Copper chloride

Toxicity to terrestrial arthropods

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial arthropods: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Already evaluated by the Competent Authorities for Biocides and Existing Substance Regulations.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Effects of pH on the Toxicity of Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Zinc to Folsomia candida Willem, 1902 (Collembola) in a Standard Laboratory Test System

Author:

Sandifer, R.D. & Hopkin, S. P.

Year:

1996

Bibliographic source:

Chemosphere. 33: 12; 2475-2486.

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

ISO 11267 (Inhibition of Reproduction of Collembola by Soil Pollutants)

Version / remarks:

draft recommendation for the Folsomia candida standard test (Riepert, 1993)

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

other: OECD test Guideline 207 (OECD, 1984)

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Method: other: see freetext

GLP compliance:

not specified

Application method:

soil

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Copper nitrate

IUPAC Name:

Copper nitrate

Details on test material:

IUCLID4 Test substance: other TS: Cu2+ as delivered as copper nitrate
Analytical purity: no data

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

At Tend

Test substrate

Details on preparation and application of test substrate:

Substrate type: artificial soil (OECD soil)
(a) pH 6.0 ; (b) pH 5.0 ; (c) pH 4.5 ; OM 10% ; Clay 20% ; background Cu concentration: 3.2 mg/kg dw, CEC 10 cmol/kg
2 days equilibration time

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Folsomia candida

Animal group:

Collembola (soil-dwelling springtail)

Details on test organisms:

All the F. candida used in the test were members of a " Reading strain", derived from a single female isolated from a culture donated by Dr. J. Wiles of Southampton University.

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

4 wk

Test conditions

Test temperature:

20 +- 1°C

pH (if soil or dung study):

(a) pH 6.0 ; (b) pH 5.0 ; (c) pH 4.5

Humidity:

high humidity

Photoperiod and lighting:

constant light conditions

Details on test conditions:

soils were placed in plastic vending machine cups (30g soil) and 10 adult springtails were added to each cup. Yeast was used as a food source.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

5 test concentrations (between 10 and 3000 mg/kg) + 1 control

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

200 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

Cu

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: IUCLID4 note: "m" (measured/nominal); OECD soil type 1

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

40 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

Cu

Basis for effect:

mortality

Remarks on result:

other: IUCLID4 note: "m" (measured/nominal); OECD soil type 2

Effect concentrations 3

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

200 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

Cu

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: IUCLID4 note: "m" (measured/nominal); OECD type 2

Effect concentrations 4

Duration:

28 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

1 000 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

Cu

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: IUCLID4 note: "m" (measured/nominal); OECD soil type 3

Any other information on results incl. tables

RS-Freetext:
SURVIVAL

pH 6.0

Table 1 outlines that at pH 6.0, survival was slightly
reduced in the highest (3000 mg/kg) dose level, although
this was not significant in any of the groups tested.  A
soil copper concentration of 10 mg/kg increased survival
compared to control values, although again this was not
significant (Figure 1).

A NOEC of =>3000 mg Cu/kg was determined for survival at pH
6.0 for both the added and total risk approach.

pH 5.0

At pH 5.0 the numbers of adults surviving was significantly
reduced at 200, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg compared to the
controls.  A soil concentration of 5 mg Cu/kg showed a
slight (but not significant) decrease in survival while 40
mg Cu/kg showed no change to adult survival compared to the
control (Table 1 and Figure 2).


A NOEC of 40 mg Cu/kg was therefore determined by the added
and total risk approach.

pH 4.5

Table 1 and Figure 3 summarise the results seen at pH 4.5.
Generally, adult survival decreased slightly with increasing
copper soil concentration. The only significant decrease was
seen at 200 mg Cu/kg (P<0.05). However, as survival was not
significantly affected at 1000 and 3000 mg Cu/kg, this was
considered not to be related to copper toxicity.

A NOEC of =>3000 mg Cu/kg was determined by the added and
total risk approach.


JUVENILE PRODUCTION

pH 6.0

Juvenile production was increased in the 10 and 40 mg Cu/kg
dose groups compared to the controls (Table 1).  Dose levels
of 1000 and 3000 mg Cu/kg experienced a significant (P<0.01)
reduction in the number of juveniles produced.

A NOEC for reproduction at pH 6.0 was therefore determined
to be 200 mg Cu/kg for both the added and total risk
approach.

pH 5.0

Juvenile production decreased with increasing copper
concentrations, although significant reductions were only
seen in the two highest dose levels (1000 and 3000 mg Cu/kg)
(Table 1).  No juveniles were produced at the highest dose
tested (3000 mg Cu/kg). 

The NOEC value for reproduction at pH 5.0 was 200 mg Cu/kg
as calculated by both the added and total risk approach.

pH 4.5

Juvenile production decreased with increasing copper
concentrations, although significant reductions were only
seen in the highest dose group (3000 mg Cu/kg) where no
juveniles were produced.

The NOEC value for reproduction at pH 4.5 was 1000 mg Cu/kg
as calculated by both the added and total risk approach.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Good quality study. NOEC data for F. candida were used for the PNEC derivation. Reliable added NOEC values are 40 mg/kg (mortality) and between 200 and 1000 mg/kg (reproduction).

Executive summary:

CL-Freetext:

The toxicity of copper to the springtail Folsomia candida in

artificial OECD soil (organic matter 10%; clay 20%; sand

70%) at three pH levels (pH 6.0, 5.0 and 4.5) was

investigated. Ten springtails were added to 30 g of copper

amended soils at concentrations of 0, 10, 40, 200, 1000 and

3000 mg Cu/kg and mortality and the number of juveniles

produced assessed after 28 days. There were four replicates

per dose level. Tests were carried out at 20°C under

constant light and dried yeast was added as a food source.

The results show that there is no clear relationship between

the pH of soil and the toxicity of copper to F. candida. A

pH of 6.0 and 4.5 did not significantly affect adult

mortality at any of the dose levels tested. However, at pH

5.0 there was a significant reduction in adult survival in

the top three dose levels (200, 1000 and 3000 mg Cu/kg).

There were no juveniles produced in the highest dose group

(3000 mg Cu/kg) in any of the three pH levels tested.

Juvenile production was significantly reduced in the two

highest dose groups (1000 and 3000 mg Cu/kg) at pH 6.0 and

5.0 and the top dose group (3000 mg Cu/kg) at pH 4.5.