Barium sulfate

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Results are based on nominal values, and test did not exacty follow existing guidance (1972-study), but followed test method well described and test conditions (e.g. test medium composition) were properly identified.

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Not a guideline study but meets generally accepted scientific standards and methodology is well documented and described

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Daphnia magna
- Strain: laboratory clone
- Source: University of Michigan
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 12h +/- 12h
- Feeding during test: no

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

45.2 mg/L as CaCO3

Test temperature:

18 +/- 1 °C

pH:

7.74

Dissolved oxygen:

+/- 9 mg O2/L

Salinity:

not reported

Nominal and measured concentrations:

nominal/measured test concentrations not reported: geometric series of 5-12 concentrations (not specified for Ba)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates):2
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): not reported

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: Lake Superior water; unfiltered water strained through a #20 bolting cloth. Chemical characteristics of Lake Superior water were monitored during the testing period according to procedures outlined by the American Public Health Association and procedures employing atomic absorption spectroscopy.
- Metals: 14 µg Ba/L ; 16 µg Sr/L ; 0.78 µg Zn/L ; <0.5 µg Ni/L ; 1.51 µg Cu/L ; <0.5 µg Co/L ; < 0.01 g Hg/L ; < 0.1 µg Cd/L
- Chloride: 1.22 mg/L
- Alkalinity: 42.3 mg/L as CaCO3
- Ca: 13.7 mg /L
- Mg: 3.12 mg/L
- K: 0.53 mg/L
- Na: 1.13 mg/L

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable): complete immobilisation or death

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

14 500 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

as barium

Basis for effect:

mortality

Remarks:

including immobility

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Results were statistically evaluated with the method of Litchfield and Wilcoxon (1949). LC50 was used for survival and represents an interpolation from three or more partial-effect concentrations.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The 48h-LC50 for Daphnia magna exposed to barium chloride dihydrate was found to be 14.5 mg Ba/L.

Executive summary:

An acute toxicity test with barium chloride dihydrate to Daphnia magna was realized according to non standardised method with no GLP statement. However the test method is well described and the test conditions were properly identified. This test is part of a serie of similar tests on daphnids performed in 1972 by Biesinger and Christensen. A full study was performed under static conditions. The treatment and control groups had two replicates, each containing 10 daphnids and the test duration was 48 hours. The results are based on nominal concentrations. The 48h-LC50 for Daphnia magna is reported as 14.5 mg Ba/L.

Description of key information

A reliable, nominal 48h-EC50 of 14.5 mg Ba/L has been reported by Biesinger and Christensen (1972), using the cladoceran  Daphnia magna as test organism.   

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect concentration:

14.5 mg/L

Additional information

The reported 48h-LC50 of 14.5 mg Ba/L by Biesinger and Christensen (1972) for Daphnia magna is based on nominal test concentrations, using the soluble barium chloride dihydrate as test substance. The followed test procedure in this 1972 -study was well described and test conditions (e.g. test medium composition) were properly identified.

No reliable data were identified for the marine compartment