Ylang-ylang, ext.

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

07 Dec 2017 - 08 Dec 2017

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 209 (Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test (Carbon and Ammonium Oxidation))

Version / remarks:

22 July 2010

GLP compliance:

yes

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Identification: Ylang Ylang I
Appearance: Clear amber liquid (determined by Charles River Den Bosch)
Batch: 17046299
Purity/Composition: UVCB
Test item storage: At room temperature
Stable under storage conditions until: 30 November 2019 (expiry date)

Additional information:
Specific gravity / density: 0.940 (0.933-0.949)

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

The batch of Ylang Ylang I tested was a clear amber liquid (UVCB). No correction was made for the purity/composition of the test item. The test item was not sufficiently soluble to allow preparation of an aqueous solution at a concentration of 10 g/L. The test item was pipetted directly into the Milli-RO water and stirred briefly to mix. Subsequently, synthetic medium, sludge and Milli-RO water were added resulting in the required concentrations. Optimal contact between the test item and test medium was ensured by applying continuous aeration and stirring during the 3-hour exposure period. Thereafter, oxygen consumption was recorded for approximately 10 minutes.

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage

Details on inoculum:

- Name and location of sewage treatment plant where inoculum was collected: Municipal sewage treatment plant: 'Waterschap Aa en Maas', 's- Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, receiving predominantly domestic sewage
- Preparation of inoculum for exposure: The sludge was coarsely sieved (1 mm) and allowed to settle. The supernatant was removed and ISO-medium was added. The pH was 7.5 on the day of testing.
- Pretreatment: The batch of sludge was used one day after collection. Therefore, 50 mL of synthetic medium was added per litre of activated sludge at the end of the collection day. The sludge was kept aerated at test temperature until use.
- Initial biomass concentration: A small amount of the sludge was weighed and dried overnight at ca. 105°C to determine the amount of suspended solids, i.e. 3.0 g/L of sludge. The amount of suspended solids in the final test mixture was 1.5 g/L.

Test type:

not specified

Water media type:

other: water Tap water purified by reverse osmosis (Millipore Corp.,Bedford, Mass., USA)

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Remarks on exposure duration:

Optimal contact between the test item and test medium was ensured by applying continuous aeration and stirring during the 3-hour exposure period.

Test temperature:

20 - 22°C

pH:

T 0hr control: 7.6
T 3hr control: 7.6-7.9

T 0hr test item: 7.6
T 3hr test item: 7.6 - 7.8

T 0hr 3,5 DCP: 7.6
T 3hr 3,5 DCP: 7.9-8.1

Dissolved oxygen:

>60-70% of air saturation at test start

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Test substance
Nominal: 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: all glass open bottles/vessels
- Total fill volume: 500 mL (250 mL test solution (incl. synthetic medium) + 250 mL activated sludge in test medium)
- Aeration: yes (aeration was adjusted in such a way that the dissolved oxygen concentration at the start was above 60-70% saturation (60% of air saturation is > 5 mg/L at 20°C) and to maintain the sludge flocs in suspension)
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 1 replicate for the lower conentrations and 3 for the highest concentration
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 6
- No. of vessels per positive control (replicates): 4
- No. of vessels per abiotic control (replicates): 1
- Sludge concentration (weight of dry solids per volume): 1.5 g/L sludge
- Nutrients provided for bacteria: synthetic medium acc. to OECD 209
- Nitrification inhibitor used : no

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: Adjusted ISO-medium, formulated using RO-water (tap water purified by reverse osmosis; GEON Waterbehandeling, Berkel- Enschot, The Netherlands) with the following composition:
CaCl2.2H2O 211.5 mg/L
MgSO4.7H2O 88.8 mg/L
NaHCO3 46.7 mg/L
KCl 4.2 mg/L

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Details on termination of incubation: After the 3-hour contact time, the oxygen consumption was recorded for a period of approximately 10 minutes. During measurement, the sample was not aerated but continuously stirred on a magnetic stirrer.
- Synthetic medium:
16 g peptone (=sewage feed)
11 g meat extract
3 g urea
0.7 g NaCl
0.4 g CaCl2.2H2O
0.2 g MgSO4.7H2O
2.8 g K2HPO4

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : oxygen uptake

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Range finding study
- Test concentrations: loading rates of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: yes; The combined limit/range-finding test showed no inhibition at 10 and 100 mg/L and an average of 32% inhibition of the respiration rate at 1000 mg/L. Therefore, the EC50 was above the highest concentration tested (1000 mg/L).

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-Dichlorophenol

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Details on results:

Inhibition of the Respiration Rate:
The combined limit/range-finding test showed no inhibition at 10 and 100 mg/L and an average of 32% inhibition of the respiration rate at 1000 mg/L. Therefore, the EC50 was above the highest concentration tested (1000 mg/L). In the present test Ylang Ylang I was slightly toxic to waste water (activated sludge) bacteria at 1000 mg/L. Therefore, a NOEC could not be determined. As discussed with the sponsor no further testing was performed to determine the NOEC. There was no oxygen uptake from abiotic processes.

Acceptability of the test:
1. The mean control oxygen uptake rate exceeded 20 mg oxygen per one gram of activated sludge (dry weight of suspended solids) in an hour (24 mg oxygen per one gram of activated sludge).
The coefficient of variation of oxygen uptake in control replicates did not exceed 30% at the end of the definitive test (7%).
2. The EC50 of 3,5-dichlorophenol was in the accepted range of 2 to 25 mg/L for total respiration (7 mg/L).

Results with reference substance (positive control):

The batch of activated sludge was tested for sensitivity with the reference item 3,5- dichlorophenol, and showed normal sensitivity.
EC50 = 6.94 mg/L ( 95% Cl: 3.36 - 10.62) (falls within the OECD reported range for total respiration, i.e. 2-25 mg/L)

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Evaluation was based on the inhibition of the total respiration.

ECx and ECx:
For the reference item calculation of the EC50 value was based on a 3-parameter logistic cumulative distribution function (CDF) using non-linear regression analysis, with the percentages of respiration inhibition versus the logarithms of the corresponding concentrations of the reference item.

For Ylang Ylang I, no EC50 value could be calculated because effects were below 50% (EC50 > 1000 mg/L).

NOEC determination:
An effect was considered to be significant if statistical analysis of the data obtained for the test concentrations compared with those obtained in the control revealed significant inhibition of the respiration rate (Two-sample t-test Procedure, α=0.05, one-sided, smaller). Calculations were performed with ToxRat Professional v. 3.2.1. (ToxRat Solutions® GmbH, Germany).

Results - Respiration Rate/Inhibition

 

Replicate	Concentration (mg/L)	Respiration rate		% Inhibition respiration rate (mean value)
		(mg O2/L.h)	(mg O2/g.h)¹
C 1	0	34.99	23.33
C 2	0	39.57	26.38
C 3	0	34.17	22.78
C 4	0	36.75	24.50
C 5	0	39.16	26.11
C 6	0	34.09	22.73
C Mean		36.46	24.30 (RC)
SD		2.45	1.63
CV (%)		7	7
R 1	1.0	36.98	24.65	-1.44
R 2	3.2	24.50	16.33	32.79
R 3	10	15.21	10.14	58.28
R 4	32	7.04	4.69	80.69
T 1	10	42.26	28.17	-15.92
T 2	100	38.59	25.73	-5.86
T 3a	1000	26.81	17.87	26.46
T 3b	1000	21.48	14.32	41.08
T 3c	1000	26.21	17.47	28.10
T3 Mean		24.83	16.56 (RT) *	31.88 (IT)
TA	1000	0.00^#	0.00^#	100.00

 

C:	Control
R:	Reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol
T:	Test item, Ylang Ylang I
TA:	Abiotic control of Ylang Ylang I
SD:	Standard deviation
CV:	Coefficient of variation
*	Statistically significantly different compared to control
¹	The amount of suspended solids in the final test mixture was 1.5 g/L.
RC:	Total respiration in the control
RT:	Total respiration with Ylang Ylang I
IT:	% inhibition of total respiration relative to RC
^#	No respiration, therefore expressed as 0 mg O2/L.h

 

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

see details on results

Conclusions:

Ylang Ylang I was slightly toxic to waste water bacteria (activated sludge) at 1000 mg/L. The EC50 was above 1000 mg/L.

Executive summary:

A study was performed to assess the effect of Ylang Ylang I on the respiration of activated sewage sludge according to OECD 209 and GLP guidelines. In a combined limit/range finding test, micro-organisms in activated sludge (in test medium) were exposed to test concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L (3 replicates of the 1000 mg/L test concentration) for 3 hours. Optimal contact between the test item and test medium was ensured by applying continuous stirring and aeration during that period. In parallel, an untreated control (6 replicates), reference substance (3,5 -dichlorophenol, 4 replicates) and abiotic control (1 replicate) were tested. After the 3-hour contact time, the oxygen consumption was recorded for a period of approximately 10 minutes (no aeration but continuous stirring).The study met the acceptability criteria prescribed by the study plan and was considered valid. There was no oxygen uptake from abiotic processes and the reference item 3,5- dichlorophenol showed normal sensitivity. In this test, Ylang Ylang I was slightly toxic to waste water (activated sludge) bacteria at 1000 mg/L, as shown by a 32% inhibition of the respiration rate. A NOEC could not be determined. The EC50 was concluded to be above 1000 mg/L.

 

Description of key information

A study was performed to assess the effect of Ylang Ylang I on the respiration of activated sewage sludge according to OECD 209 and GLP guidelines. In a combined limit/range finding test, micro-organisms in activated sludge (in test medium) were exposed to test concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L (3 replicates of the 1000 mg/L test concentration) for 3 hours. Optimal contact between the test item and test medium was ensured by applying continuous stirring and aeration during that period. In parallel, an untreated control (6 replicates), reference substance (3,5 -dichlorophenol, 4 replicates) and abiotic control (1 replicate) were tested. After the 3-hour contact time, the oxygen consumption was recorded for a period of approximately 10 minutes (no aeration but continuous stirring).The study met the acceptability criteria prescribed by the study plan and was considered valid. There was no oxygen uptake from abiotic processes and the reference item 3,5- dichlorophenol showed normal sensitivity. In this test,Ylang Ylang Iwas slightly toxic to waste water (activated sludge) bacteria at 1000 mg/L, as shown by a 32% inhibition of the respiration rate. A NOEC could not be determined.The EC50 was concluded to be above 1000 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for microorganisms:

1 000 mg/L

Additional information

The EC50 was determined to be above 1000 mg/L.