[No public or meaningful name is available]

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

23 February 2018 - 07 January 2019

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)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Purity: >95% (This substance has an Unknown or Variable composition, is a Complex reaction product, or a Biological material (UVCB))
Description: Amber liquid

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

At the start of the test (0 hours) and at media renewal at 24 hours, 10 mL samples of freshly prepared test media were taken from the control and the test media preparation vessel for chemical analysis. At 24 and 48 hours, 10 mL samples were also taken for chemical analysis from the pooled expired test media from the test and control groups. In each case duplicate samples were taken, one for chemical analysis and one as a ‘back-up’ should further analysis be required.

Concentrations of the test material were determined by diluting aqueous samples with acetonitrile containing 0.2% formic acid, then diluting further with Elendt M4 medium: acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid as required to bring the response within the calibration range.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

The test material is a chemical substance of Unknown or Variable Composition, Complex Reaction Products and Biological Materials (UVCB) with variable water solubility and as such falls into the category of a “difficult substance” as defined by the OECD Guidance Document (OECD Series on Testing and Assessment, No. 23 (2000); Guidance Document on Aquatic Toxicity Testing of Difficult Substances and Mixtures). Based on the recommendations of this guidance, the test substance was prepared as Water Accommodated Fractions (WAFs).

At the start of the test, and media renewal at 24 hours, ca 1.0, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100 mg of test material were each separately weighed onto a glass slide and placed in 1000 mL of Elendt M4 medium. The preparations were stirred for ca 23 hours at a rate such that a slight dimple was formed at the surface. After the stirring period, the preparations were allowed to settle for ca 1 hour after which the aqueous phase was removed by careful mid-depth siphoning to give the 1.0, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100 mg/L loading rate WAF solutions. A control group was prepared in Elendt M4 medium in the same manner without the addition of test material.

The test preparations were observed to be colourless solutions throughout the duration of the test.

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

- Test organism: Juvenile Daphnia magna (Straus), less than 24 hours old
- Source: Parental laboratory cultures, held and maintained at the test facility (culture was initiated from ephippia obtained from MicroBio Tests Inc., Belgium)
- Age of parental stock: Less than 24 hours old
- Food type: Cultures fed daily with a concentrated suspension of Chlorella vulgaris
- Feeding during test: None

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

other: Elendt M4 medium

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

Not specified.

Test temperature:

20 +/- 2 ºC

pH:

7.80 - 8.20

Dissolved oxygen:

8.55 - 9.69 mg/L (93-103% air saturation value, ASV)

Salinity:

Not applicable

Conductivity:

Not specified

Nominal and measured concentrations:

The nominal concentrations tested were 0 (control), 1.0, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100 mg/L.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: 100 mL (nominal) glass, tall form beakers covered with clear lids
- Test solution volume: 50 mL (nominal)
- Aeration: Not aerated during the test
- No. of organisms per vessel: 5
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 4
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 4
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): Not applicable

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: Elendt M4 medium prepared from trace element stock solutions and reverse-osmosis (RO) water in accordance with OECD Guideline No. 202.

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Intervals of water quality measurement: At the start of the test (0 hours) and at media renewal at 24 hours, 10 mL samples of freshly prepared test media were taken from the control and the test media preparation vessel for chemical analysis.
At 24 and 48 hours, 10 mL samples were also taken for chemical analysis from the pooled expired test media from the test and control groups.
In each case duplicate samples were taken, one for chemical analysis and one as a ‘back-up’ should further analysis be required.
- Adjustment of pH: None
- Photoperiod: 16-hour light : 8-hour dark
- Light intensity: Not specified

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable):
After 24 and 48 hours, the Daphnia magna in each test vessel were observed for evidence of immobility. The EL50 values, no observed effect loading rate (NOEL) and the lowest observed effect loading rate (LOEL) at 24 and 48 hours were determined, if possible.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EL50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat. (dissolved fraction)

Remarks:

/ loading rate WAF

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

not determinable

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOELR

Effect conc.:

100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat. (dissolved fraction)

Remarks:

/ loading rate WAF

Basis for effect:

mobility

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

EL50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat. (dissolved fraction)

Remarks:

/ loading rate WAF

Basis for effect:

mobility

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

NOELR

Effect conc.:

100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat. (dissolved fraction)

Remarks:

/ loading rate WAF

Basis for effect:

mobility

Results with reference substance (positive control):

A positive control study was conducted to determine the 48-hour acute toxicity of the reference substance, potassium dichromate, on the freshwater planktonic crustacean, Daphnia magna. The 48-hour EC50 values for mobility was determined by linear interpolation to be 1.366 mg/L. The 48-hour NOEC value was determined to be 1.0 mg/L. These results were within the expected toxicity range (48-hour EC50: 0.6 - 2.1 mg/L) for this reference substance and all validity criteria were met.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Statistical analysis was not performed as no biologically significant immobilisation was observed during the test. The EL50, no observed effect loading rate (NOEL) and the lowest observed effect loading rate (LOEL) were estimated empirically.

Analytical results from the 1.0 to 32 mg/L loading rates were variable and did not follow a concentration dependent pattern. The test solutions were prepared individually as WAFs and not as serial dilutions from a single preparation. Whilst every effort is undertaken to ensure preparation methods were the same for all loading rates, small variations in, e.g. stirring speed, may have occurred.

Analysis of the freshly prepared media at 0 and 24 hours from the 100 mg/L loading rate showed measured concentrations, based on the analytical marker, of 0.323 and 0.291 mg/L, respectively. Analysis of the corresponding old media at 24 and 48 hours showed measured concentrations, based on the analytical marker, of 0.0951 and 0.0845 mg/L, respectively.

The numbers of immobilised Daphnia magna following exposure to the test substance for 24 and 48 hours are presented below:

summarised below.

Nominal loading rate (mg/L)	Number of Daphnia magna exposed	% Immobility at 24 hours	% Immobility at 48 hours
Control	20	0	0
1.0	20	0	0
3.2	20	0	0
10	20	0	0
32	20	0	0
100	20	0	0

 * Single immobilised daphnid not considered not to be biologically significant given that <10% immobilisation observed and no immobilisation observed at the two higher loading rates

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

The validity criteria for control immobility (≤10%) and dissolved oxygen (≥3 mg/L) were both satisfied.

Conclusions:

The acute toxicity of the test material to the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna was investigated under semi-static conditions and the 48-hour EL50 value was determined to be >100 mg/L and the No Observed Effect Loading rate (NOEL) was determined to be 100 mg/L, based on loading rate WAF.

Executive summary:

The objective of the study was to determine the 48-hour acute toxicity of the test substance Daphnia magna.

The study was conducted in accordance with the requirements of OECD Chemicals Testing Guideline No. 202, Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test (adopted April 13 2004).

The test material is a chemical substance of Unknown or Variable Composition, Complex Reaction Products and Biological Materials (UVCB) with low water solubility and as such falls into the category of a “difficult substance” as defined by the OECD Guidance Document (OECD Series on Testing and Assessment, No. 23 (2000); Guidance Document on Aquatic Toxicity Testing of Difficult Substances and Mixtures). Based on the recommendations of this guidance, the test substance was prepared as Water Accommodated Fractions (WAFs).

Based on the results of a range-finding test, for which only the key findings have been reported, the definitive test was conducted at nominal loading rates of 1.0, 3.2, 10, 32 and 100 mg/L using semi-static test conditions. A concurrent control group was also included.

At the start of the test, five juvenileDaphnia magnawere added to each test vessel. TheDaphnia magnain each test vessel were observed at 24 and 48 hours. The Daphnia magnawere not fed during the test.

Samples of test media were analysed at0 (fresh media), 24 (old and fresh media) and 48 hours (old media).Concentrations of the test material were determined by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-TQMS) system, using theimidazoline-Tconstituent as an analytical marker for quantification.

Analytical results from the 1.0 to 32 mg/L loading rates were variable and did not follow a concentration dependent pattern. The preparations were prepared individually as WAFs and not as serial dilutions from a single preparation. Although measures were undertaken to ensure the same preparation methods were employed for all loading rates, small variations in, e.g. stirring speed, may have occurred.

Analysis of the freshly prepared media at 0 and 24 hours from the 100 mg/L loading rate resulted in measured concentrations of 0.323 and 0.291 mg/L, respectively. Analysis of the corresponding old media at 24 and 48 hours resulted in measured concentrations of 0.0951 and 0.0845 mg/L, respectively.

Given that the test material is acomplex UVCBsubstance and analytical monitoring was limited to theimidazoline-Tfraction of the test material, the effect concentrations were based on nominal loading rates.

The acute toxicity of the test material to the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna was investigated under semi-static conditions and the 48-hour EL50 value was determined to be >100 mg/L and the No Observed Effect Loading rate (NOEL) was determined to be 100 mg/L, based on loading rate WAF.

Description of key information

The acute toxicity of the test material to the freshwater invertebrate Daphnia magna was investigated under semi-static conditions and the 48-hour EL50 value was determined to be >100 mg/L and the No Observed Effect Loading rate (NOEL) was determined to be 100 mg/L, based on loading rate WAF.