Condensation products of triethanolamine with addition products of fatty acids, C18 (unsaturated) alkyl with maleic anhydride

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.11 (Biodegradation: Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 209 (Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Analytical monitoring:

not required

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: The test substance is poorly soluble in water. At test initiation, nominal concentrations of the test substance were established by the addition of weights of the test substance to the respective vessel followed by the addition of RO (reverse osmosis) water (284 mL). Additions of synthetic sewage (16 mL) and microbial inoculums (200 mL) were made to give a final volume of 500 mL.
- Controls: Two controls without test material were tested in each test series, one at the start and one at the end.

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage

Details on inoculum:

- Preparation of inoculum for exposure: A sample of activated sludge was obtained the day before the start of the test. The mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) content was determined, synthetic sewage (50 mL/L) was added and the mixture was aerated overnight.
- Pretreatment: none
- Initial biomass concentration: ca. 4.0 g MLSS/L

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Test temperature:

20-21 °C

pH:

test start: 7.4-7.7
test end: 7.8-8.3

Dissolved oxygen:

4.7-7.5 mg O2/L (initial DO concentration in the cultures)

Nominal and measured concentrations:

10, 30, 100, 300, 1000 mg/L (nominal)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: beakers (test bottles) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) bottles
- Aeration: oil-free compressed air at 1 L/min
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 10-300 mg/L: 1; 1000 mg/L: 3
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 2
- Biomass loading rate: 1.6 g/L (MLSS)

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: reverse osmosis (RO) water

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : oxygen concentration after 3 hours contact time

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-dichlorophenol

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

other: EC80

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Results with reference substance (positive control):

- Results with reference substance valid? yes
- Relevant effect levels: EC50 (3 h): 6.4 mg/L (95% confidence limits, 3.3 and 11.2 mg/L)

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Since the permitted maximum difference for specific respiration rates in control beakers established at the beginning and end of the test period was 15%, this value was used to define the criteria for biologically significant levels of inhibition in mixtures containing the test substance.
The EC50 of the reference substance and 95% confidence limits were calculated using the SAFEstat curvefit programme (SAS Institute, 2002).

No inhibitory effect on the respiration rate of activated sludge was observed at any of the concentrations employed in the test.

Respiration rates of samples of sludge showed a biologically significant increase (stimulation of >15%) of 17% to 28% in mixtures at nominal test concentrations of 300 and 1000 mg/L.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

Variations in respiration rates of controls <15%. The EC50 of 3,5-dichlorophenol was in the accepted range of 5-30 mg/L.

Description of key information

Toxicity to microorganisms: not toxic to microorganisms: inhibition of respiration rates <15% (OECD 209, EU C.11)

Additional information

EC50 for microorganisms > 1000 mg/L
EC10/NOEC for microorganisms ≥ 1000 mg/L
The results indicate that the test material is not toxic to sewage bacteria up to the limits of its solubility and a NOEC and thus a PNEC cannot be determined.