Reaction mass of carbon tetrachloride and chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: - Guideline study (OECD, etc.) - limited information on substance identity

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

: guideline date: 04.04.1984

GLP compliance:

no

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Concentrations: see table 2
- Sampling method: drawing of water samples with dead-volume-free syringes, direct application into head-space sample flasks, that are immediately closed and analysed
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: no storage, direct measurement of samples

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: Dissolving of CTC in acetone in stock solutions so that the final concentration of acetone in the test media was 158 mg/L
- Controls: acetone in water
- Chemical name of vehicle (organic solvent, emulsifier or dispersant): acetone
- Concentration of vehicle in test medium (stock solution and final test solution(s) including control(s)): he final concentration of acetone in the test media was 158 mg/L
- Evidence of undissolved material (e.g. precipitate, surface film, etc): no

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: zebrafish
- Strain: (Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan), Teleostei, Cyprinidae.
- Source: Doller Zierfischzüchterei, 5950 Finnentrop-Serkenrode, Germany
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): not reported
- Length at study initiation (length definition, mean, range and SD): 2.0 ± 1.0 cm
- Weight at study initiation (mean and range, SD): not reported
- Method of breeding: not reported
- Feeding during test: not reported


ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 12 d
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): same as test
- Type and amount of food: Tetramin, amount not reported
- Feeding frequency: once daily
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): not reported
- Mortality of controls was within the ranges of the guideline

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

4 d

Post exposure observation period:

no post exposure observation

Hardness:

see table 1

Test temperature:

23 ± 1 °C

pH:

8.15 ± 0.2

Dissolved oxygen:

concentration: saturation, controled, but not reported

Salinity:

see table 1

Nominal and measured concentrations:

see table 2

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: cubic fish tanks , 11 L volume
- Type (delete if not applicable): closed
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: all glass, glued with silicone
- Aeration: yes, in the pre-tank
- Type of flow-through (e.g. peristaltic or proportional diluter): peristaltic, filtered with an activated carbon filter
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): 2.5 L/h = 6 exchanges/d
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 1
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 1
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: 1 fish/L


TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: source: pre- tank, dilution water mixed from trace elements stock solution, de-ionized water (see table )1 and CTC in acetone (acetone end concentration 158 mg/L)
- Total organic carbon: not reported
- Particulate matter: not reported
- Metals: not reported
- Pesticides: not reported
- Chlorine: not reported
- Alkalinity: not reported
- Ca/mg ratio: see table 1
- Conductivity: not reported
- Culture medium different from test medium: no
- Intervals of water quality measurement: at begin and end of test and 3 times in between


OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Photoperiod: 14 h light, 10 h darkness
- Light intensity: not reported


EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) :
- activity
- mortality
- measured daily

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 1.5

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

24.3 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: LD16 = 20.31 mg/L, LD84 = 29.17 mg/L

Details on results:

- Behavioural abnormalities: not reported
- Observations on body length and weight: not reported
- Other biological observations: not reported
- Mortality of control: 0 %
- Other adverse effects control: not reported
- Abnormal responses: not reported
- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: not reported
- Effect concentrations exceeding solubility of substance in test medium: not reported

Results with reference substance (positive control):

no positive control

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Litchfield and Wilcoxon (J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1949 Jun;96(2):99-113. A simplified method of evaluating dose-effect experiments.)

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

- table 1: mortality of zebrafish after exposure to CTC

group	Concentration nominal in mg/L	Concentration analytical in mg/L	Animals tested	Animals dead after 96 h	Survival rate
1	318.8	68.70	10	10	0
2	106.3	42.90	10	10	0
3	35.4	13.30	10	0	100
4	11.8	8.40	10	0	100
5	3.9	2.95	10	0	100

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Executive summary:

The study (Röderer 1990) presents a analytical LC50 of 24.3 mg/L (LD16 = 20.31 mg/L, LD84 = 29.17 mg/L) for CTC for acute fish toxicity after 96 h . Based on this value no classification of CTC for acute aquatic toxicity is necessary in the EU.

The potential of the test substance CTC (carbon tetrachloride) to induce toxicity in Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan, Teleostei, Cyprinidae) was evaluated in a survey study on different chlorinated organic solvents following OECD TG 203. 10 fishes per CTC concentration (5 concentrations tested) were exposed for 96 h in 10 L closed tanks using a flow-through system. A fresh water control and a vehicle (acetone) control were tested in addition. Fishes were observed daily for behaviour and fatalities. CTC concentrations and water quality was tested daily according to OECD TG 203.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

the study does not need to be conducted because a long-term aquatic toxicity study on fish is proposed to be conducted

Description of key information

The study does not need to be conducted because long-term  aquatic studies exist for each constituent.

However, to validate and support the long term fish value of carbon tetrachloride (Roderer,1990), all aquatic hazard values of CTC have been compared (see section 6.1.2):

Toxicity of CTC in Zebrafish following OECD 203 (Roderer, 1990):

LC50 (96h)=24.3 mg/L

Additional information

The study does not need to be conducted because long-term aquatic studies exist for each constituents.

Nevertheless, the short toxicity to fish has been studied on the main constituent of Flux1: carbon tetrachloride or CTC .

The potential of CTC (carbon tetrachloride) to induce toxicity in Zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio, Hamilton-Buchanan, Teleostei, Cyprinidae) was evaluated in a survey study on different chlorinated organic solvents following OECD TG 203 (Röderer, 1990). 10 fish per CTC concentration (5 concentrations tested) were exposed for 96 h in 10 L closed tanks using a flow-through system. A fresh water control and a vehicle (acetone) control were tested in addition. Fish were observed daily for behaviour and fatalities. CTC concentrations and water quality was tested daily according to OECD TG 203. Results shows an analytical LC50 of 24.3 mg/L (LD16 = 20.31 mg/L, LD84 = 29.17 mg/L) for CTC (main constituent of Flux1) for acute fish toxicity after 96 h .

Regarding the two other constituents of Flux1, Anderson (1980) studied also toxicity of chloroform on fish with an LC50(96h) of 18.2 mg/l. This hazard value is in the same range as the one on carbon tetrachloride (Röderer, 1980). 1,2 -Dichloroethane is less toxic with an LC50 (96h) of 136 mg/L (Geiger et al., 1979).

Anderson DR, Lustry EB. 1980. Acute toxicity and bioaccumulation of chloroform to four species of freshwater fish. Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA. NUREG/CR-0893

Geiger, D.L., Northcott, C.E., Call, D.J. and Brooke, L.T. 1985. Acute toxicities of organic chemicals to Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) Volume II. Center for Lake Superior Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Superior