Trilithium orthophosphate

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study without detailed documentation

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Age at study initiation: Less than 24 hours old
- Feeding during test: No feeding

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

224 - 243 mg/L

Test temperature:

20.1 - 21.1 °C

pH:

7.8 - 8.1

Dissolved oxygen:

7.7 - 8.9 mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

- Nominal: 100 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Aeration: No aeration was provided during test
- No. of organisms per concentration: 30
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 3
- Photoperiod: 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark
- Test concentations: 100 mg/L
- Medium: M4 medium was used, as recommended by the OECD TG.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

Ca3O8P2

Basis for effect:

other: immobility

Remarks on result:

other: measured concentration: >5.35 mg/L

Details on results:

The concentration of the test substance was calculated using the concentration of calcium expecting the mean calcium concentration at control, because calcium ion was present in the culture medium and therefore measured at control. Consequently, the concentration of the test substance was, relatively, significantly low at 0 and 72 hours. Therefore, all the test results were expressed as nominal concentrations because the test substance was insoluble in water.

Conclusions:

The 48 hours EC50 was >100 mg/L (measured concentration: > 5.35 mg/L) in Daphnia magna.

Executive summary:

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium phosphate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using a characteristically similar compound, tricalcium phosphat.
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of tricalcium phosphate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Adverse effects and immobility were examined daily. The criterion of immobilization was an inability to swim for approximately 15 seconds after gentle stir. No mortality or adverse effects were observed at control or 100 mg/L (nominal). The 48 hours EC50 of tricalcium phosphate was >100 mg/L (measured concentration: > 5.35 mg/L) in Daphnia magna. The concentration of the test substance was calculated using the concentration of calcium expecting the mean calcium concentration at control. The results suggest that the concentration of the test substance was significantly lower than nominal, and the test substance was insoluble in water. Therefore, the test results were expressed as nominal concentration.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study without detailed documentation

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Age at study initiation: Less than 24 hours old
- Feeding during test: No feeding

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

224 - 243 mg/L

Test temperature:

20.1 - 21.1 °C

pH:

7.8 - 8.1

Dissolved oxygen:

7.7 - 8.9 mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

- Nominal: 100 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Aeration: No aeration was provided during test
- No. of organisms per concentration: 30
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 3
- Photoperiod: 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark
- Test concentations: 100 mg/L
- Medium: M4 medium was used, as recommended by the OECD TG.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

CaHPO4

Basis for effect:

other: immobility

Remarks on result:

other: measured concentration: >2.9 mg/L

Details on results:

- Mortality of control: non

Conclusions:

The 48 hours EC50 was >100 mg/L (measured concentration: >2.9 mg/L) in Daphnia magna

Executive summary:

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium phosphate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using a characteristically similar compound, calcium hydrogenorthophosphate.
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of calcium hydrogenorthophosphate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Adverse effects and immobility were examined daily. The criterion of immobilization was an inability to swim for approximately 15 seconds after gentle stir. No mortality or adverse effects were observed at control or 100 mg/L (nominal). The 48 hours EC50 of calcium hydrogenorthophosphatewas >100 mg/L (measured concentration: >2.9 mg/L) in Daphnia magna.
Based on these data, the calculated LC50 for lithium phosphate is > 85.10 mg/L.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1996-08-14 to 1997-02-02-04

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

Version / remarks:

1984

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OTS 797.1300 (Aquatic Invertebrate Acute Toxicity Test, Freshwater Daphnids)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

SOURCE OF TEST MATERIAL
- Source and lot/batch No.of test material: 400-01B

STABILITY AND STORAGE CONDITIONS OF TEST MATERIAL
- Storage condition of test material: In the dark at ambient room temperature
- solubility in distilled water: 13.00 mg wm/L

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples were analyzed for lithium in triplicate using a FLM-AAS method developed and validated by the FMC Corporation. Measured concentrations of lithium carbonate were calculated by multiplying measured lithium concentrations by 5.3240.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

A primary stock solution (5000 mg wm/L) was prepared for the definitive test by adding 1.2500 g of neat test substance to 250 mL volumetric flask, bringing it to volume with deionized water and sonicating for approximately 50 minutes to ensure homogeneity. Test solutions were prepared by adding appropriate volumes of the primary stock to the appropriate volume of dilution water (total volume 1 liter). A dilution water control was maintained concurrently with the test solutions.

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

Water fleas will be neonates (i.e. <24 hours old) obtained by isolating gravid females from the culture water in food-free dilution water < 24 hours prior to beginning the test.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Post exposure observation period:

No

Hardness:

c(CaCO3) = 56 mg wm/L

Test temperature:

19.0 °C to 20.3 °C

pH:

pH 8.5 to 10.2

Dissolved oxygen:

7.2 to 8.9 mg/L (79 to 98 % of saturation)

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentrations: 5.0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L
Measured concentrations: 0.0, 4.76, 9.84, 20.0, 43.7 and 82.8 mg/L

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

33.2 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (geom. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

Li2CO3

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 20.0 - 42.7 mg/L

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

20 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (geom. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

Li2CO3

Basis for effect:

mobility

Details on results:

The 48-hour EC50 was 33.2 mg/L (based on mean measured concentrations) with 95 % confidence limits of 20.0 and 43.7 mg/L. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) was 20.0 mg/L, based on the lack of mortality and sublethal effects at this and all lower test concentrations.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The EC50 values were estimated by a computer program (Wheat, 1989) using the following statistical methods: moving average angle, probit, logit, and non-linear interpolation. Confidence limits for EC50 values determined by non-linear interpolation were calculated by binomial probability. The method selected for reporting the test results was determined by the characteristics of the data, i.e. the presence or absence of 0 % and 100 % mortality and the number of concentrations in which mortalities between 0 and 100 % occurred.

Mortality of the water flea, Daphnia magna, during a 48 -hour exposure to lithium carbonate under static conditions:

Mean Measured Concentration (mg/L)	Cumulative Number Dead (Percent Mortality)
	24 Hour		48 Hour
Control	0	(0)	0	(0)
4.76	0	(0)	0	(0)
9.84	0	(0)	0	(0)
20.0	0	(0)	0	(0)
43.7	9	(45)	17	(85)
82.8	15	(75)	20	(100)

Calculated EC50 values, based upon measured concentrations, for the water flea, Daphnia magna, exposed to lithium carbonate under static conditions:

Exposure Period (Hour)	EC50 Value ^a	LCL ^b	UCL ^c	Slope	Method Used
24	53.3	43.1	67.8	4.43	Probit
48	33.2	20.0	43.7	-.-^d	Binomial

a EC50 values and confidence limits expressed in mg wm/L.

b Lower 95 percent confidence limit.

c Upper 95 percent confidence limit.

d The slope cannot be calculated using this method.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The 48-hour EC50 in Daphnia magna was 33.2 mg lithium carbonate/L (based on mean measured concentrations) with 95 % confidence limits of 20.0 and 43.7 mg lithium carbonate/L.
The NOEC was 20.0 mg lithium carbonate/L, based on the lack of mortality and sublethal effects at this and all lower test concentrations.

Executive summary:

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium phosphate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using a characteristically similar compound, lithium carbonate.
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of lithium carbonate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Mean measured concentrations of lithium carbonate ranged from 4.76 to 82.8 mg/L and from 95 to 109 % of nominal. All test solutions appeared clear and colourless and concentrations remained stable throughout the test. Mortality of the water flea exposed for 48 hours to lithium carbonate ranged from 0 % at test concentrations lower than 20.0 mg/L to 100 % at 82.8 mg/L. Control mortality was 0 %. The 48-hour EC50 was 33.2 mg lithium carbonate/L with 95 % confidence limits of 20.0 and 43.7 mg/L. The NOEC was 20.0 mg lithium carbonate/L, based on a lack of significant mortality and sublethal effects observed at this and all lower test concentrations.

Reference 4

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1997-06-13 to 1997-12-23

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

Version / remarks:

1984

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples were analyzed for lithium in triplicate using a FLM-AAS method developed and validated by the FMC Corporation. Measured concentrations of lithium chloride were calculated by multiplying measured lithium concentrations by 14.427.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

Test solutions were prepared by adding the appropriate amounts of lithium chloride (0.0641, 0.1240, 0.2493, 0.5006 and 0.9923 g) directly to five 1 L volumes of dilution water. The resulting nominal concentrations were 64.1, 124, 249, 501, 992 mg LiCl/L. A dilution water control was maintained concurrently with the test solutions.

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

Water fleas will be neonates (i.e. <24 hours old) obtained by isolating gravid females from the culture water in food-free dilution water < 24 hours prior to beginning of the test.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

c(CaCO3) = 82 mg/L

Test temperature:

19.4 to 20.8 °C

pH:

At test initiation: pH 7.1 to 8.6
Remainder of the test: pH 7.0 to 7.1

Dissolved oxygen:

At test initiation: 9.3 mg/L (100 % of saturation)
Remainder of the test: 8.4 to 8.9 mg/L (94 to 98 % of saturation)

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentrations: Control, 64.1, 124, 249, 501 and 992 mg LiCl/L
Measured concentrations: 0.0, 63.4, 123, 249, 501 and 978 mg LiCl/L

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

249 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (geom. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

LiCl

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 197 and 315 mg/L

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

63.4 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (geom. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

LiCl

Basis for effect:

mobility

Details on results:

The 48-hour EC50 was 249 mg/L (based on mean measured concentrations) with 95 % confidence limits of 197 and 315 mg/L. The NOEC was 63.4 mg/L.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

No reference substance

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The EC50 values were estimated by a computer program (Wheat, 1989) using the following statistical methods: moving average angle, probit, logit, and non-linear interpolation. Confidence limits for EC50 values determined by non-linear interpolation were calculated by binomial probability. The method selected for reporting the test results was determined by the characteristics of the data, i.e., the presence or absence of 0 % and 100 % mortality and the number of concentrations in which mortalities between 0 and 100 % occurred.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The 48-hour EC50 in Daphnia magna was 249 mg lithium chloride/L (based on mean measured concentrations) with 95 % confidence limits of 197 and 315 mg wm/L. The NOEC was 63.4 mg lithium chloride/L.

Executive summary:

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium phosphate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using a characteristically similar compound, lithium chloride.
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of lithium chloride to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Mean measured concentrations of lithium chloride ranged from 63.4 to 978 mg/L and from 99 to 109 % of nominal. All test solutions appeared clear and colourless and concentrations remained stable throughout the test. Mortality of the water flea exposed for 48 hours to lithium chloride ranged from 5 % at test concentrations smaller or equal to 123 mg/L and 100 % at a concentration greater than or equal to 501 mg/L. One water flea treated with 63.4 mg/L died as a result of becoming physically stuck to the wall of the test chamber, his death was not chemically related. Control mortality was 0 %. The 48-hour EC50 was 249 mg lithium chloride/L with 95 % confidence limits of 197 and 315 mg/L. The NOEC was 63.4 mg/L.

Description of key information

The 48-hour EC50 in Daphnia magna was 33.2 mg lithium carbonate/L (based on mean measured concentrations) with 95 % confidence limits of 20.0 and 43.7 mg lithium carbonate/L. The NOEC was 20.0 mg lithium carbonate/L, based on the lack of mortality and sublethal effects at this and all lower test concentrations. Based on read-across approach, the calculated EC50 for lithium phosphate is 34.68 mg/L.

 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Effect concentration:

34.68 mg/L

Additional information

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium phosphate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using characteristically similar compounds: lithium carbonate and chloride as well as tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydrogen phosphate.

Read-across with lithium carbonate (Toxicon 1997)
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of lithium carbonate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Mean measured concentrations of lithium carbonate ranged from 4.76 to 82.8 mg/L and from 95 to 109 % of nominal. All test solutions appeared clear and colourless and concentrations remained stable throughout the test. Mortality of the water flea exposed for 48 hours to lithium carbonate ranged from 0 % at test concentrations lower than 20.0 mg/L to 100 % at 82.8 mg/L. Control mortality was 0 %. The 48-hour EC50 was 33.2 mg Li2CO3/L with 95 % confidence limits of 20.0 and 43.7 mg/L. The NOEC was 20.0 mg Li2CO3/L, based on a lack of significant mortality and sublethal effects observed at this and all lower test concentrations. Based on these data, the calculated EC50 for lithium phosphate is 34.68 mg/L.

Read-across with lithium chloride (Toxicon 1997) 
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of lithium chloride to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Mean measured concentrations of lithium chloride ranged from 63.4 to 978 mg/L and from 99 to 109 % of nominal. All test solutions appeared clear and colourless and concentrations remained stable throughout the test. Mortality of the water flea exposed for 48 hours to lithium chloride ranged from 5 % at test concentrations smaller or equal to 123 mg/L and 100 % at a concentration greater than or equal to 501 mg/L. One water flea treated with 63.4 mg/L died as a result of becoming physically stuck to the wall of the test chamber, his death was not chemically related. Control mortality was 0%. The 48-hour EC50 was 249 mg LiCl/L with 95 % confidence limits of 197 and 315 mg/L. The NOEC was 63.4 mg/L. Based on these data, the calculated EC50 for lithium phosphate is 226.72 mg/L.

Read-across with tricalcium phosphate (Kim et al. 2013) 
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of tricalcium phosphate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Adverse effects and immobility were examined daily. The criterion of immobilization was an inability to swim for approximately 15 seconds after gentle stir. No mortality or adverse effects were observed at control or 100 mg/L (nominal). The 48 hours EC50 of tricalcium phosphate was >100 mg/L (measured concentration: >5.35 mg/L) in Daphnia magna. The concentration of the test substance was calculated using the concentration of calcium expecting the mean calcium concentration at control. The results suggest that the concentration of the test substance was significantly lower than nominal, and the test substance was insoluble in water. Therefore, the test results were expressed as nominal concentration. Based on these data, the calculated LC50 for lithium phosphate is 74.66 mg/L.

Read-across with calcium hydrogen phosphate (Kim et al. 2013)
A static freshwater toxicity test was conducted to determine the acute toxicity of calcium hydrogen phosphate to the water flea, Daphnia magna according to OECD Guideline 202. Adverse effects and immobility were examined daily. The criterion of immobilization was an inability to swim for approximately 15 seconds after gentle stir. No mortality or adverse effects were observed at control or 100 mg/L (nominal). The 48 hours EC50 of calcium hydrogen phosphate was >100 mg/L (measured concentration: >2.9 mg/L) in Daphnia magna. Based on these data, the calculated LC50 for lithium phosphate is 85.10 mg/L. 

Conclusion:

In this weight of evidence approach the effect concentrations of lithium and phosphate compounds were evaluated in different acute tests with Daphnia magna. When comparing the results of read-across from lithium carbonate and lithium chloride with tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydrogen phosphate, the magnitude of the calculated EC50 values show that lithium is the relevant toxicological moiety of lithium phosphate with respect to acute toxicity in daphnia. The lowest determined EC50 value of 34.68 mg Li3PO4/L is considered as key value for chemical safety assessment.