Tetramethylsilane

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Genetic toxicity in vitro

Description of key information

In a gas modified bacterial reverse mutation assay / Ames test, conducted according to OECD Test Guideline 471 and in compliance with GLP (Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology KG, 2002, reliability score 1), tetramethylsilane (CAS No. 75 -76 -3, EC No. 200-899 -1) at 99.8% purity was found to be negative in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation. The tested strains included Salmonella typhimurium: TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537.

In a supporting gas modified bacterial reverse mutation assay / Ames Test conducted according to OECD 471 and in compliance with GLP (Hüls, 1997, reliability score 2), tetramethylsilane was found to be positive in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation for S. typhimurium strain TA1535 and negative for TA98, TA100 and TA1537. Only four strains of Salmonella typhimurium were tested resulting in a lower reliability score for this study and the test substance purity was lower than that used in the key study (92.2%).

In an in vitro cytogenicity study in mammalian cells (chromosome aberration), conducted according to OECD Test Guideline 473 and in compliance with GLP (Hüls, 1998, reliability score 1), the potential of tetramethylsilane to induce structural chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster V79 cells was evaluated and found to be negative. No dose-related increases in the number of aberrations were observed at any of the concentrations tested with and without metabolic activation. Appropriate solvent and positive controls were included and gave expected results.

In an in vitro mutagenicity study, conducted according to OECD Test Guideline 476 and in compliance with GLP (Hüls, 1999, reliability score 1), the test substance was negative for mutagenicity in mammalian (CHO-K-1) cells with and without metabolic activation.

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in bacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2002-05-06 to 2002-08-08

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 471 (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method B.13/14 (Mutagenicity - Reverse Mutation Test Using Bacteria)

Version / remarks:

1992

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Type of assay:

bacterial reverse mutation assay

Species / strain / cell type:

S. typhimurium, other: TA 98, TA 100, TA 102, TA 1535, TA1537

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Aroclor induced rat liver S9

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

100-5000 µg/plate

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle(s)/solvent(s) used: DMSO
- Justification for choice of solvent/vehicle: none given in report

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

sodium azide

Remarks:

TA 1535, TA 100 without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

2-nitrofluorene

Remarks:

TA 98 without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

9-aminoacridine

Remarks:

TA 1537 without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

methylmethanesulfonate

Remarks:

TA 102 without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

other: 2-anthracene amide

Remarks:

TA 98, TA102, TA 1537 with metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

cyclophosphamide

Remarks:

TA 100, TA 1535 with metabolic activation

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

ACTIVATION: Aroclor induced rat liver S9; NADP and glucose-6-phosphate as cofactors; S9 mix contained 5% S9; 0.5 ml S9 mix added to 2.2 ml agar/cell suspension/test material

METHOD OF APPLICATION: in agar (plate incorporation); preincubation

DURATION
- Preincubation period: 60 minutes
- Exposure duration: 48 hours
- Expression time (cells in growth medium): 48 hours

SELECTION AGENT (mutation assays): minimal agar

NUMBER OF REPLICATIONS: 3 plates per concentration; 2 independent experiments, the first plate incorporation, the second pre-incubation

NUMBER OF CELLS EVALUATED: 10 E07 to 10 E08 cells

DETERMINATION OF CYTOTOXICITY
- Method: other: condition of bacterial lawn

Evaluation criteria:

A chemical is considered positive if there is a reproducible dose-related statistically significant increase in the number of revertants compared with solvent control to at least 2 fold (strains TA 98, TA100 and TA 102) or 3-fold (strains TA 1535 and TA 1537). In addition, the histidine independence of the revertants has to be confirmed.

Statistics:

Statistically significant: p

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 98

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

At 3160 µg/plate (pre-incubation experiment only)

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 100

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

At 5000 µg/plate (pre-incubation experiment only)

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 102

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

At 5000 µg/plate (Pre-incubation experiment only)

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1535

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

At 5000 µg/plate (pre-incubation experiment only)

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Key result

Species / strain:

S. typhimurium TA 1537

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

At 5000 µg/plate (pre-incubation experiment only)

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Remarks on result:

other: No mutagenic potential

Table 1 Experiment 1 Plate incorporation: Number of revertants per plate (mean of 3 plates)

Concentration µg/plate	TA 98		TA 100		TA 102		TA 1535		TA 1537
	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA
5000	35.7	41.0	132.3	128.3	269.3	310.3	11.7	12.0	8.0	7.0
3160	31.3	38.0	128.7	136.7	259.3	302.7	12.3	11.3	6.3	7.3
1000	34.7	36.0	117.0	125.0	258.7	300.0	11.7	11.0	5.7	7.7
316	31.7	37.3	116.7	126.0	310.7	307.3	11.0	11.7	5.3	6.3
100	25.0	39.7	134.3	144.0	276.7	280.7	11.3	12.7	4.0	5.0
0**	36.0	42.0	127.0	122.7	265.0	298.3	12.3	11.3	5.7	6.3
Positive control	986.3	990.3	1206.3	1196.7	1005.0	1135.0	213.3	207.0	207.7	208.7

** Solvent control with DMSO

Table 2 Experiment 2 Pre-incubation: Number of revertants per plate (mean of 3 plates)

Concentration µg/plate	TA 98		TA 100		TA 102		TA 1535		TA 1537
	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA	-MA	+MA
5000	33.7*	0.0*	122.3*	118.0*	261.0*	281.3*	12.3*	15.0*	3.3*	0.0*
3160	38.3*	27.7*	143.3	122.0	274.7	278.7	11.7	14.7	3.0	4.0
1000	39.7	36.3	148.0	151.7	250.3	265.0	10.7	15.3	2.7	2.7
316	50.7	30.0	141.0	154.3	282.0	287.3	12.0	13.3	3.0	3.3
100	38.0	31.0	145.7	159.0	284.7	285.3	13.0	16.7	3.3	3.0
0**	29.0	40.0	121.7	137.7	290.0	287.0	13.3	15.7	3.0	3.7
Positive control	1164.0	1139.3	1181.3	1189.0	1179.7	1188.0	674.0	671.7	696.0	700.3

* Scarce background lawn

** Solvent control with DMSO

Conclusions:

Negative with and without metabolic activation

Tetramethylsilane was tested in a valid study according to OECD 471 and under GLP. No increase in the number of revertants was observed in the plate incorporation assay with and without metabolic activation. These results were confirmed in the repeat pre-incubation experiment, also with and without metabolic activation. Vehicle and positive controls gave expected results. It is concluded that the test substance is negative for mutagenicity to bacteria under the conditions of the test.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

in vitro cytogenicity / chromosome aberration study in mammalian cells

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1998-07-30 to 1998-11-16

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 473 (In Vitro Mammalian Chromosome Aberration Test)

Version / remarks:

1998

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of assay:

in vitro mammalian chromosome aberration test

Species / strain / cell type:

Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79)

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone induced rat liver S9

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

Test 1: 23,102, 187 µg/ml(-S9), 59, 260, ~500 µg/ml (+S9); Test 2: 25, 116, ~100 (-S9), 69, 260, 511 (+S9)

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle(s)/solvent(s) used: culture medium
- Justification for choice of solvent/vehicle: none given in report

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

mitomycin C

Remarks:

without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

no

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

yes

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

cyclophosphamide

Remarks:

with metabolic activation

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

ACTIVATION: S9 mix contained NADP as cofactor

METHOD OF APPLICATION: other: the gaseous test substance was injected into the tightly closed cell culture flasks through a septum. At the end of the incubation period samples of the gaseous phase were withdrawn and concentration in medium determined from gas chromatography of the sample and the known air/medium distribution coefficient.

DURATION
- Preincubation period: none
- Exposure duration: 3 hours. In with metabolic activation assay the medium was exchanged at the end of this period by medium without S9.
- Expression time (cells in growth medium): 17 hours
- Fixation time (start of exposure up to fixation or harvest of cells): 20 hours

SPINDLE INHIBITOR (cytogenetic assays): Colcemid added 2 hours before cell preparation
STAIN (for cytogenetic assays): Giesma

NUMBER OF REPLICATIONS: duplicate cultures, experiment repeated

NUMBER OF CELLS EVALUATED: 2000 cells were evaluated for determination of mitotic index; 100 cells per culture were analysed for chromosome aberrations.

DETERMINATION OF CYTOTOXICITY
- Method: mitotic index

OTHER EXAMINATIONS:
- Determination of polyploidy: yes
- Determination of endoreplication: yes

Evaluation criteria:

A substance was considered positive if it induced a statistically significant increase in one or more concentrations at levels exceeding the normal range of the test system (>>5%).

Statistics:

Chi-square: statistically significant. if p < 0.05

Key result

Species / strain:

Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79)

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

cytotoxicity

Remarks:

at ca 500 µl/ml

Vehicle controls validity:

valid

Untreated negative controls validity:

not applicable

Positive controls validity:

valid

Remarks on result:

other: No mutagenic potential

Table 1 Experiment 1: Exposure 3 hours Harvest 20 hours, with and without activation

Concentration µg/ml	Metabolic activation	No. of cells examined	Mitotic index % mean *	Cells with aberrations % mean including gaps	Cells with aberrations % mean excluding gaps
0*	-	200	7	2	0
23	-	200	6.5	2	1
102	-	200	7.6	1.5	0
187	-	200	6.3	3.5	1
MMC 0.003	-	200	2.8	30.5	22
0*	+	200	4.5	2	0.5
59	+	200	4	3.5	1.5
260	+	200	5.6	2.5	1
500	+	211	3.2	4.7	0
CP 3	+	200	2.2	19.5	12.5

Positive controls: MMC Mitomycin C; CP Cyclophosphamide

* Negative control with culture medium

 

Table 2 Experiment 2: Exposure 3 hours Harvest 20 hours, with and without activation

Concentration µg/ml	Metabolic activation	No. of cells examined	Mitotic index % mean	Cells with aberrations % mean including gaps	Cells with aberrations % mean excluding gaps
0*	-	200	8.4	4.5	0.5
25	-	200	6.4	3.1	1.4
116	-	200	6.4	1	0
200	-	200	6.7	1.5	0
MMC 0.003	-	200	4.5	28	21.5
0*	+	200	5.1	1.5	0.5
59	+	200	4.9	4.5	2
260	+	200	3.6	4	1.5
511	+	211	3.6	2.3	0.9
CP 3	+	200	2.3	18.1	15.5

Positive controls: MMC Mitomycin C; CP Cyclophosphamide

* Negative control with culture medium

Conclusions:

Tetramethylsilane has been tested in a valid and reliable study according to OECD Test Guideline 473 and in compliance with GLP and found to be negative with and without metabolic activation. The volatility of the substance was taken into account in the study: exposure was in sealed flasks and an analytical determination of the concentrations by head space analysis was carried out at the end of the incubation period. No increase in the number of cells with aberrations was observed. Positive and vehicle controls produced expected results. It is concluded that the test substance is negative for the induction of chromosome aberrations under the conditions of the test.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

in vitro gene mutation study in mammalian cells

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 476 (In Vitro Mammalian Cell Gene Mutation Test)

Version / remarks:

1997

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Type of assay:

mammalian cell gene mutation assay

Target gene:

HGPRT

Species / strain / cell type:

Chinese hamster Ovary (CHO)

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Metabolic activation system:

Phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone activated rat liver S9

Test concentrations with justification for top dose:

Test 1: 9-215 µg/ml (-S9), 28-543 µg/ml (+S9); Test 2 12-2125 µg/ml (-S9), 28-534 µg/ml (+S9)

Vehicle / solvent:

- Vehicle(s)/solvent(s) used: none

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

no

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

ethylmethanesulphonate

Remarks:

without metabolic activation

Untreated negative controls:

yes

Negative solvent / vehicle controls:

no

True negative controls:

no

Positive controls:

yes

Positive control substance:

3-methylcholanthrene

Remarks:

with metabolic activation

Details on test system and experimental conditions:

ACTIVATION: Phenobarbitol/beta-naphthoflavone activated rat liver S9, NADP as cofactor

METHOD OF APPLICATION: other: the gaseous test substance was injected into the tightly closed cell culture flasks through a septum. At the end of the incubation period samples of the gaseous phase were withdrawn and concentration in medium determined from gas chromatography of the sample and the known air/medium distribution coefficient.
METHOD OF APPLICATION: in medium; in agar (plate incorporation); preincubation; in suspension; as impregnation on paper disk

DURATION
- Preincubation period: none
- Exposure duration: 4 hours
- Expression time (cells in growth medium): 9 days
- Selection time (if incubation with a selection agent): 6-7 days
- Fixation time (start of exposure up to fixation or harvest of cells): 15-26 days

SELECTION AGENT (mutation assays): 6-thioguanine

NUMBER OF REPLICATIONS: 2 flasks per concentration were treated, then pooled and 3 dishes per culture were plated for determination of cloning efficiency, 5 cultures per treatment group

NUMBER OF CELLS EVALUATED: 5 x 10 E05 (mutant frequency)

DETERMINATION OF CYTOTOXICITY
- Method: cloning efficiency

Evaluation criteria:

A substance is mutagenic if it causes a statistically significant dose related increase in mutant frequency at concentrations of the test substance resulting in > 20% cell survival. The increase is only considered biologically significant if it exceeds the spontaneous mutant frequency.

Statistics:

T-test ("Two sample analysis")

Key result

Species / strain:

Chinese hamster Ovary (CHO)

Metabolic activation:

with and without

Genotoxicity:

negative

Cytotoxicity / choice of top concentrations:

no cytotoxicity

Vehicle controls validity:

not applicable

Untreated negative controls validity:

valid

Positive controls validity:

valid

Remarks on result:

other: No mutagenic potential

In trials 1 and 2, treatment induced statistically significant increases in mutant frequency relative to the control, but these were within the range of the historical negative control, and not dose related, so were considered to be the result of normal assay variation, and a consequence of low negative control value.

Table 1 Test 1 Mutant frequency - average of 5 flasks

Without S9 mix				With S9 mix
Concentration µg/ml	Absolute C.E.	Mutant frequency	Significance	Concentration µg/ml	Absolute C.E.	Mutant frequency	Significance
0	88	0		0	91	2
9	96	5	**	29	93	2	NS
24	91	3	***	60	87	3	NS
57	98	0	NS	143	89	0	NS
98	87	2	*	228	97	0	NS
200	97	2	**	543	91	3	NS
Positive control 300	92	279	###	Positive control 10	106	108	###

 

Table 2 Test 2 Mutant frequency - average of 5 flasks

Without S9 mix				With S9 mix
Concentration µg/ml	Absolute C.E.	Mutant frequency	Significance	Concentration µg/ml	Absolute C.E.	Mutant frequency	Significance
0	83	0		0	88	2
12	90	1	NS	28	92	5	*
23	80	2	NS	60	87	3	NS
56	85	5	**	138	96	1	NS
110	82	0	NS	Positive control 10	121	135	###
215	85	4	**
Positive control 300	83	378	###

 

Table 3 Test 2c Mutant frequency - average of 5 flasks

With S9 mix
Concentration µg/ml	Absolute C.E.	Mutant frequency	Significance
0	91	1
233	97	3	*
534	89	5	*
Positive control 10	93	275	###

NS not significant

* statistically significant

** statistically highly significant

*** statistically very highly significant

### highly significant, no statistics performed

Conclusions:

Tetramethylsilane was tested in a valid and reliable study according to OECD Test Guideline 476 and in compliance with GLP and found to be negative with and without activation. The volatility of the substance was taken into account in the study: exposure was in sealed flasks and an analytical determination of the concentrations by head space analysis was carried out at the end of the incubation period. The statistically significant increase in the number of revertants was neither dose related nor exceeding historical negative control values, and the increase in the presence of S9 was not reproducible. It is concluded that the test substance is negative for mutagenicity to mammalian cells under the conditions of the test.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed (negative)

Genetic toxicity in vivo

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

Information is available from reliable studies for all the required in vitro endpoints. There were reliable positive and negative bacterial mutagenicity results: the negative study was selected as key, as it was obtained in a more recent study to the current guideline, and used test substance with a higher degree of purity. In addition, tests in mammalian cells gave negative results.

Tetramethylsilane has been tested in valid and reliable in vitro studies for all the required genetic toxicity endpoints in accordance with OECD Test Guidelines 471, 473 and 476 and in compliance with GLP. The volatility of the substance was taken into account in the studies. For the mammalian cytogenicity assay, exposure was in sealed flasks and an analytical determination of the concentrations by head space analysis was carried out at the end of the incubation period. The statistically significant increase in the number of revertants was neither dose related nor exceeding historical negative control values, and the increase in the presence of S9 was not reproducible. It is concluded that the test substance is negative for mutagenicity to mammalian cells under the conditions of the test.

Justification for classification or non-classification

The available information for the substance indicates that tetramethylsilane (CAS 75 -76 -3) does not induce mutations in bacteria, as the positive result observed in one strain was not observed when test substance with a higher degree of purity was used in a more recent study. In addition, no potential for genetic toxicity was observed when tetramethylsilane was tested in mammalian cells: no evidence of mutagenicity or cytogenicity was seen in mutagenicity and cytogenicity studies. In vivo testing is not considered necessary as the in vitro results are negative overall. It is concluded that classification for mutagenicity is not required according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.