Hexanal

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1984-01-16 to 1984-01-20

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

not specified

Principles of method if other than guideline:

acute toxicity (96h) assay on Pimephales promelas.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Concentrations: analytical average: 0, 14, 22.2, 40.5, 72.2, 129

Vehicle:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

stock: 350 mg/L diluted (blended)

Test organisms (species):

Pimephales promelas

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Feathed Minnow
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 31 and 33 d
- Length at study initiation (length definition, mean, range and SD): 23 +- 2.544
- Weight at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 0.18 +- 0.0677 g

Test type:

not specified

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

45.6 (0.63) mg/L CaCO3

Test temperature:

24.2 (0.43) °C

pH:

7.4

Dissolved oxygen:

6.8 (0.3) mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

nominal: 0, 21.3, 32.7, 50.3, 77.4, 119
analytical (average of 5 days): < 1, 14, 22.2, 40.5, 72.2, 129
analytical (cor average of 5 days): < 0.86, 12, 19.2, 35, 62.3, 119

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: tank
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: 1 L
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 20
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 20
- Biomass loading rate: 3.6 g/L

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Alkalinity: 50.6 (0.48) mg/L CaCO3

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : LC50 (96 h), EC50 (96 h)

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 1.5
- Test concentrations:
nominal: 0, 21.3, 32.7, 50.3, 77.4, 119
analytical (average of 5 days): <1, 14, 22.2, 40.5, 72.2, 129
analytical (core average of 5 days): <0.86, 12, 19.2, 35, 62.3, 119

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

14 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

13.8 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

behaviour

Remarks:

please refer to 'Details on results'

Details on results:

Affected fish lost schooling behaviour, swam near the bottom, were hyperreactive and underreactive to external stimuli, had increased respiration and edema, and lost equilibrium prior to death.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Reported statistics and error estimates:

confidence limit LC50 (96): 12 - 16.5 mg/L
confidence limit EC50(96h): 11.9 - 16.0 mg/L

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The LC50 (96h) in Pimephales promelas was reported to be 14 mg/L.

Executive summary:

An acute toxicity (96h) assay on Feathed minnow (Pimephales promelas) similar to OECD Guideline 203 was conducted with the test item hexanal. 5 analytically verified concentrations were tested on 20 fish per concentration. Effects observed were loosing of schooling behaviour, swimming near the bottom, hyperreactivity and underreactivity to external stimuli, increased respiration and edema, and loosing of equilibrium prior to death. The LC50 and EC50 after 96 h was determined. The study is well documented and meets generally accepted scientific principle and is therefore sufficient for the assessment.The EC50 (96 h) was 13.8 mg/L (confidence limit: 11.9 - 16.0 mg/L) and the LC50 (96 h) was 14 mg/L (confidence limit: 12 - 16.5 mg/L).

Description of key information

An acute toxicity (96h) assay on Feathed minnow (Pimephales promelas) similar to OECD Guideline 203 was conducted with the test item hexanal. 5 analytically verified concentrations were tested on 20 fish per concentration. Effects observed were loosing of schooling behaviour, swimming near the bottom, hyperreactivity and underreactivity to external stimuli, increased respiration and edema, and loosing of equilibrium prior to death. The LC50 and EC50 after 96 h was determined. The study is well documented and meets generally accepted scientific principle and is therefore sufficient for the assessment.The EC50 (96 h) was 13.8 mg/L (confidence limit: 11.9 - 16.0 mg/L) and the LC50 (96 h) was 14 mg/L (confidence limit: 12 - 16.5 mg/L).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

14 mg/L