Lithium bromide

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:

key study

Study period:

1997-12-10 to 1997-12-14

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Sampling method: test substance concentrations were determined directly in the control as well as all test treatments at test initiation and at termination. Water samples (100 mL per replicate) were sampled from midway in the water column of each chamber, using volumetric pipets.
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: the water samples were packed and kept at < 4 °C and shipped overnight to FMC Corporation for chemical analysis.

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

Test solutions were prepared by directly adding appropriate amounts of lithium bromide solution to 30 L of dilution water. The A and B replicates were prepared separately. A control of only dilution water was maintained concurrently with the test solutions.

Test organisms (species):

Oncorhynchus mykiss (previous name: Salmo gairdneri)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: rainbow trout
- Source: Mount Lassen Trout Farm, Red Bluff, CA, US
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): juvenile
- Length at study initiation: mean 49 ± 5 mm
- Weight at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 1.63 ± 0.36 g
- Feeding during test: no feeding 48h before test initiation and during the test

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 48 h
- Acclimation conditions: not the same as test condition
- Health during acclimation: no mortality occurred.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Post exposure observation period:

no

Hardness:

68 mg/L

Test temperature:

13.2 - 14.0 °C

pH:

6.7 - 7.4

Dissolved oxygen:

10.6 - 10.8 mg/L at study initiation and remained above 5.0 mg/L throughout the test.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentrations: 62.5, 152, 250, 500, 1000 mg/L
measured concentrations: 62.1, 128, 256, 511, 1011 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: aquaria
- Type: closed
- Material, size, fill volume: glass, 50 cm length x 26 cm width x 32 cm height, 41.6 L
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10 fish
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: 0.54 g fish tissue/liter of test solution

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: The water originated from the town of Jupiter and was treated by vigorous aeration, filtered to 20 micrometers, passed through activated carbon and re-aerated prior to use.
- Total organic carbon: 3.2 mg/L
- Pesticides: < 0.01 µg/L
- Chlorine: 92 mg/L
- Alkalinity: 11 mg/L
- Conductivity: 463 µS
- Culture medium different from test medium: no

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Photoperiod: 16 h light and 8 h dark
- Light intensity: 4.6 - 5.3 micromols/m2/sec

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED:
Survival of the rainbow trout was monitored daily, as well as abnormal behavior and physical appearance

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
Range finding study:
- Test concentrations: 0.10, 1.00, 10.0, 100, 1000 mg/L
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: After 96 hours of exposure, mortality of rainbow trout in the range-finding test was 33 % at 1.00 mg/L, 0 % at test concentrations 0.1, 10 and 100 mg/L, and 100 % at 1000 mg/L. Mortality in the control was 0 %. Based upon these results, nominal test concentrations of 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg LiBr/L were selected for the definitive test.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

438 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: 95 % Cl: 256 mg/L lower limit, 1011 mg/L upper limit

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

128 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

- Mortality of control: 0 %
- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: no
- Effect concentrations exceeding solubility of substance in test medium: no

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The LC50 values were estimated by a computer program (Wheat, 1989) using the following statistical methods: moving average angle, probit, logit, and non-linear interpolation. Confidence limits for LC50 values determined by non-linear interpolation were calculated by binomial probability. The method selected for reporting the test results was determined by the characteristics of the data, i.e., the presence or absence of 0-percent and 100-percent mortality and the number of concentrations in which mortalities between 0 and 100 percent occurred (Stephan, 1977).

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Lithium bromide was tested for acute toxicity to freshwater fish in a 96h-static test. A LC50 of 438 mg/L and a NOEC of 128 mg/L have been derived.

Executive summary:

Lithium bromide was assessed in a short-term toxicity study for fish according to OECD guideline 203. Young Rainbow Trouts were exposed to the test item in a static test for 96h at measured concentrations of 62.1, 128, 256, 511, and 1011 mg LiBr/L. Mortality of the rainbow trout was 0 % at concentrations 256 mg/L, 70 % at 511 mg/L and 100 % at 1011 mg/L. No mortality occurred in the dilution water control. A 96 -hour LC50 of 438 mg/L has been derived. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) was 128 mg/L based on the lack of mortality and sublethal effects at this concentration and lower.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

1997-06-13 to 1998-08-18

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OTS 797.1400 (Fish Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Sampling method: Water samples were collected from midway in the water column of each chamber using volumetric pipets. At test initiation, 200 mL of the solution were removed from prepared solutions prior to distribution to replicate test chambers. At test termination, 100 mL werer removed from each replicate test chamber and composited (200 mL total volume)
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: The water samples were packaged at < 4 °C and shipped overnight to FMC Corporation for chemical analysis.

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

Test solutions for the definitive tests were prepared by adding appropriate amounts of lithium bromide solution (0.1375, 0.2749, 0.5500, 1.0999, and 2.2015 g) directly to the 2.2-L volumes of dilution water. The resulting concentrations were 62.5, 125, 250, 500 and 1001 mg LiBr/L. The prepared solutions were then equally divided between the two replicates after chemistry sampling (200 mL). A dilution water control was maintained concurrently with the test solutions.

Test organisms (species):

Menidia beryllina

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Inland Silverside
- Source: Aquatic Indicators, Inc., St. Augustine, FL., US
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): juvenile
- Length at study initiation: 12.7 ± 0.7 mm
- Weight at study initiation: 0.02 ± 0.01 g
- Feeding during test: Animals were not fed during the test.

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 14 days
- Acclimation conditions: same as test method
- Type and amount of food: live brine shrimp (Artemia salina) nauplii
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): Inland Silversides appeared to be in good health at test initiation and mortality during the 48 hours prior to the test was 0 %. No diseases were observed or treated during the 14-day period prior to test initiation.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

saltwater

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Post exposure observation period:

no

Test temperature:

21.2-23.3 °C

pH:

8.2-8.3

Dissolved oxygen:

>7.3 mg/L throughout the test

Salinity:

20 ‰ throughout the test

Nominal and measured concentrations:

nominal concentrations: 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg LiBr/L
mean measured concentrations: 61.5, 123, 245, 495 and 976 mg LiBr/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: culture dishes
- Type : closed
- Material, size, fill volume: glass, 19-cm diameter x 6.5-cm height, 1.8 L
- Aeration: not utilized during the test
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 2
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: 0.19 g of fish tissue/L test solution

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: The dilution water was natural saltwater pumped from a shallow well, aerated, carbon treated and then adjusted to a salinity of approximately 20 ‰ with carbon-treated, aerated laboratory freshwater. This salinity adjusted saltwater was re-aerated prior to use.
- Total organic carbon: < 1.68 mg/L
- Pesticides: <1.2 µg/L
- Chlorine: 13200 mg/L

‰ = pro mille

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Photoperiod: 16 hours light and 8 hours dark
- Light intensity: 1.1 - 3.6 micromols/m2/sec

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED: Survival of Inland Silversides was monitored daily and any dead fish observed were removed. Fish were considered dead when they did not respond to gentle prodding. Any abnormalities in the behavior or physical appearance of the Inland Silversides were also noted.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
Range finding study:
- Test concentrations: nominal concentrations 1.00, 10.0, 100, 1000 mg LiBr/L
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: After 96 hours of exposure, mortality of Inland Silversides in the range-finding test ranged from 20 % in 10 and 1000 mg/L, to 40 % at 1.0 and 100 mg/L. Based on these results the above mentioned nominal concentrations were selected for the definitive test.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 976 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

976 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

- Behavioural abnormalities: no
- Mortality of control: none
- Other adverse effects control: no
- Abnormal responses: no

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Based on the results of the test, the 96-hour LC50 value and its 95 percent confidence limits could not be calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Dunnett's Procedure (1955) were used to determine the no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC).

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Lithium bromide was tested for acute toxicity to saltwater fish in a 96h-static test. A LC50 of > 976 mg/L and a NOEC of 976 mg/L have been derived.

Executive summary:

Lithium bromide has been assessed in a short term acute toxicity study with fish according to OTS guideline 797.1400. Young Inland Silversides were exposed to the test item in a static test for 96 h at the following measured concentrations: 61.5, 123, 245, 495 and 976 mg LiBr/L. Mortality of the Inland Silversides ranged from 5 % at concentration 495 mg LiBr/L to 20 % at test concentrations of 61.5 and 245 mg LiBr/L. Mortality in the dilution water control was 5 %. The 96-hour LC50 was >976 mg LiBr/L. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) was 976 mg/L based on a lack of statistically significant mortality at this concentrations and lower.

Description of key information

A LC50 value of 438 mg/L and a NOEC value of 128 mg/L were determined in an acute toxicity study to freshwater fish in a 96h-static test performed according to OECD 203 guideline. In an additional study with lithium bromide (96h-static test) performed with marine water fish a LC50 value of > 976 mg/L and a NOEC value of 976 mg/L were determined.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

438 mg/L

Marine water fish

Marine water fish

Effect concentration:

976 mg/L

Additional information

Key study
Lithium bromide was assessed in a short-term toxicity study for fish according to OECD guideline 203. Young Rainbow Trouts were exposed to the test item in a static test for 96h at measured concentrations of 62.1, 128, 256, 511, and 1011 mg LiBr/L. Mortality of the rainbow trout was 0 percent at concentrations 256 mg/L, 70 % at 511 mg/L and 100 % at 1011 mg/L. No mortality occurred in the dilution water control. A 96-hour LC50 of 438 mg/L has been derived. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) was 128 mg/L based on the lack of mortality and sublethal effects at this test concentration and lower. (Toxikon, 1997)

Supporting study
Lithium bromide has been assessed in a short term acute toxicity study with fish according to OTS guideline 797.1400. Young Inland Silversides were exposed to the test item in a static test for 96 h at the following measured concentrations: 61.5, 123, 245, 495 and 976 mg LiBr/L. Mortality of the Inland Silversides ranged from 5 % at concentration 495 mg LiBr/L to 20 % at test concentrations of 61.5 and 245 mg LiBr/L. Mortality in the dilution water control was 5 %. The 96-hour LC50 was >976 mg LiBr/L. The no-observed-effect-concentration (NOEC) was 976 mg/L based on a lack of statistically significant mortality at this test concentration and lower. (Toxikon, 1997)