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Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

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Endpoint:
toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Type of information:
other: review
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
4 to 21 days
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
data from handbook or collection of data
Remarks:
Review of available data. Methodologcial data for individual studies are incomplete, however the studies have been assessed as part of the EU RAR and are therefore considered to be suitably reliable.
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Principles of method if other than guideline:
Methods not detailed in the review.
GLP compliance:
no
Specific details on test material used for the study:
Not applicable.
Analytical monitoring:
not specified
Details on sampling:
No details of sampling given in review.
Vehicle:
not specified
Details on test solutions:
No details of test solution in review.
Test organisms (species):
other: various algae species
Details on test organisms:
Three algae species were tested; Scenedesmus sp., Selenastrum capricornutum and Skeletonema costatum.
Test type:
static
Limit test:
no
Total exposure duration:
96 h
Post exposure observation period:
No post observation period.
Hardness:
Unknown
Test temperature:
Not stated
pH:
Not stated
Dissolved oxygen:
Not stated
Salinity:
Not stated
Nominal and measured concentrations:
nominal
Details on test conditions:
No further details on test conditions given in review.
Reference substance (positive control):
not specified
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
43 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Scenedesmus sp.
Remarks:
(Slooff et al., 1988)
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
122 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Selenastrum capricornutum
Remarks:
(LeBlanc, 1984)
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
81 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Skeletonema costatum
Remarks:
(LeBlanc, 1984)
Duration:
7 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
50 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
meas. (not specified)
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Ankistridesmus braunii, Cyclotella menghiniana, Oscillatoria limnetica, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Stephanodiscus minutus, Synechococcus leopoldiensis
Remarks:
(Janssen et al., 1989)
Duration:
8 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
249 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Scenedesmus quadricauda
Remarks:
(Bringmann and Kühn, 1977)
Duration:
14 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
>= 50 - <= 200 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Amphidnium carteri, Chaetoceros gracilis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Pvlova lutheri
Remarks:
(Janssen et al., 1989)
Duration:
21 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
>= 50 - <= 200 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Amphidnium carteri, Chaetoceros gracilis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Pvlova lutheri
Remarks:
(Janssen et al., 1989)
Details on results:
The EC50 values for freshwater algae ranged from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum.
Results with reference substance (positive control):
Not relevant
Reported statistics and error estimates:
Not relevant

Expressed in terms of fluoride ion (F-), EC50 values for freshwater algae range from 43 to 122 mg/L, with NOEC values of 50 -249 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum; NOEC values of 50 -200 mg/L are reported however the EU RAR states that these values should be used with caution due to the relatively long exposure time of 14 -21 days.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
not specified
Conclusions:
Expressed in terms of fluoride ion (F-), the EC50 values for freshwater algae ranged from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum.
Executive summary:

The EU RAR reviews and summarises the available data on the toxicity of sodium fluoride to freshwater and marine algae species. The EC50 values (expressed in terms of fluoride ion, F-) for freshwater algae are reported to range from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L in a single study with Skeletonema costatum. NOEC vlaues of 50 -249 mg/L and 50 -200 mg/L are reported for freshwater and marine algae, respectively.

Endpoint:
toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Type of information:
read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)
Adequacy of study:
key study
Justification for type of information:
It is considered appropriate to address the long-term toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria data requirement for hydrogen fluoride (HF) by read-across to available data on sodium fluoride (NaF).

In water, HF (as hydrofluoric acid when in water) dissociates rapidly to form hydrogen (H+) and fluoride (F−) ions, whereas NaF (the highly soluble sodium salt of fluoride) will be fully hydrated in water as separate sodium (Na+) and F- ions. Both HF and NaF (as well as other fluorides) will therefore dissociate rapidly to form F- ions in the aquatic environment, with any effects observed being directly attributable to the F- ion. The Na+ ion is naturally occurring and regulated by organisms (i.e. by homeostatic mechanisms) and consequently is not considered to have an impact on the read-across of ecotoxicological data. On this basis, the profile of HF is comparable to that of NaF with respect to the environment.
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
read-across source
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
43 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Scenedesmus sp.
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
122 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Selenastrum capricornutum
Duration:
96 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
81 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Skeletonema costatum
Duration:
7 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
50 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
meas. (not specified)
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Ankistridesmus braunii, Cyclotella menghiniana, Oscillatoria limnetica, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Stephanodiscus minutus, Synechococcus leopoldiensis
Duration:
8 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
249 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Scenedesmus quadricauda
Duration:
14 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
>= 50 - <= 200 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Amphidnium carteri, Chaetoceros gracilis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Pvlova lutheri
Duration:
21 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
>= 50 - <= 200 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
other: fluoride ion (F-)
Basis for effect:
biomass
Remarks on result:
other: Amphidnium carteri, Chaetoceros gracilis, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Pvlova lutheri
Details on results:
The EC50 values for freshwater algae ranged from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum.
Results with reference substance (positive control):
Not relevant
Reported statistics and error estimates:
Not relevant

Expressed in terms of fluoride ion (F-), EC50 values for freshwater algae range from 43 to 122 mg/L, with NOEC values of 50 -249 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum; NOEC values of 50 -200 mg/L are reported however the EU RAR states that these values should be used with caution due to the relatively long exposure time of 14 -21 days.

Validity criteria fulfilled:
not specified
Conclusions:
Expressed in terms of fluoride ion (F-), the EC50 values for freshwater algae ranged from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L for Skeletonema costatum.
Executive summary:

It is considered appropriate to address the long-term toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria data requirement for hydrogen fluoride (HF) by read-across to available data on sodium fluoride (NaF). In water, HF (as hydrofluoric acid when in water) dissociates rapidly to form hydrogen (H+) and fluoride (F−) ions, whereas NaF (the highly soluble sodium salt of fluoride) will be fully hydrated in water as separate sodium (Na+) and F- ions. Both HF and NaF (as well as other fluorides) will therefore dissociate rapidly to form F-ions in the aquatic environment, with any effects observed being directly attributable to the F- ion. The Na+ ion is naturally occurring and regulated by organisms (i.e. by homeostatic mechanisms) and consequently is not considered to have an impact on the read-across of ecotoxicological data. On this basis, the profile of HF is comparable to that of NaF with respect to the environment.

The EU RAR reviews and summarises the available data on the toxicity of sodium fluoride to freshwater and marine algae species. The EC50 values (expressed in terms of fluoride ion, F-) for freshwater algae are reported to range from 43 to 122 mg/L. For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L in a single study with Skeletonema costatum. NOEC vlaues of 50 -249 mg/L and 50 -200 mg/L are reported for freshwater and marine algae, respectively.

Description of key information

A number of short-term studies are summarised and reviewed in the EU RAR.  The EC50 values for freshwater algae are reported to range from 43 to 122 mg/L (as fluoride ion, F-). For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L in a single study with Skeletonema costatum. In long-term studies, NOEC values of 50-249 mg/L and 50-200 mg/L are reported for freshwater and marine algae, respectively.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for freshwater algae:
43 mg/L
EC50 for marine water algae:
81 mg/L
EC10 or NOEC for freshwater algae:
50 mg/L
EC10 or NOEC for marine water algae:
50 mg/L

Additional information

The EU RAR reviews and summarises the available data on the short-term toxicity of sodium fluoride to freshwater and marine algae species. The EC50 values for freshwater algae are reported to range from 43 to 122 mg/L (as fluoride ion, F-). For marine algae the EC50 was 81 mg/L in a single study with Skeletonema costatum.

In long-term studies, NOEC values of 50 -249 mg/L and 50 -200 mg/L are reported for freshwater and marine algae, respectively.