Maleic anhydride

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

toxicity to microorganisms

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

documentation insufficient for assessment

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

DIN 38412-8 (Pseudomonas Zellvermehrungshemmtest)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

Test medium neutralized.

Test organisms (species):

Pseudomonas putida

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

18 h

pH:

No control of pH.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

No data

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Duration:

18 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

44.6 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth inhibition

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

EC10 (Pseudomonas putida, 18 h) = 44.6 mg/L

Executive summary:

The inhibitory effect of maleic anhydride on growth of Pseudomonas putida was investigated after a total exposure duration of 18 h. Individual test substance concentrations used in the test are not reported, The 18-h EC10 is stated to be 44.6 mg/L (nominal concentration assumed). 

Reference 2

Endpoint:

toxicity to microorganisms

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1982

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

documentation insufficient for assessment

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Test method according to Bringmann and Kuehn 1979

GLP compliance:

no

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

Pseudomonas putida

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

18 h

Duration:

18 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

11 800 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth inhibition

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

EC10 (18 h), Pseudomonas putida = 11800 mg/L

Executive summary:

The inhibitory effect of maleic anhydride on growth of Pseudomonas putida was investigated after a total exposure duration of 18 h. Individual test substance concentrations used in the test are not reported, The 18-h EC10 is stated to be 11800 mg/L (nominal concentration assumed). 

Reference 3

Endpoint:

toxicity to microorganisms

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Justification for type of information:

Upon contact with water, maleic anhydride hydrolyses rapidly (DT50 = 0.3 min), forming maleic acid (Bunton et al., 1963). This constitutes almost instantaneous abiotic degradation, particularly in comparison to the residence/transport times in the wastewater stream. Therefore, both sewage treatment plants and subsequently surface waters will be exposed to maleic acid (if at all) instead of maleic anhydride. Accordingly, read-across of environmental effects from maleic acid to maleic anhydride is justified.

Duration:

18 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

14 600 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

neutralised

Basis for effect:

growth inhibition

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

EC10 (18 h), Pseudomonas putida = 14600 mg maleic acid/L, corresponding to 12900 mg maleic anhydride/L.

Executive summary:

The inhibitory effect of maleic acid on growth of Pseudomonas putida was investigated after a total exposure duration of 18 h. Individual test substance concentrations used in the test are not reported, The 18-h EC10 is stated to be 14600 mg/L (nominal concentration assumed), corresponding to ca. 12900 mg maleic anhydride/L.

The information on maleic acid is used in a read-across approach in the assessment of the target substance maleic anhydride.

Upon contact with water, maleic anhydride hydrolyses rapidly (DT50 = 0.3 min) (Bunton et al., 1963), forming maleic acid. Therefore, read-across from maleic acid to maleic anhydride is justified.

Reference 4

Endpoint:

toxicity to microorganisms

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

secondary literature

Remarks:

from OECD SIDS

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Static cell multiplication inhibition test according to Bringmann and Kuehn (1979); determination of turbidity; test medium neutralized

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

Pseudomonas putida

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

18 h

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Duration:

18 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

63 mg/L

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

EC10 (Pseudomonas putida, 18 h) = 63 mg/L

Executive summary:

The inhibitory effect of maleic anhydride on growth of Pseudomonas putida was investigated after a total exposure duration of 18 h. Individual test substance concentrations used in the test are not reported, The 18-h EC10 is stated to be 63 mg/L (nominal concentration assumed).

Reference 5

Endpoint:

toxicity to microorganisms

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1982

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

documentation insufficient for assessment

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Test method according to Bringmann and Kuehn 1979

GLP compliance:

no

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

Pseudomonas putida

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

18 h

Duration:

18 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

14 600 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

neutralised

Basis for effect:

growth inhibition

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

EC10 (18 h), Pseudomonas putida = 14600 mg maleic acid/L.

Executive summary:

The inhibitory effect of maleic acid on growth of Pseudomonas putida was investigated after a total exposure duration of 18 h. Individual test substance concentrations used in the test are not reported, The 18-h EC10 is stated to be 14600 mg/L (nominal concentration assumed).

Description of key information

The toxicity of maleic anhydride to microorganisms in STPs was evaluated in three studies using Pseudomonas putida, which report EC₁₀ values (growth inhibition) after 18-h exposure. Additionally, one study using maleic acid was considered in the weight-of-evidence approach. The reported EC₁₀ values range from 44.6 mg/L to 12900 mg/L, based on maleic anhydride. The most sensitive value of EC₁₀ = 44.6 mg/L after 18h in Pseudomonas putida (Trenel and Kuehn, 1982a) is carried forward to the hazard assessment of maleic anhydride to assess the impact of maleic anhydride on STP functioning.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:

44.6 mg/L

Additional information

In total, five studies are available that report results on the toxicity of maleic anhydride and maleic acid on microorganisms. This information is considered in a weight-of-evidence approach:

Three studies investigating the toxicity of maleic anhydride to Pseudomonas putida are available. After 18-h exposure, reported EC₁₀ values (growth inhibition) range between 44.6 mg/L and 11800 mg/L (Hüls America Inc., 1990; Trenel & Kühn, 1982; Knie et al., 1983).

Maleic anhydride hydrolyses in contact with water, forming maleic acid (Bunton et al., 1963). Therefore, the study on maleic acid (Trenel & Kühn, 1982) reporting an EC₁₀ (18 h) of 14600 mg maleic acid/L is additionally considered in the weight-of-evidence approach.

The most sensitive value reported is the 18-h EC₁₀ of 44.6 mg/L in Pseudomonas putida (Hüls America Inc., 1990). This value is carried forward to the hazard assessment of maleic anhydride.

The EC₅₀ of 12.5 mg maleic anhydrid/L in Photobacterium phosphoreum of Bulich et al. (1990) is not considered, as the related MICROTOX(R) test is a single species test based on a marine bacterium, with limited relevance for STP functioning.