Potassium phosphinate

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:

2009-09-07 till 2009-09-29

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: OECD guideline study in compliance to GLP standards

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.1 (Acute Toxicity for Fish)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Sampling method: duplicate samples were taken from each treatment from the approximate middle of the aquaria without mixing the test medium
- Sampling time points: before the start of the test, after 48h and at the end of the test after 96h
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: immediately after sampling stored deep-frozen (about -20°C)

No more data available

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION
- Method: 550.2 mg of the test substance was completely dissolved in 5.5 L of test water using ultrasonic treatment for 5 minutes and stirring for 15 minutes at room temperature. Test medium was freshly prepared just before introduction of the fish
- Evidence of undissolved material: none

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: zebra fish
- Source: breeding culture at Harlan Laboratories
- Length at study initiation: 2.7 +/- 0.10 cm
- Weight at study initiation: 0.13 +/- 0.01 g
- Feeding during test: no

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 1 week
- Acclimation conditions: same as test (test water and temperature)
- Type and amount of food: commercial fish diet (TETRA Min Hauptfutter, supplied by TETRA-Werke, Germany)
- Feeding frequency: feeding occurred during acclimation until one day before the start of the test
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): fish were healthy, no medication was applied, no fish died

No more data available

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

1.25 mmol/L (or 125 mg/L as CaCO3)

Test temperature:

21°C

pH:

7.5 - 7.8

Dissolved oxygen:

8.4 mg/L - 8.7 mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentration: 100 mg/L
Measured concentrations: ranged from 104 to 107% of the nominal value

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel:
- Material: glass test vessel with 5L of test medium
- Aeration: slightly aerated
- No. of organisms per vessel: 7
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 1
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: 0.18 g fish wet weight/L

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: reconstituted test water consisting of analytical grade salts dissolved in purified water (Millipore purification system) (composition see table 1 in other information on materials and methods).
- Alkalinity: 0.4
- Ca/Mg ratio: 4/1
- Na/K ratio: 10/1
- Intervals of water quality measurement: Water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were measured at the start of the test and once daily during the test for each treatment

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Photoperiod: 16h light/8h dark (with 30 minute transition period)
- Light intensity: within range of 100 to 480 lux

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable):
- Mortality: After 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96h.
- Visible abnormalities: After 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96h.
Visible abnormalities for which fish were observed: strongly extended gills, apathy, distended abdomen, fish mainly at the bottom of the test vessel, exophtalmus, convulsions, fish mainly at the water surface, mucus secretion, fish lying on side or back on the bottom, strong ventilation, tumbling during swimming, changed body color.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Range finding study
- Test concentrations: nominal concentrations of 0, 1.0, 10 and 100 mg/L
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: the range finding study showed that for all treatments the fish mortality after 96h was 0%, all fish appeared normal and the test medium appeared clear and had a constant test substance concentration

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC0

Effect conc.:

>= 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

>= 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: visible abnormalities

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LOEC

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: visible abnormalities

Details on results:

- Behavioural abnormalities: none
- Other biological observations: none
- Mortality of control: none
- Other adverse effects control: none
- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: none

Reported statistics and error estimates:

No statistics could be performed as no mortality was observed during the entire test period.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

In the test conditions, neither visible abnormalities nor mortality was observed during a limit test of 96h. Hence the LC50, and LOEC at 96h are above 100 mg/L and NOEC for 96h is equal or above 100 mg/L. Hence, the test substance can be considered non hazardous to the aquatic environment according to the CLP regulation (EC) n° 1272/2008.

Executive summary:

The authors tested the acute toxicity of Sodium hypophosphite (CAS number 10039-56-2) to zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio) according to the OECD guideline 203 (Fish, Acute toxicity test) and according to the EU Method C.1 (Acute toxicity for fish). They performed a static freshwater limit test during 96h. The test included 1 test vessel and 1 control vessel each containing 7 zebra fish. After 4h, 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h the fish were observed and mortality and visible abnormalities was noted. Furthermore the concentration of the test material as well as the pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen was checked regularly during the test period.

Under these testing conditions no visible abnormalities or mortality was observed. Hence the LC50, and LOEC at 96h are above 100 mg/L and NOEC for 96h is equal or above 100 mg/L. The exact values of these parameters cannot be quantified due to the absence of toxicity of the test substance at the tested concentration (limit test: 100 mg/L). Hence, the test substance can be considered non hazardous to the aquatic environment according to the CLP regulation (EC) n° 1272/2008.

This study was performed according to OECD guideline and in compliance with GLP standards (certificate included) and all validity criteria were fulfilled, therefore, the study can be consided reliable without restrictions.

Description of key information

Acute toxicity of sodium phosphinate to zebra fish (Brachydanio rerio) was tested according to the OECD guideline 203 and according to the EU Method C.1. The static freshwater limit test included 1 test vessel and 1 control vessel and total duration was 96h. After 4h, 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h the fish were observed and mortality and visible abnormalities was noted. Furthermore the concentration of the test material as well as the pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen was checked regularly during the test period. No visible abnormalities or mortality were observed. Hence the LC50 and LOEC at 96h are above 100 mg/L and NOEC for 96h is equal or above 100 mg/L. The exact values of these parameters cannot be quantified due to the absence of toxicity of the test substance at the tested concentration (limit test: 100 mg/L). Furthermore, the measured concentrations of the test substance ranged from 104 to 107% of the nominal value. By read-across, potassium phosphinate 96h-LC50 is considered higher than 100 mg/L for fish.