Mercury sulphate

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Data is from peer reviewed journal

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

GROWTH RESPONSES OF SELECTED FRESHWATER ALGAE TO TRACE ELEMENTS AND SCRUBBER ASH SLURRY GENERATED BY COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Author:

ROBERT W. VOCKE, KRISTEN L. SEARS, JAMES J. O'TOOLE, and RUTH B. WlLDMAN

Year:

1980

Bibliographic source:

Water Research Vol. 14, pp. 141 to 150,1980

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: as mentioned below

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Algal Assay Procedure Bottle Test was used evaluate the effect of Hg(II) in solution, and of scrubber ashslurry extract from the Colstrip coal-fired power generating plant on selected algal species.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Mercury sulphate

EC Number:

231-992-5

EC Name:

Mercury sulphate

Cas Number:

7783-35-9

Molecular formula:

H2O4S.Hg

IUPAC Name:

mercury sulfate

Details on test material:

- Name of test material: Mercury sulphate
- Molecular formula: H2O4S.Hg
- Molecular weight : 298.67 g/mol
- Smiles notation: [O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[Hg+2]
- InChl : InChI=1S/Hg.H2O4S/c;1-5(2,3)4/h;(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+2;/p-2
- Substance type: Solid
- Physical state: Inorganic
- Impurities (identity and concentrations): No data

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material (migrated information):
No data available

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Details on sampling:

Details on sampling
- Concentrations: No data available
- Sampling method: repeated streaking of isolated colonies on petri plates containing 1.5% Bacto-Agar in Algal Assay Medium (AAM)
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: No data available

Test solutions

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: No data available
- Eluate: No data available
- Differential loading: No data available
- Controls: Yes
- Chemical name of vehicle (organic solvent, emulsifier or dispersant): deionized water
- Concentration of vehicle in test medium (stock solution and final test solution(s) including control(s)): No data available
- Evidence of undissolved material (e.g. precipitate, surface film, etc): No data available

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Ankistrodesmus falcatus

Details on test organisms:

Details on test organisms
TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: No data available
- Strain: No data available
- Source (laboratory, culture collection): stock ponds in Rosebud County, southeastern Montana
- Age of inoculum (at test initiation): No data available
- Method of cultivation: in growth medium

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: No data available
- Culturing media and conditions (same as test or not): No data available
- Any deformed or abnormal cells observed: No data available

Study design

Test type:

not specified

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

14 d

Post exposure observation period:

No data available

Test conditions

Hardness:

No data available

Test temperature:

24° C

pH:

7

Dissolved oxygen:

No data available

Salinity:

No data available

Nominal and measured concentrations:

78 ug/L

Details on test conditions:

Details on test conditions
TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: polycarbonate flasks
- Type (delete if not applicable): No data available
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: 500-ml
- Aeration: No data available
- Type of flow-through (e.g. peristaltic or proportional diluter): No data available
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): No data available
- Initial cells density: No data available
- Control end cells density: No data available
- No. of organisms per vessel: No data available
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates):Yes
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): No data available
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): No data available

GROWTH MEDIUM
- Standard medium used: yes,
- Detailed composition if non-standard medium was used: Not applicable

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: toxicity tests were conducted using percentages of algal medium/slurry extract stock solutions in the appropriate algal medium.
- Total organic carbon: No data available
- Particulate matter: No data available
- Metals: No data available
- Pesticides: No data available
- Chlorine: No data available
- Alkalinity: No data available
- Ca/mg ratio: No data available
- Conductivity: No data available
- Culture medium different from test medium: No data available
- Intervals of water quality measurement: No data available

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Sterile test conditions: ): No data available
- Adjustment of pH: 7.0 ± 0.3 with NaOH or HCI solution prior to inoculation with the test alga.
- Photoperiod: 16:8 h light: dark regime
- Light intensity and quality: “cool white “fluorescent and incandescent
- Salinity (for marine algae): No data available

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) :
- Determination of cell concentrations: [counting chamber; electronic particle counter; fluorimeter; spectrophotometer; colorimeter]:
spectrophotometer
- Chlorophyll measurement: chlorophyll a measured by Trichromatic Method
- Other:

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: No data available
- Justification for using less concentrations than requested by guideline: No data available
- Range finding study: Yes, 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100mg1-1
- Test concentrations: 0.001,0.010,0.05,0.1,0.4,0.7,1.0 mg1-1
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: No data available

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Duration:

14 d

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

0.078 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth rate

Details on results:

No data available

Results with reference substance (positive control):

No data available

Reported statistics and error estimates:

No data available

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The effective concentration 50 value of Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Green Algae) was found to be 78 ug/L for Sulfuric acid, mercury (2+) salt (1:1) (CAS No 7783-35-9).

Executive summary:

Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Green Algae) was tested for effective concentration in fresh water (lab) for 14 days of exposure duration. Algae were exposed to chemical which are taken from coalfired power plants, and their growth responses were measured.Based on the study for 14 days it was concluded that the effective concentration 50 value of Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Green Algae) was found to be 78 ug/L for Sulfuric acid, Mercury (2+) salt (1:1) (CAS No 7783-35-9).