Reaction mass of Willemite, white and zinc iron chromite brown spinel

Short-term toxicity to fish

Administrative data

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2013-12-21 to 2013-12- 25

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP guideline study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2014

Report date:

2014

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Version / remarks:

adopted 1992-07-17

Deviations:

no

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: OECD Series on testing and assessment, Number 29. Guidance document on transformation/dissolution of metals and metal compounds in aqueous media. ENV/JM/MONO (2001)9, 23-July 2001.

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Remarks:

signed 2011-02-07

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

dichromium(3+) diiron(3+) lambda2-iron(2+) trizinc(2+) octaoxidandiide silicate

EC Number:

936-897-9

Cas Number:

1373399-58-6

Molecular formula:

(Zn, Fe)(Fe, Cr)2O4-Zn2SiO4

IUPAC Name:

dichromium(3+) diiron(3+) lambda2-iron(2+) trizinc(2+) octaoxidandiide silicate

Test material form:

solid: particulate/powder

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Reaction mass of willemite, white and zinc iron chromite brown spinel
- Substance type: inorganic pigment
- Physical state: solid, light brown powder, odourless
- Storage condition of test material: store separate from food and drinks, dry in closed containers and protected places. Keep containers air-tight.
- Relative density: 4.58

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Sampling method / Sample storage conditions before analysis:
Duplicate samples of approximately 20 mL were taken at test start. Solutions were examined for soapy bubbles or particles floating on the surface. The samples were filtered (0.22 μm polyether sulphone membrane syringe filter) at room temperature (20-25°C), transferred into disposable polyethylene vials (Scintillation vials), acidified with HNO3 (final concentration 1-3 % HNO3) and were stored until further analysis. The Al content of the test item is 5.70 %, the Cr content is 6.16 %, the Fe content is 9.30 % and the Zn content is 42.70 %. The concentrations of dissolved aluminium, chromium, iron and zinc of freshly prepared WAF solutions at test start were determined by ICP-OES.

Please note the following:
After 96 hours, the test media of all test concentrations (Control, 1 and 100 mg/L) were accidently discarded before samples for further chemical analysis could be collected. The remaining solution present in test vessels and in vessels used for pH measurements was therefore collected and analysed. The volume of the remaining liquid was approximately 5 mL so that a duplicate sample could not be taken. Analytical data of solutions sampled after 96 h were not included in the data evaluation.

Test solutions

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION
- Method:
As the test item is a multi-component substance, toxicity was determined using water accommodated fractions (WAFs). The WAFs for the various test concentrations were prepared individually in accordance with the OECD guidance document on transformation/dissolution of metals and metal compounds in aqueous media No. 29 (2001)*.
Amounts of 2.50 mg and 250 mg of reaction mass of willemite, white and zinc iron chromite brown spinel were transferred into glass flasks and filled up with 2.50 L of dilution water to obtain WAF loadings of 1 and 100 mg/L, respectively. Flasks were stirred at 100 rpm for 7 days at 21.5°C. For each loading, the insoluble part was then separated from the aqueous phase and sterilised by filtration through a 0.22 μm filter under sterile conditions. The filtrated WAFs were directly used in the acute fish toxicity test. The test vessels were filled with 2.5 L of the filtered WAFs containing the dissolved test item.

- Controls: dilution water was used as negative control.

*Reference:
- OECD Series on testing and assessment, Number 29. Guidance document on transformation/dissolution of metals and metal compounds in aqueous media. ENV/JM/MONO (2001)9, 23-July 2001.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: zebrafish
- Source: test facility breed
- Length at study initiation (subsample of the fish used in the test was measured (n = 7)): 2.2 to 2.8 cm; mean ± SD: 2.5 ± 0.2 cm
- Weight at study initiation (subsample of the fish used in the test was weighed (n = 7)): 0.13 to 0.29 g; mean ± SD: 0.23 g ± 0.05 g
- The fish were not fed 24 hours prior to the test start and during the test.

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: at least 12 days prior to the test
- Acclimation conditions: equivalent water quality and illumination conditions to those applied in the subsequent test.
- Type and amount of food: fish were fed throughout the holding period with live brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) nauplii and ground flake
food TetraMinR (Tetra Werke, Melle, Germany)
- Feeding frequency: ad libitum once daily
- Health during acclimation: mortality of the batch was less than 5 % in the week preceding the start of the study.

Study design

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Test conditions

Hardness:

no data

Test temperature:

22.8 to 23.2°C

pH:

between 8.3 and 8.6

Dissolved oxygen:

Oxygen saturation: 82 to 98%

Salinity:

not applicable

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentrations: 1.0 mg/L and 100 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: 3 L glass beakers filled with 2.5 L of test solution
- Aeration: test media in the vessels were slightly aerated via a glass capillary
- No. of organisms per vessel: 7 fishes
- The mean weight resulted in a loading of 0.65 g/L test medium.

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: purified drinking water was used in accordance with the OECD guideline 203 (1992). The tap water was sourced from the Schmallenberg district water production plant, mostly fed by small springs and percolation, and met hardness and pH recommendations of the OECD guideline 203 (1992). The purification took place on-site at the laboratory and included filtration with activated charcoal, passage through a lime-stone column and aeration until oxygen saturation. To avoid copper contamination, plastic water pipes are used in the test facility. The water was aerated to the point of oxygen saturation.
Typical water chemistry data of the holding and dilution water are presented below.
- conductivity: 238.6 µS/cm
- pH: 8.3
- dissolved oxygen: 104%
- nitrate: 1.3 mg/L
- nitrite: <0.005 mg/L*
- ammonium: <0.010 mg/L*
- phosphate: <0.100 mg/L*
- total hardness: 1.1 mmol/L
- alkalinity: 1.8 mmol/L
- calcium: 0.8 mmol/L
- magnesium: 0.3 mmol/L
- NPOC: 0.336 mg/L
- cadmium: < 0.286 µg/L*
- copper: < 1.83 µg/L*
- iron: < 2.20 µg/L*
- manganese: < 0.567 µg/L*
- nickel: < 0.882 µg/L*
- lead: < 2.61 µg/L*
- zinc: < 2.80 µg/L*
- total residual chlorine: < 0.02 mg/L*
*<: value below the respective limit of detection

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- The pH of solutions was not affected by the test substance and remained constant over the course of study.
- Photoperiod: light/dark cycle of 12/12 hours
- temperature, pH and oxygen concentration of the water were measured in each vessel directly before adding the fish and daily afterwards.

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED:
- mortality and clinical signs (sub-lethal and abnormal behavior) were recorded at 3, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours of exposure of the fish to the test item.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Range finding study
A non-GLP range-finding test was performed with reaction mass of willemite, white and zinc iron chromite brown spinel prior to the definite test using water accommodated fractions (WAFs) with loadings of 1 mg/L, 10 mg/L and 100 mg/L. Toxic effects were not observed over the whole test period at any of the tested loadings.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

, water accommodated fraction at 100 mg/L after 7 days

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

, water accommodated fraction at 100 mg/L after 7 days

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

- Behavioural abnormalities / Mortality: neither clinical signs nor mortality were observed throughout the study. The ecotoxicological evaluation was based on WAF loadings of the test item.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

no data

Reported statistics and error estimates:

A statistical analysis to determine LC10 and LC50 values was not required as the NOEC is ≥the highest WAF loading tested and reported as such. The evaluation of the effects is based on WAF loadings.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Validity

All validity criteria according to the OECD guideline 203 (1992)* were met:

• Mortality did not exceed 10 % in the controls.

• The dissolved oxygen concentration was ≥ 60 % in test vessels throughout the test.

*Reference:

- OECD Guideline for Testing of Chemicals, Sect. 2: Effects on Biotic Systems, No. 203 “Fish, Acute Toxicity Test”. Adopted July 17th, 1992, Paris. 1993.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Neither clinical signs nor mortality were observed throughout the study at any of the tested WAF loadings.
The LC50 is >100 mg/L (WAF loading) whereas the NOEC based on visual observation is ≥100 mg/L (WAF loading).