Sulfuric acid, C16-C18 (even numbered) alkyl esters, sodium salts and C16-18 (even numbered) alcohols

Long-term toxicity to fish

Administrative data

Endpoint:

long-term toxicity to fish, other

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Responses of invertebrates and fish to alkyl sulfate and alkyl thoxylate sulfate anionic surfactants during chronic exposure

Author:

Belanger SE, Rupe KL, and Bausch RG

Year:

1995

Bibliographic source:

Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 55, 751-758.

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The test was started with fish 4 week post hatch and was performed for 42 days under flow through conditions.


Tests were conducted at the Procter & Gamble Experimental Stream Facility (ESF) located approximately 25 km from Cincinnati, Ohio, on the Lower East Fork of the Little Miami River.
Tests were conducted in flow through aquaria drawing water from experimental stream channels.
Aquaria and cages held 10 and 5 individuals of each species tested, respectively. Triplicate aquaria, 75 L in volume, drew water from each of 6 streams by peristaltic pumps. Test species were separated by subdivisions in each aquaria. In-flow to each aquarium was on the opposite end of the out-flow standpipe thereby ensuring mixing.
Fish (7 d post hatch) were obtained from stock cultures at Virginia Tech (Dr. John Lauth, Department of Biology, Blacksburg, Virginia) and were 4 wk post hatch at the beginning of the test.
Dietary needs for all test organisms were met by food carried by stream waters.
Endpoints measured included mortality, length and biomass at test termination.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

EC Number:

205-788-1

EC Name:

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

Cas Number:

151-21-3

Molecular formula:

C12H26O4S.Na

IUPAC Name:

sodium dodecyl sulfate

Test material form:

not specified

Details on test material:

Abbreviated in report as AS

purity: 99%

obtained from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Missouri)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): dodecyl alkyl sulfate sometimes abbreviated as AS

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Test solutions

Details on test solutions:

Exposure concentrations were maintained by amending river water at the head of each stream with surfactant stocks in a dilution series, stocks were prepared in de-ionized carbon filtered water.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Pimephales promelas

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: fathead minnow
- Source: Virginia Tech (Dr. John Lauth, Department of Biology, Blacksburg, Virginia)
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 4 weeks

- Feeding during test
- Food type: Dietary needs for all test organisms were met by food carried by stream waters.

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period:3 weeks

Study design

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

42 d

Test conditions

Test temperature:

about 12.5 to 25.5 °C (Figure 2)

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal: 0, 26, 78, 233, 700 and 2100 µg/L
Measured: 2 ± 5, 23 ± 30, 51 ± 17, 151 ± 44, 418 ± 103 and 1357 ± 408 µg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: Flow through aquaria drawing water from experimental stream channels. Test species were separated by subdivisions in each aquaria. In-flow to each aquarium was on the opposite end of the out-flow standpipe thereby ensuring mixing.
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: 75 L
- Type of flow-through (e.g. peristaltic or proportional diluter): peristaltic pump
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): 400 mL/min (hydraulic residence time was 160 minutes)
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 3

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED: Juvenile mortality and juvenile length were recorded at the end of the exposure.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

42 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 1 357 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Effect concentrations 2

Key result

Duration:

42 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 1 357 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

length

Any other information on results incl. tables

Fathead minnows in aquaria were not adversely affected at any AS concentration. In fact, fish in aquaria drawing water from AS amended streams reached a final dry weight of 44.5 +- 0.6 mg/individual at 1357 µg AS/L versus 16.5 +- 0.7 mg/individual in the controls. Increases were exposure concentration dependent (p < 0.001).

Survival was not impaired at any concentration. A potential link with the microbial community may be present with more food resources available in AS exposed aquaria. Clearly AS was not toxic to fish at mg/L levels.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Belanger et al. (1995) study tested the effects of the test substance in a juvenile fish growth test using Pimephales promelas as test organism. Juvenils (4 weeks old) were exposed over a test period of 42 days to the test substance in a flow-through system using river water. Mortality as well as growth (weight) were recorded. No adverse effects were observed after 42 days of exposure to up to the higest tested concentration of 1.36 mg/L. Thus the 42d-NOEC value is determined to be >= 1.36 mg/L based on measured concentrations.

During 42 days of exposure under flow-through conditions, Fathead minnows in aquaria were not adversely affected at any C12 -AS concentration. In fact, fish in aquaria drawing water from C12 -AS amended streams reached a final dry weight of 44.5 +- 0.6 mg/individual at 1357 µg AS/L versus 16.5 +- 0.7 mg/individual in the controls. Increases were exposure concentration dependent (p < 0.001).

Survival was not impaired at any concentration. A potential link with the microbial community may be present with more food resources available in AS exposed aquaria. Clearly AS was not toxic to fish at mg/L levels.