4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1991-06-17 to 1991-12-18

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across: supporting information

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Trimellitic anhydride

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

Water hardness (Elendt M7 medium): 231.0 to 249.0 mg CaCO3/L.

Test temperature:

Temperature: 21.1 +/- 1 degrees C.

pH:

pH: 6.9 to 7.8.

Dissolved oxygen:

Dissolved oxygen concentration: 81.0 to 100.0% ASV.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal concentrations:
130, 220, 350, 600 and 1000 mg TMA/L

Exposure concentrations were verified analytically at the start and end of the test in three of the treatments. The analytically determined initial concentrations of the test material were between 20% and 84% of nominal; differences between nominal and measured concentrations were proportionately higher at the lower concentrations. Residual concentrations at test-end were between 21% and 82% of nominal in all three treatments that were analysed, and 82% of nominal in both replicates at the maximum concentration which defined the endpoint of the study.

Details on test conditions:

4 replicate test vessels per treatment concentrations, each containing 5 daphnids

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC0

Effect conc.:

> 792 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: trimellitic anhydride equivalents based on measured trimellitic acid concentrations

Basis for effect:

mobility

The findings of the study are shown in the tables below.

Table 1       Definitive test results: Effects of trimellitic anhydride (trimellitic acid/sodium salts) on Daphnia magna in a 48 -hour, acute toxicity test under static conditions (percentage immobilised, replicates combined)

Time (h)	Nominal trimellitic anhydride concentration (mg/L)
	0 (salinity control)*	0 (control)	130	220	350	600	1000
0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	0	0	5	0	0	0	0
48	0	0	10	0	0	0	0

* The salinity control consisted of dilution water amended with NaOH solution only.

Immobilisation (10% after 48 h) occurred only in the nominal 130 mg TMA/L treatment and was not observed in groups of daphnids exposed to higher TMA concentrations. The effect seen at 130 mg/L (nominal) is therefore considered not to be related to treatment.

Table 2      Measured concentrations of trimellitic anhydride during a 48 hour, static acute toxicity test with Daphnia magna.

Exposure Period (h)	Nominal trimellitic anhydride conc. (mg TMA-equiv/L)	Measured trimellitic anhydride conc. (mg TMA-equiv/L)	Percentage of nominal % #
0	130	25.2 40.0	20 31
0	350	231 148	67 43
0	1000	821 745	84 76
48	130	32.3 27.1	25 21
48	350	170 188	50 55
48	1000	803 799	82 82

* Analysed as trimellitic acid.

# Adjusted for 98% test substance purity.

The EC0 endpoint is given as >792 mg/L, the mean measured value at the highest concentration, based on the 0 and 48-h data, i.e. (821 + 745 + 803 + 799)/4 = 792 mg/L.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The 48h-EC0 of trimellitic anhydride (converted to the sodium salt(s) of trimellitic acid prior to exposure) to Daphnia magna under static conditions was >792 mg/L, based on the mean measured concentration at the maximum treatment applied.

Executive summary:

One reliable study addresses the short-term toxicity of trimellitic anhydride (source substance) to freshwater invertebrates. In this study (Knacker et al., 1992) trimellitic anhydride was first treated with aqueous NaOH solution, to convert the acid anhydride to the sodium salt(s) of trimellitic acid, and exposure in this study was consequently to sodium trimellitate (following neutralisation of excess alkali).

No toxicity was observed under these conditions: D. magna 48 hour LC50 (static): >792 mg trimellitic anhydride-equiv/L, 96 hour NOEC: 792 mg trimellitic anhydride-equiv/L. These endpoints are mean measured values and represent the highest concentration applied.

Trimellitic anhydride and the more environmentally relevant trimellitic acid (its hydrolysis product) exhibit very low short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

The read across justification is described in the document attached below.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

4-chloroformylphthalic anhydride

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC0

Effect conc.:

> 792 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: trimellitic anhydride equivalents based on measured trimellitic acid concentrations

Basis for effect:

mobility

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

According to the results of the short-term toxicity test performed on aquatic invertebrates using the source substance, the 48h-EC0 of trimellitic anhydride (converted to the sodium salt(s) of trimellitic acid prior to exposure) (static conditions) was >792 mg/L, based on the mean measured concentration at the maximum treatment applied.  

Executive summary:

One reliable study addresses the short-term toxicity of trimellitic anhydride (TMA, source substance) to freshwater invertebrates. In this study (Knacker et al., 1992) trimellitic anhydride was first treated with aqueous NaOH solution, to convert the acid anhydride to the sodium salt(s) of trimellitic acid, and exposure in this study was consequently to sodium trimellitate (following neutralisation of excess alkali).

No toxicity was observed under these conditions: D. magna 48 hour EC0 (static): >792 mg trimellitic anhydride-equiv/L, 96 hour NOEC: 792 mgtrimellitic anhydride-equiv/L; These endpoints are mean measured values and represent the highest concentration applied.

Trimellitic anhydride and the more environmentally relevant trimellitic acid (its hydrolysis product) exhibit very low short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates.

Based on the close structural similarity of trimellitic anhydride (source substance) and trimellitic anhydride monochloride (target substance), these results can be taken into account for the target substance.

Description of key information

Read-across, OECD Guideline 202, GLP, key study, validity 1:

Acute toxicity to daphnia: EC0 (48H) > 792 mg/L; NOEC ≥ 792 mg/L based on measured trimellitic acid concentrations.

Additional information

One reliable study addresses the short-term toxicity of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) to freshwater invertebrates. In this study (Knacker et al., 1992) trimellitic anhydride was first treated with aqueous NaOH solution, to convert the acid anhydride to the sodium salt(s) of trimellitic acid and exposure in this study was consequently to sodium trimellitate (following neutralisation of excess alkali).

Based on hydrolysis rate of Trimellitic anhydride acid chloride (TMAC) and its close structural similarity, rapid hydrolysis is anticipated for trimellitic anhydride (TMA), which is also expected to undergo almost instantaneous conversion to trimellitic acid (TMLA) on contact with aqueous matrices in the environment and in vivo in exposed humans and other organisms.

Results of daphnia test on TMA are expressed on measured concentration of trimellitic acid and trimellitic sodium salts due to its hydrolysis behavior.

No toxicity was observed under these conditions: D. magna 48 hour EC0 (static): >792 mg trimellitic acid and trimellitic sodium salts equiv/L, 96 hour NOEC: 792 mg trimellitic acid and trimellitic sodium salts -equiv/L. These endpoints are mean measured values and represent the highest concentration applied.

Trimellitic anhydride and the more environmentally relevant trimellitic acid (its hydrolysis product) exhibit very low short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates.

No classification is required for short-term toxicity to invertebrates.