Nicotine sulphate

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Data is from peer reviewed journal

Justification for type of information:

Data is from peer reviewed journal

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 201 (Alga, Growth Inhibition Test)

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

- Method: 10,000 mg/l test compound dissolved in sterile ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Type II water

Test organisms (species):

Raphidocelis subcapitata (previous names: Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Selenastrum capricornutum)

Details on test organisms:

Details on test organisms
TEST ORGANISM
- Source (laboratory, culture collection): American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD, USA)
- Method of cultivation: Culture was maintained in algal medium at 24 ± 2 °C with illumination of between 4,500 and 4,710 lux.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Post exposure observation period:

0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs.

Test temperature:

24 ± 2 °C

Nominal and measured concentrations:

0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/l

Details on test conditions:

Details on test conditions
TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: Erlenmeyer flasks
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: 125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks, producing a final volume of 50 ml.
- Initial cells density: 1000 – 10000 cells/ml
- Control end cells density:
- No. of organisms per vessel: 1-ml aliquot of a concentrated cell suspension (7.2 × 104 cells/ml)

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Light intensity and quality: white fluorescent lighting (3,870–4,730 lux)

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) :
- Determination of cell concentrations: Algal growth was measured spectrophotometrically (at 350 nm) at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h using filtered medium as a blank.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Range finding study: Correct appearance of the algal cells was verified by microscopic examination before testing. A range-finding test (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/L) was conducted to determine the median effective concentration (EC50) and the median effective concentrations for inhibition of algal growth (ErC50) and biomass accumulation (EbC50). Essentially 100% inhibition of algal growth was observed at the two highest concentrations, but no changes in cell appearance were detected at any concentration tested. Accordingly, the definitive test was conducted at 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/l.

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

115 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

biomass

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

72.9 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth rate

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

10 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: Inhibition of algal growth rate and biomass

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The average specific growth rate was calculated by dividing the natural log of the change in cells/ml between selected assays by the elapsed time (in hours) between the assays. The percentage inhibition in average cell growth rate was calculated as the difference between the control and each chemical test concentration.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

After the exposure of test substance with freshwater algae Selenastrum capricornutum, effects on biomass and growth rate were observed. Based on the biomass inhibition, EC50 was determine to be at 115 mg/l and on the basis of growth rate inhibition the EC50 was determine to be at 72.9 mg/l. The NOEC was observed at 10 mg/l. As the test chemical degrades rapidly in water, thus on the basis of readily biodegradability criteria, test chemical consider to be nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria. 

Executive summary:

Short term toxicity study of test chemical on aquatic algae was conducted for 96 hrs. Test performed in accordance with OECD guideline 201. Chemical was analytically monitored by HPLC and spectrophotometer. 10,000 mg/l test compound dissolved in sterile ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Type II water and prepared stock solutions with different concentrations 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/l. 125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks were used producing a final volume of 50 ml with 1-ml aliquot of a concentrated cell suspension (7.2 × 10⁴cells/ml). Algal growth was measured spectrophotometrically (at 350 nm) in the interval of 24 hours using filtered medium as a blank. Correct appearance of the algal cells was verified by microscopic examination before testing. A range-finding test (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/L) was conducted to determine the median effective concentration (EC50) and the median effective concentrations for inhibition of algal growth (ErC50) and biomass accumulation (EbC50). Thus based on the range finding study definitive concentration were selected. Culture was maintained in algal medium at 24 ± 2 °C with illumination of between 4,500 and 4,710 lux. The average specific growth rate was calculated by dividing the natural log of the change in cells/ml between selected assays by the elapsed time (in hours) between the assays. The percentage inhibition in average cell growth rate was calculated as the difference between the control and each chemical test concentration. After the exposure of test substance with freshwater algae Selenastrum capricornutum, effects on biomass and growth rate were observed. Based on the biomass inhibition, EC50 was determine to be at 115 mg/l and on the basis of growth rate inhibition the EC50 was determine to be at 72.9 mg/l. The NOEC was observed at 10 mg/l. As the test chemical degrades rapidly in water, thus on the basis of readily biodegradability criteria, test chemical consider to be nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria. 

Description of key information

After the exposure of test substance with freshwater algae Selenastrum capricornutum, effects on biomass and growth rate were observed. Based on the biomass inhibition, EC50 was determine to be at 115 mg/l and on the basis of growth rate inhibition the EC50 was determine to be at 72.9 mg/l. The NOEC was observed at 10 mg/l. As the test chemical degrades rapidly in water, thus on the basis of readily biodegradability criteria, test chemical consider to be nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for freshwater algae:

115 mg/L

Additional information

Short term toxicity study of test chemical on aquatic algae was conducted for 96 hrs. Test performed in accordance with OECD guideline 201. Chemical was analytically monitored by HPLC and spectrophotometer. 10,000 mg/l test compound dissolved in sterile ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Type II water and prepared stock solutions with different concentrations 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/l. 125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks were used producing a final volume of 50 ml with 1-ml aliquot of a concentrated cell suspension (7.2 × 10⁴cells/ml). Algal growth was measured spectrophotometrically (at 350 nm) in the interval of 24 hours using filtered medium as a blank. Correct appearance of the algal cells was verified by microscopic examination before testing. A range-finding test (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/L) was conducted to determine the median effective concentration (EC50) and the median effective concentrations for inhibition of algal growth (ErC50) and biomass accumulation (EbC50). Thus based on the range finding study definitive concentration were selected. Culture was maintained in algal medium at 24 ± 2 °C with illumination of between 4,500 and 4,710 lux. The average specific growth rate was calculated by dividing the natural log of the change in cells/ml between selected assays by the elapsed time (in hours) between the assays. The percentage inhibition in average cell growth rate was calculated as the difference between the control and each chemical test concentration. After the exposure of test substance with freshwater algae Selenastrum capricornutum, effects on biomass and growth rate were observed. Based on the biomass inhibition, EC50 was determine to be at 115 mg/l and on the basis of growth rate inhibition the EC50 was determine to be at 72.9 mg/l. The NOEC was observed at 10 mg/l. As the test chemical degrades rapidly in water, thus on the basis of readily biodegradability criteria, test chemical consider to be nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.