Methacrylic acid

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

23.03.1989 - 27-03-1989

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

comparable to guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OTS 797.1400 (Fish Acute Toxicity Test)

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

purity: 99.72 % (glacial MAA). Lot 5-0523-88. received from Rohm and Hass Company. Light yellow liquid stored at room temperature

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples for analytical measurements were taken at 0 and 96 hrs. Comtrol and glacial MAA fortified samples were also determined at each sampling period.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

A diluter stock solution (38 mg/ml) was prepared by dissolving 76 g of test substance in 2 liters of dilution water. The injector volume was adjusted
to deliver 5 ml of stock to 1.9 liters of dilution water.

Test organisms (species):

Oncorhynchus mykiss (previous name: Salmo gairdneri)

Details on test organisms:

Lot 5588 from Mt Lassen Trout Farms in Red Bluff, CA.
Control fish had a mean weight of 1.0 g and a mean length of 41 mm at the end of the test. The biomass loading was 0.093 g/l/day. Fish were temperature acclimated in the absence of food for 72 hours before intiation of the test.

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

47 - 48 mg CaCO3/l

Test temperature:

11 - 12 °C

pH:

5.3 - 7.8

Dissolved oxygen:

8.2 - 9.4 mg/l

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal 6.5, 13, 25, 50 and 100 mg/L
Measured 6.2, 12, 23, 46, and 97 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

Twenty fish per concentration plus a dilution water control were used in a duplicate nominal dosing regimine. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH measured at all test concentrations at 0, 48 and 96 hours.
Details:
- Type of flow-through (e.g. peristaltic or proportional diluter):
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate):
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 2
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 2
- Biomass loading rate:

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: ABC's Aquatic Toxicology Divisiona
- Total organic carbon: <1 ppm
- Particulate matter: 0.30 mg/1
- Pesticides: < 0.5 to < 0.9 ppb
- PCB: <0.50 ppb
- Alkalinity: 52-.62 mg/1 (as CaC0 3 )
- Ca/mg ratio: 47-48 mg/1 (as CaC0 3 )
- pH: 7.5-7. 7
-Conductivity: 120-122 μMhos/cm

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations:
- Justification for using less concentrations than requested by guideline:
- Range finding study : Two range finding studies at 1, 10 and 100 mg/l and at 100 mg/l.
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: definitive flow-through test was performed to be run at a nominal high concentration of 100 mg/l

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

12 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

85 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

65 % mortality ocurred at 97 mg/L. Sublethal behavior responses were noted in the 23, 46 and 97 mg/L groups.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Statistical analysis of the concentration vs. effect data (generally mortality) was obtained by employing a computerized LC50 program developed by Stephan et al. This program calculated the LC50 and its 95% confidence limits by using the binomial, moving average and probit tests.

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Mortality during the acute flow-through toxicity test of methacrylic acid to Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Meas. Test conc. [mg/l]	Number placed in Test	24-hour mortality	48-hour mortality	72-hour mortality	96-hour mortality
control	20	0	0	0	0
6.2	20	0	0	0	0
12	20	0	0	0	0
23	20	0	0	0	0
46	20	0	0	0	0
97	20	0	1	8	13

 

Water Quality Measurements During the Acute Flow-Through Toxicity Test of Methacrylic Acid to Rainbow Trout (Salme gairdneri)

Average Measured Concentration mg/l	Water Quality
	O hours			48 hours			96 hours
	Temp C°	D.O mg/l	pH	Temp C°	D.O mg/l	pH	Temp C°	D.O mg/l	pH
control	12/12	9.4/9.3	7.6/7.7	12/12	8.8/8.5	7.8/7.8	11/11	8.4/8.2	7.7/7.8
6.2	12/12	9.3/9.3	7.5/7.5	12/12	8.4/8.5	7.5/7.6	12/12	8.3/8.4	7.6/7.5
12	12/12	9.4/9.3	7.4/7.3	11/11	8.5/8.5	7.3/7.4	11/11	8.3/8.4	7.4/7.4
23	12/12	9.3/9.3	7 .1/7 .0	11/11	8.5/8.5	7 .0/7 .1	11/11	8.4/8.4	7.1/7.1
46	12/12	9.3/9.3	6.6/6.5	12/12	8.6/8.6	6.6/6.7	12/12	8.4/8.3	6.6/6.7
97	12/12	9.3/9.1	5.3/5.4	12/12	8.5/8.5	5.4/5.4	12/12	8.4/8.5	5.4/5.4

dissolved oxygen concentrations

LC50Values with 95% Confidence Limits for the 96-Hour Flow-Through Toxicity Study of Methacrylic Acid

with Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Exposure Period Hours·	LC50^a mg/l
24	>97
48	>97
72	>97
96

^aan accurate LC50with 95% confidence limits could not be calculated due to insufficient mortality.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

In a valid guideline study with Salmo gairdneri (new name: Oncorhynchus mykiss), the 96 hr LC50 of methacrylic acid was 85 mg/L.

Executive summary:

In an acute toxicity study to fish (ABC Laboratory 1990) under flow through conditions ( EPA OTS 797.1400) with Salmo gairdneri (new name: Oncorhynchus mykiss), methacrylic acid was testet in duplicate at nominal test concentrations of 6.5, 13, 25, 50 and 100 mg/l up to 96 hours. LC50 (96 h) was estimated to be 85 mg/l based on the mean measured concentrations of 6.2, 12, 23, 46 and 97 mg/l.

Description of key information

In an acute toxicity study to fish (ABC Laboratory 1990) under flow through conditions ( EPA OTS 797.1400) with Salmo gairdneri (new name: Oncorhynchus mykiss), methacrylic acid was testet in duplicate at nominal test concentrations of 6.5, 13, 25, 50 and 100 mg/l up to 96 hours. LC50 (96 h) was estimated to be 85 mg/l based on the mean measured concentrations of 6.2, 12, 23, 46 and 97 mg/l.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Remarks:

96 h

Effect concentration:

85 mg/L

Additional information

In an additional acute toxicity test acc.OECD 203 (Degussa 1990) methacrylic acid was tested 201 at nominal concentrations of 32, 56, 100, 180 and 320 mg/l. LC50 (96h) and NOEC (96h) were > 100 mg/l. LC100 was 180 mg/l, based on nominal concentrations.

The marine ecotoxicity of Methacrylic acid to marine fish (Sverdrup 2001) was tested in an acute test ( OSPAR Protocols on Methods for the Testing of Chemicals Used in the Offshore Oil Industry, 1995)

acc. with Scophthalmus maximus (Turbot). The 96 h LC50 in the marine fish Scophthalmus maximus (Turbot) was 833 mg/L. The corresponding freshwater 96h-LC50 in the key study was 85 mg/L in Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout).