Aluminium trilactate

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Description of key information

No data on short term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates are available for the substance Aluminium trilactate. Thus, a read-across to the moieties of Aluminium trilactate - Lactic acid and Aluminium is used for hazard assessment. This read-across approach is adequate as the salt Aluminium trilactate will dissociate into Lactic acid and Aluminium ions in aqueous solutions.  
Three studies (in the oligochaete worm Branchiura sowerbyi, in the cladoceran crustacean Moina micrura and in Daphnia magna) are available for Lactic acid. For Aluminium, two studies (in Asellus aquaticus and in Daphnia magna) with water soluble Aluminium salts are available.
The 96 h LC50 of Lactic acid to the oligochaete worm Branchiura sowerbyi was determined to be 50.82 mg/L (nominal). The 96 h LC50 of lactic acid to the cladoceran crustacea Moina micrura was determined to be 329.12 mg/L (nominal).
The 48 h LC50 of Aluminium sulfate hexadecahydrate to Asellus aquaticus was 6.57 mg Al/L. The 48 h LC50 for Aluminium (as Aluminium chloride) in Daphnia magna is reported to be 3.9 mg Al/L.
The most critical 48 h LC50 in aquatic invertebrates was 3.9 mg Al/L or recalculated to Aluminium trilactate 42.53 mg/L. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Effect concentration:

42.53 mg/L

Additional information

No data on short term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates are available for the substance Aluminium trilactate. Thus, a read-across to the moieties of Aluminium trilactate - Lactic acid and Aluminium is used for hazard assessment. This read-across approach is adequate as the salt Aluminium trilactate will dissociate into Lactic acid and Aluminium ions in aqueous solutions. 

Three studies (in the oligochaete worm Branchiura sowerbyi, in the cladoceran crustacean Moina micrura and in Daphnia magna) are available for Lactic acid. For Aluminium, two studies (in Asellus aquaticus and in Daphnia magna) with water soluble Aluminium salts are available.

The acute toxicity of Lactic acid to the oligochaete worm Branchiura sowerbyi was investigated in a study conducted according to the recommendations given by APHA (1995). The organisms (in total 40) were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 38.72 to 67.76 mg/L for 96 h under semi-static conditions. The 96 h LC50 was determined to be 50.82 mg/L (nominal). Statistical analysis showed that the minimum doses that caused a significant mortality of worm was 38.72 mg/L (nominal)

The study is regarded as valid with restrictions although some information e.g. on test conditions are missing as the study was conducted according to the recommendations of APHA.

The acute toxicity of Lactic acid to the cladoceran crustacea Moina micrura was investigated in a study conducted according to the recommendations given by APHA (1995). The organisms (in total 40) were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 266.2 to 411.4 mg/L for 96 h under semi-static conditions. The 96 h LC50 was determined to be 329.12 mg/L (nominal). Statistical analysis showed that the minimum doses that caused a significant mortality of cladoceran was 290.4 mg/L (nominal)

The study is regarded as valid with restrictions although some information e.g. on test conditions are missing as the study was conducted according to the recommendations of APHA.

The acute toxicity of Lactic acid to Daphnia magna was investigated in a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test) and EPA Guideline No. EG-1 and Technical Support Document No. ES-1 under static conditions. The test substance concentration was determined enzymatically. The 48 h EC50 was determined to be 240 mg/L (nominal). The authors explained the apparent toxicity of lactic acid to D. magna by the low pH values of the test substance solutions (4.1 and 3.5 at concentrations of 320 and 560 mg/L).

The study is regarded as reliable with restrictions although the study was conducted according to guideline as the documentation is limited.

The acute toxicity of Aluminium sulfate hexadecahydrate to Asellus aquaticus was studied under static renewal conditions.  Exposure concentrations were not given in this publication. Mortality/immobilization was observed at 24 h intervals. The 48 h LC50 was 6.57 mg Al/L, the 96 -h LC50 was 4.37 mg Al/L. 

The 48 -hr-acute toxicity of Aluminium chloride to Daphnia magna was studied under static conditions (tested concentrations not given in the publication). The 48-hour LC50 was 3.9 mg Al/L (based on mortality and immobilisation).

Short term toxicity of Aluminium to aquatic invertebrates has also been reviewed by Environment Canada (2010), WHO IPCS EHC (1997) and US ATSDR (2008). These reviews and the literature cited therein have also been taken into account for hazard assessment.

The most critical 48 h LC50 in aquatic invertebrates was 3.9 mg Al/L or recalculated to Aluminium trilactate 42.53 mg/L.

References:

Environment Canada (2010)Environment Canada Priority Substance List Assessment Report, Follow-up to the State of Science Report, 2000 Aluminium Salts (Final Content), available via internet: http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=491F0099-1 and http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/documents/substances/sa-as/final/al_salts-eng.pdf

 

US ATSDR (United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) (2008) Toxicological profile for Aluminium, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, available via internet: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=191&tid=34

 

WHO IPCS EHC (World Health Organisation International Programme on Chemical Safety Environmental Health Criteria) (1997) Aluminium (Environmental health criteria; 194), IPCS, World Health Organization, Geneva, available via internet: http://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc194.htm