Glutaral

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

Description of key information

Glutaraldehyde showed no toxic effects to the plant Avena sativa. The sensitivity of the used plant species to the applied test material concentrations increased from Avena sativa, Brassica napus to Vicia sativa. Thus, Vicia sativa was the most sensitive species.  The respective EC50 and NOEC  converted to organic matter content of 3.4 % were 1219 mg a.i./kg dw and 169 mg a.i./kg dw. The results further converted from dry weight to wet weight soil are EC50 = 1079 mg a.i./kg ww and NOEC = 150 mg a.i./kg ww.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Short-term EC50 or LC50 for terrestrial plants:

1 219 mg/kg soil dw

Long-term EC10, LC10 or NOEC for terrestrial plants:

169 mg/kg soil dw

Additional information

A phytotoxicity study was carried out for determination of glutaraldehyde effects on higher plants; the study was conducted according to the OECD TG 208 (2006) under GLP conditions (BASF SE 65E0674/053374). Plant seeds from Avena sativa,Brassica napus andVicia sativa obtained from BASF SE, Agriculture Center Limburgerhof were used. The supplier for the soil was LUFA. The following concentrations were tested: 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg test material/kg dry matter of soil. Analytical monitoring revealed a recovery rate of 99%. The emergence rate, dry weight and shoot length were considered. The EC25, EC50, NOEL and LOEL were determined.

The test material showed no toxic effects to the plant Avena sativa. The sensitivity of the used plant species to the applied test material concentrations increased from Avena sativa, Brassica napus to Vicia sativa. Thus, Vicia sativa was the most sensitive species with following values:

EC25 (dry weight) = 450 mg/kg DM soil

EC50 (dry weight) = 901 mg/kg DM soil

NOEC (dry weight, shoot length) = 125 mg/kg DM soil

LOEC (dry weight, shoot length) = 250 mg/kg DM soil (7.3% inhibition of shoot length)

A study on the toxicity of glutaraldehyde on terrestrial plants following the basic requirements of the OPPTS public draft 850.4200 was published by Lang et al. (1999).Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) and Raphanus sativus (radish) seeds were exposed to glutaraldehyde under soil-less conditions for 5 days.Root elongation was determined. Growth was more rapid at 30°C than at 20°C for the radish. The calculated EC50 value for radish and tomato was 280 and 340 mg/l, respectively.

However, for a substance being considered as „readily biodegradable“, it can be assumed that it will be biodegraded within the STP process and as a consequence a transfer to the soil compartment is not expected. Therefore, toxicity to terrestrial plants is unlikely.