 - 6.55 mg/l

Conductivity:

175.7 - 184.9 μS/cm

Nominal and measured concentrations:

not specified; five different concentrations chosen based on range finding tests

Details on test conditions:

mean water quality parameters: DOC: 3.2 mg/l; sodium: 10.4 mg/l; potassium: 5.7 mg/l; sulfate: 23.5 mg/l; chloride: 12.2 mg/l; alkalinity: 110 mg/l

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

1.87 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (geom. mean)

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

Al

Basis for effect:

mortality

Details on results:

Median lethal concentrations (LC50) for the animals exposed to Al were calculated using measured metal concentrations. FORTRAN programs based on the methods of Lichfield (1949) and Lichfield and Wilcoxon (1949) were used to compute the LC50.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

The LC50 (96 h, D. melanostictus tadpole) for Aluminium is 1.87 mg/l, corresponding to ca. 11.9 mg/l aluminium sulphate and ca. 17.8 mg/l aluminium potassium bis(sulphate).

Executive summary:

In this study by Shuhaimi-Othman et al. (published 2013), freshwater water quality criteria (WQC) were developed for metals (Cu, Cd, Al, and Mn) based on their acute toxicity to freshwater fish and invertebrates using domestic aquatic organisms. Acute toxicity was determined in earlier studies. The experiments were performed for a 4-d period (96-h) using adult animals or larvae (fourth instar midge larvae and tadpole). Following a range-finding test, five metal concentrations were chosen. The tests were carried out under static conditions with renewal of the solution every 2 d. Median lethal concentrations (LC50) for the animals exposed to Al were calculated using measured metal concentrations. FORTRAN programs based on the methods of Lichfield (1949) and Lichfield and Wilcoxon (1949) were used to compute the LC50. The reported LC50 (96 h, D. melanostictus tadpole) for Aluminium is 1.87 mg/l, corresponding to ca. 11.9 mg/l aluminium sulphate and ca. 17.8 mg/l aluminium potassium bis(sulphate).