Tetrapotassium hexacyanoferrate

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:

21 January - 22 February 2013

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Version / remarks:

(1992)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.1 (Acute Toxicity for Fish)

Version / remarks:

(2008)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

ISO 7346-1 (Determination of the Acute Lethal Toxicity of Substances to a Freshwater Fish [Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)] - Part 1: Static Method)

Version / remarks:

(1996)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Concentrations
Range-finding test: 100 mg/L
Limite test: 0 and 100 mg/L
- Sampling: 9.6 ml of test solution were sampled from the approximate centre of the test vessels at t=0 h and t=96 h. For the range-finding test samples were also collected at t=24h.
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: Samples were stored in a freezer until analysis. On the day of analysis, the samples were defrosted at room temperature. Nitric acid was added to the test samples to obtain a 4% Nitric acid matrix, after which the samples were analysed.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION
- Method: The preparation of test solutions started with a nominal concentration of 100 mg/L applying a short period of vigorous shaking to accelerate the dissolving of the test substance in the test medium. The lower test concentrations were prepared by subsequent dilutions of the 100 mg/L concentration in test medium.
- Controls: test medium without test substance or other additives
- Evidence of undissolved material: The final test solutions were all clear and colourless.

Test organisms (species):

Cyprinus carpio

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Carp
- Source: Zodiac, proefacc, "De Haar Vissen", Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands
- Characteristics: F1 from a single parent-pair bred in UV-treated water.
- Length at study initiation (mean and SD)
Range-finding test: 2.3 ± 0.1 cm
Limit test: 2.3 ± 0.2 cm
- Weight at study initiation (mean and SD)
Range-finding test: 0.31 ± 0.07 g
Limit test: 0.20 ± 0.07 g
- Feeding during test: No

ACCLIMATION:
- Acclimation period: At least 12 days after delivery
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): yes
- Type and feeding frequency: Pelleted fish food (Cyprico Crumble Excellent (300-500 um) on a daily basis
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): In the batch of fish used for the test, mortality during the seven days prior to the start of the test was less than 5%.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

180 mg/L expressed as CaCO3

Test temperature:

Limit test: 21.3-22.3°C

pH:

Limit test: 7.5-7.8

Dissolved oxygen:

Limit test: 6.9-9.7 mg O2/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

- Nominal
Range-finding test: 0.1, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/L
Limit test: 0 (blank-control) and 100 mg/L

- Measured: See the "Remarks on results including figures and tables" field for details. Samples were quantitatively analysed on Fe in water. Subsequently, test substance concentrations were calculated from these Fe-analyses.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: All-glass with a capacity of 6.5 L and filled with 5 L of test solution
- Aeration: No
- No. of organisms per vessel
Range-finding test: 3
Limit test: 7
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 1
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: 0.28 g fish/L

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: tap-water purified by reverse osmosis
- Culture medium different from test medium: No, test medium is adjusted ISO medium.
- Intervals of water quality measurement
Dissolved oxygen content, pH and temperature: Daily in all vessels with surviving fish, beginning at the start of the test (day 0).

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: No
- Photoperiod: 16 h light: 8 h dark

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable): Mortality and other effects. At 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours following the start of exposure. In addition, every afternoon from day 0 and every morning from day 1 to observe for any dead or severely distressed fish.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: a single concentration was tested (100 mg/L)
- Justification for using less concentrations than requested by guideline: Based on the results of the range-finding test
- Range finding study
- Test concentrations: 0.1, 1.0, 1, 10 and 100 mg/L
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: yes

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

Pentachlorophenol

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

- Measured concentrations
Range-finding test: The initial concentration was in agreement with nominal (100%) and remained stable during the test period (105% of initial at the end of the test).
Limit test: The actual test concentration was in agreement with nominal at the start (85%) and remained stable during the test period (101% of initial at the end of the test)

- Biological results
Range-finding test: No mortality or clinical effects were observed at any of the test concentrations during the test period. The expected LC50 was above 100 mg/L.
Limit test: No mortality or clinical effects were observed in both the limit concentration and the control during the test period. The responses recorded at 100 mg/L were in agreement with the results of the range-finding test.

Acceptability of the test
1. No mortality was observed in the control at the end of the test.
2. Test conditions were maintained constant throughout the test.
3. The dissolved oxygen concentration has been at least 60% of the air saturation value throughout the test (>5 mg/L at 22°C).
4. The concentrations of the substance being tested have been at least 80% of the nominal concentration throughout the test.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

Pentachlorophenol: The 96h-LC50 for carp exposed to PCP was 0.17 mg/L (95% confidence interval between 0.15 and 0.27 mg/L).

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of the present test Sodium ferrocyanide induced no visible effects in carp at 100 mg/L. Hence, the 96h-LC50 was >100 mg/L.

Executive summary:

In a 96-h acute toxicity study conducted according to OECD guideline 203, carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to Sodium ferrocyanide under static conditions at the following nominal concentrations in a limit test: 0 (blank control) and 100 mg/L. Test substance did not induce visible or lethal effects in carp at 100 mg/L. The 96h-LC50 was >100 mg/L, based on analytically confirmed nominal exposure concentrations. The study is considered to be reliable without restrictions.

Description of key information

The 96-h LC50 for acute toxicity to fish was determined to be >100 mg/L (analytically confirmed nominal exposure concentration), based on read across using sodium ferrocyanide as the source substance.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

100 mg/L

Additional information

Key study (read across):

In a 96-h acute toxicity study conducted according to OECD guideline 203, carp (Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to Sodium ferrocyanide under static conditions at the following nominal concentrations in a limit test: 0 (blank control) and 100 mg/L. Test substance did not induce visible or lethal effects in carp at 100 mg/L. The 96h-LC50 was >100 mg/L, based on analytically confirmed nominal exposure concentrations. The study is considered to be reliable without restrictions.

Supporting information (Ewell, et al. 1986):

Fathead Minnow were exposed to several nominal concentrations of potassium ferrocyanide in a light-dark test. The test was repeated 6 months later. The 96h LC50 was estimated to be > 100 mg/L in both studies.

Supporting information (Tscheu-Schluter, 1983)

The publication does not contain enough information on the test conditions and organisms. The results are therefore difficult to interpret. The most important information, however, is that under light conditions, the test substance seems to be more toxic to fish than under diffuse light conditions.