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Ecotoxicological information

Sediment toxicity

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
sediment toxicity: short-term
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
June to July 1999
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: This robust summary has a reliability rating of 1 because the study followed a standard guideline, followed GLP, and was conducted without deviations that would invalidate the study.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
study report
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
1999
Report date:
1999

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
other: Oslo and Paris Commission Guidelines, A Sediment Bioassay Using an Amphipod Corophium Sp. (PARCOM, 1995)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
yes

Test material

Constituent 1
Reference substance name:
Hydrocarbons, C10-C13, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics
EC Number:
925-673-6
IUPAC Name:
Hydrocarbons, C10-C13, n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, <2% aromatics
Details on test material:
Hydrocarbons, C10-C13, containing n-alkanes, isoalkanes, and cyclics, with less than 2% aromatics

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:
no

Test substrate

Vehicle:
yes
Details on sediment and application:
Sediment collected with the test organisms was allowed to settle in a container overnight after which the overlying water was decanted and the container and its contents weighed. The sediment was then used to set up tests. A sample of the sediment was weighed and dried at 60 degrees C for 72 hours to determine its water content (33%) as the test concentrations are based upon dry weight.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):
Corophium volutator
Details on test organisms:
The test organisms were collected with the top few centimeters of sediment from a clean intertidal shore. The organisms were separated from the sediment by wet sieving (0.5 mm) in a container containing seawater that was collected from the same site as the organisms and transferred to aquaria together with 1 cm deep sediment removed by the sieving where they were held until used in the test. The organisms were held at 15 degrees C under a photoperiod of 16 hours light and 8 hours dark. The test organism size ranged from approximately 5 to 10 mm.

Study design

Study type:
laboratory study
Test type:
static
Water media type:
saltwater
Type of sediment:
natural sediment
Limit test:
no
Exposure duration
Duration:
10 d
Exposure phase:
total exposure duration
Post exposure observation period:
None

Test conditions

Test temperature:
15.2 to 17.1 degrees C
pH:
8.2 to 8.9
Dissolved oxygen:
5.4 to 8.1 mg/L
Salinity:
35 to 39‰ (3.1 to 3.3%)
Nominal and measured concentrations:
Nominal concentrations were: 0 (control), 10, 132, 100, 320, 1000, 3200, and 10000 mg/kg sediment (dw). Analysis of spiked sediments was not conducted.
Details on test conditions:
The test substance was dissolved in 25 mg of Analar grade acetone to prepare the final test loadings. The control was treated similarly but without test substance. All sediments were left to air dry of acetone. Once dry, the spiked sediment was added to wet sediment to derive sediment loadings of 10, 132, 100, 320, 1000, 3200, and 10000 mg/kg sediment (dw). 1 L beaker test systems were used to contain the control and treatment sediments. Seawater was added to each beaker to bring the combined sediment and overlying seawater layer up to 850 ml. Sixty test organisms judged to be between 5 to 10 mm in length were selected from the stock and randomly allocated to each beaker. Water lost to evaporation during the study was added back on days 2,5, and 6. Test vessels were maintained under artificial light with a 16-hour light and 8-hour dark photoperiod.
Reference substance (positive control):
no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrationsopen allclose all
Key result
Duration:
10 d
Dose descriptor:
other: LL50
Effect conc.:
1 100 mg/kg sediment dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
mortality
Remarks on result:
other: 95% CL = 910 to 1200 mg/kg sediment dw
Key result
Duration:
10 d
Dose descriptor:
other: NOELR
Effect conc.:
32 mg/kg sediment dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
mortality
Key result
Duration:
10 d
Dose descriptor:
other: EL50
Effect conc.:
770 mg/kg sediment dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
other: mortality and behavior
Remarks on result:
other: 95% CL = 650 to 900 mg/Kg sediment dw; behavior was identified as on the surface of the sediment
Details on results:
The mortality results are as follows:

Nominal
Conc. Mortality
(mg/kg sed. dw) (%)
Control 3
Acetone Control 0
10 0
32 0
100 2
320 5
1000 42
3200 95
10000 100
Reported statistics and error estimates:
Statistical analyses were performed using Probit analysis.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Remarks:
The validation criteria, including oxygen concentration, control mortality, and temperature were in accordance with the guidelines.
Conclusions:
Marine sediment dosed with the test substance at loadings between 10 and 10000 mg/kg (dw) produced a 10-day LL50 value of 1100 mg/kg sediment (dw) with the marine amphipod, Corophium volutator. The 10-day no-observed effect loading rate value based on mortality was 32 mg/kg sediment (dw). The 10-day EL50 value based on mortality and behavior was 770 mg/kg sediment (dw).
Executive summary:

Marine sediment dosed with the test substance at loadings between 10 and 10000 mg/kg (dw) produced a 10-day LL50 value of 1100 mg/kg sediment (dw) with the marine amphipod, Corophium volutator. The 10-day no-observed effect loading rate value based on mortality was 32 mg/kg sediment (dw). The 10-day EL50 value based on mortality and behavior was 770 mg/kg sediment (dw).