Adipic 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

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: UBA-Verfahrensvorschlag: "Letale Wirkung beim Zebrabaerbling Brachydanio rerio, LC0, LC50, LC100; 48-96 h", Guideline proposal of the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)

Version / remarks:

May 1984

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Remarks:

ion chromatography

Details on sampling:

daily (0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h)

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

direct weighing, test medium (synthetic origin, prepared according to ISO)

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

- species: Zebra fish (Danio rerio)
- source: West Aquarium GmbH (Germany)
- date of birth: 15.12.1990
- date supplied: 07.03.1991
- Length: 2.5 to 3.5 cm
- Temperature: 20 - 24°C
- Dissolved oxygen: > 5 mg/L
- Mortalities during acclimatisation period: < 2 %
- Medication: None
- Keeping water: freshwater prepared after ISO

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

13° dH

Test temperature:

21.8 - 22.5 °C

pH:

7.4 - 7.7

Dissolved oxygen:

7.6 - 8.7 mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentration: 1000 mg/L
Measured concentrations: 0h = 1010; 24h = 980; 48h = 970 and 96h = 980 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

- Test vessels: glass aquaria holding 5 L of test media covered with glass plates
- Experimental design: 1 test concentrations plus 1 control
- 10 animals per test concentration
- no feeding during the exposure period
- static system
- Method of initiation: animals were placed in prepared media
- Photoperiod: 16 h light: 8 h dark
- Temperature: 21.8 to 22.5 °C
- Test item concentration/s: 1000 mg/L (nominal concentration)
- Method of administration: direct weighing
- Duration of exposure: 96 hours
- Criteria of effects: The criterion of death used in this study was the absence of response to physical stimulation. In addition to observations on mortality at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, type and incidence of sub-lethal effects compared with control fish were observed.

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC0

Effect conc.:

>= 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

97 % of the test substance was recovered by analytical monitoring.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

mortality of control >= 10% (or one fish, if fewer than 10 control fish are tested) at the end of exposure; dissolved oxygen concentration ≥60% of the air saturation value in all test vessels throughout the exposure; analytical measurement exists

Conclusions:

No toxicity of the substance toward fish was determined after 96 h under exposure conditions.

Executive summary:

The study was conducted according UBA-Verfahrensvorschlag: "Letale Wirkung beim Zebrabaerbling Brachydanio rerio, LC0, LC50, LC100; 48-96 h" (Mai 1984) (Bayer AG, 1991) to assess the acute toxic effects of a tst substance to a freshwater fish species.

A group of ten fish was exposed to a test concentration of 1000 mg/L (nominal concentration) of test substance. Observations were made on the numbers of dead fish and the incidence of sub-lethal effects after 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of exposure.

During the test a temperature range of 20 - 24°C is to be maintained in the test vessels, with a maximum temperature fluctuation of +/- 1°C in each individual test. pH and oxygen values are measured at the beginning of the test and every 24 hours thereafter. The test is conducted as static test in which no flow of test solution occurs and solutions remain unchanged throughout the duration of the test.

It is assumed that the test solution was buffered because the pH remained between 7.4 and 7.7.

No toxicity of the substance toward fish was determined after 96 h under exposure conditions.

Description of key information

The study was conducted according UBA-Verfahrensvorschlag: "Letale Wirkung beim Zebrabaerbling Brachydanio rerio, LC0, LC50, LC100; 48-96 h" (Mai 1984) (Bayer AG, 1991) to assess the acute toxic effects of the test substance to a freshwater fish species in buffered medium.

A group of ten fish was exposed to a test concentration of 1000 mg/L (nominal concentration) of test substance. Observations were made on the numbers of dead fish and the incidence of sub-lethal effects after 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of exposure.

During the test a temperature range of 20 - 24°C is to be maintained in the test vessels, with a maximum temperature fluctuation of +/- 1°C in each individual test. pH and oxygen values are measured at the beginning of the test and every 24 hours thereafter. The test is conducted as static test in which no flow of test solution occurs and solutions remain unchanged throughout the duration of the test.

It is assumed that the test solution was buffered because the pH remained between 7.4 and 7.7

No toxicity of the substance toward fish was determined after 96 h under exposure conditions.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

1 000 mg/L

Additional information

Should read "LC50 >1000mg/L"

There are studies on toxicity to fish of lower values available. The studies were discussed in the ICCA OECD/HPV-program as follows.

In a study with adipic acid, conducted according to US-EPA Method 660/3-75-009 a 96 h-LC50 of 97 mg/L for Pimephales promelas was determined. (Mattson, 1976). The authors note that the pH was < 5.9 during the test. In addition, there is no exact information on oxygen content of the test solutions. It is only reported that the oxygen content was not < 4 mg/L. Therefore, it cannot be excluded that the toxicity observed was due to pH effects and possibly oxygen limitations. A reliability score of 3 (invalid) was assigned and the study should not be used for the hazard assessment of adipic acid.

In another acute test performed with Leuciscus idus according to the German national standard method DIN 38412 Part 15 a 96 h-LC50 of 230 mg/L for adipic acid was obtained (BASF, 1980). Also in this study the pH of the test solutions was in the range of 3.8 to 7. For the concentration 215 mg/L that is in the same order of magnitude with the LC50 the pH was between 4.3 and 4.7 and therefore pH related effects cannot be excluded. Additionally, a test at a concentration of 464 mg/L in neutralised test solution was carried out. The exposure duration was not reported. No effects were observed. For this reason also this study should not be used for the hazard assessment.

Further, lower values on toxicity of adipic acid to fish are found for the species Oryzias latipes (MITI, 1997). First, a 96h-LC50 > 100 mg/L conducted according to OECD TG 204 “Fish, Acute Toxicity Test” is reported. Second, a 14d-LC50 of 80 mg/L is obtained following the OECD TG 204 “Fish, Prolonged Toxicity Test: 14-day-Study”. As no information is given on pH, the studies are stated to be reliable, but should not used for the hazard assessment, based on the given reasons resulting from the discussion above.