Benzyl salicylate

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:

1993-02-15 to 1993-02-19

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.1 (Acute Toxicity for Fish)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples of the test medium were taken at the start and after 24 hours; sampling was repeated in the same way with the first renewal of test medium after 24 hours

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: substance was weighed and added to water, then vigorous stirring for 60 seconds at 8000 rpm with Ultra-Turrax
- Controls: test water without substance was used as control
- Evidence of undissolved material (e.g. precipitate, surface film, etc): not reported

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: zebra fish
- Source: West-Aquarium, Bad Lauterberg, Germany
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 4 months
- Length at study initiation (length definition, mean, range and SD): 2.5 to 3.5 cm
- Weight at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 2.04 to 2.79 g
- Method of breeding: not applicable
- Feeding during test: not applicable

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: fish were delivered on the 26 November 1992 and were maintained in synthetic freshwater until the start of the experiment
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): yes
- Type and amount of food: not reported
- Feeding frequency: not reported
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): not reported

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Remarks on exposure duration:

The test at the two highest concentrations was terminated after 24 hours due to 100% mortality

Post exposure observation period:

Not applicable

Hardness:

14.5 °dH

Test temperature:

19.4 to 22.0 °C

pH:

7.6 to 8.2

Dissolved oxygen:

8.6 to 10.5 mg/L

Salinity:

not applicable

Nominal and measured concentrations:

see Table (nominal and measured concentrations)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Type (delete if not applicable): open
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: glass, 300 x 135 x 200 mm (5 L test medium)
- Aeration: aerated
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): daily
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): one
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): one
- Biomass loading rate: not reported

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: test water according to ISO, no further information given

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Photoperiod: 12 hours light, 12 hours darkness
- Light intensity: not reported

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : mortality

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC0

Effect conc.:

0.8 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC100

Effect conc.:

1.35 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

1.03 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

The effect levels were based on the arithmetic means of all analytically determined concentrations. No mortality occurred upto a nominal concentration of 1.4 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 0.8 mg/L). All fish were dead within 24 hours at the nominal concentrations of 2.0 and 2.8 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 1.35 mg/L).

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Table: Nominal and measured concentrations

Test vessel	Measured concentration in mg/L
	Test day 1		Test day 2		Arithmetic average of measured concentration
	After preparation	After 24 hours	After preparation	After 24 hours
Control	< 0.1	< 0.1	< 0.1	< 0.1	< 0.1
Nominal 0.7 mg/L	0.65	0.28	0.65	0.28	0.47
Nominal 1.0 mg/L	0.92	0.34	0.86	0.32	0.61
Nominal 1.4 mg/L	1.26	0.43	1.21	0.28	0.80
Nominal 2.0 mg/L *	1.82	0.87	--	--	1.35
Nominal 2.8 mg/L *	2.76	1.64	--	--	2.2
* Tests were terminated after 24 hours due to 100% mortality

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The substance was acutely toxic to freshwater fish (zebra fish) with an approximate LC50 value of 1.03 mg/L.

Executive summary:

The acute toxicity of the substance benzyl salicylate was studied under GLP according to EU Method C.1 under semi-static conditions for 96 hours. Ten fish per test concentration were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 0.7, 1.0, 1.4, 2.0 and 2.8 mg/L which were obtained by weighing the substance directly into test water and stirring for 60 seconds at 8000 rpm. Test concentrations were confirmed by measurement at the beginning of the start and after 24 hours when test medium was removed. This procedure was repeated with the first renewed test medium. No mortality occurred up to a test concentration of 1.4 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 0.8 mg/L) over the testing period. All fish were found dead after 24 hours at the nominal test concentration of 2.0 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 1.35 mg/L) and at nominal 2.8 mg/L. The LC50 value for 96 hours was calculated as the geometric mean of the LC0 and the LC100 (based on measured concentrations), resulting in LC50 = 1.03 mg/L.

Description of key information

The substance was acutely toxic to freshwater fish (zebra fish) with an approximate LC50 value of 1.03 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

1.03 mg/L

Additional information

The acute toxicity of the substance benzyl salicylate was studied under GLP according to EU Method C.1 under semi-static conditions for 96 hours. No mortality occurred up to a test concentration of 1.4 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 0.8 mg/L) over the testing period. All fish were found dead after 24 hours at the nominal test concentration of 2.0 mg/L (arithmetic mean of measured concentrations was 1.35 mg/L) and at nominal 2.8 mg/L. The LC50 value for 96 hours was calculated as the geometric mean of the LC0 and the LC100 (based on measured concentrations), resulting in LC50 = 1.03 mg/L.