Copper cyanide

Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1988

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

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

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

flow-through and semistatic test to assess the effect of copper chloride on growth rate, individual growth rate and death rate of the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna during 21 days.
the toxicity values that affect the growth rate of daphnia (length of carapace), mortality, and individual growth rate for 21 days exposure of Copper chloride were investigated.The material was decomposed into Cu2 + ions under the test conditions (temperature 20 ° C, pH 8.1, hardness 225 mg / L CaCO3, DOC 2 mg / L) and the average copper concentrations were 2.6, 3.9, 6.1, 12.6, 36.8, And 110 μg / L, respectively.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Test type:

other: flow-through and semistatic

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

21 d

Hardness:

225 mg/l CaCO3

Test temperature:

20°C

pH:

8.1

Nominal and measured concentrations:

2.6, 3.9, 6.1, 12.6, 36.8, 110 μg/L (measured)

Key result

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

12.6 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

36.8 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

36.8 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other:

Remarks:

individual growth rate

Details on results:

The lowest NOEC is selected as the key result for that endpoint.

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of the study, the NOECs for toxic effects of copper chloride were 12.6 (growth rate), 36,8 (mortality rate), and 36.8 (individual growth rate) μg/L.

Executive summary:

During the study, the toxicity values that affect the growth rate of daphnia (length of carapace), mortality, and individual growth rate for 21 days exposure of Copper chloride were investigated.The material was decomposed into Cu2 + ions under the test conditions (temperature 20 ° C, pH 8.1, hardness 225 mg / L CaCO3, DOC 2 mg / L) and the average copper concentrations were 2.6, 3.9, 6.1, 12.6, 36.8, And 110 μg / L, respectively. The NOEC values were 12.6 μg / L (growth), 36.8 μg / L (mortality) and 36.8 μg / L (individual growth rate).

Reference 2

Endpoint:

long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Justification for type of information:

REPORTING FORMAT FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
1. HYPOTHESIS FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
A read-across based on analogue approach has been performed for that endpoint.
The read-across hypothesis, according to Read Across Assessment Framework published by ECHA, is based on the fact that different compounds which have the same type of effect(s). It corresponds to the scenario 2 described as follows:
« This scenario covers the analogue approach for which the read-across hypothesis is based on different compounds which have the same type of effect(s). For the REACH information requirement under consideration, the effects obtained in a study conducted with one source substance are used to predict the effects that would be observed in a study with the target substance if it were to be conducted. The same type of effect(s) or absence of effect is predicted. The predicted strength of the effects may be similar or based on a worst-case assumption. ».

2. SOURCE AND TARGET CHEMICAL(S) (INCLUDING INFORMATION ON PURITY AND IMPURITIES)
The read-across has been performed between copper cyanide (CAS No. 544-92-3; target chemical) and copper chloride (CAS No. 7758-89-6; source chemical).

3. ANALOGUE APPROACH JUSTIFICATION
The registered substance is insoluble and has low degradability and low rate of decomposition into copper compounds and cyanides in water. However, when decomposed, the cyanide rapidly changes into hydrogen cyanide, which is not bioconcentrated. Therefore, it is considered that the harmfulness to the environment will have a greater influence on the copper compound. Therefore, since there is no long-term toxicity data on aquatic invertebrates available for the registered substance copper cyanide, data on copper chloride were used.
Based on these elements and to the fact that both target and source chemicals are inorganic substances having close physical-chemical properties and environmental fate, it can be assumed that copper chloride and copper cyanide may have similar ecotoxicological properties. The read-across approach between copper cyanide and copper chloride is therefore relevant for this endpoint.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

GLP compliance:

not specified

Key result

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

12.6 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

growth

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

36.8 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

36.8 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other:

Remarks:

individual growth rate

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of a long-term study to assess the toxicity of copper chloride on Daphnia magna and based on a read-across approach, the NOECs were considered to be 12.6 (growth rate), 36,8 (mortality rate), and 36.8 (individual growth rate) μg/L for the registered substance copper cyanide.

Executive summary:

The toxicity values that affect the growth rate of daphnia (length of carapace), mortality, and individual growth rate for 21 days exposure of Copper chloride were investigated.The material was decomposed into Cu2 + ions under the test conditions (temperature 20 ° C, pH 8.1, hardness 225 mg / L CaCO3, DOC 2 mg / L) and the average copper concentrations were 2.6, 3.9, 6.1, 12.6, 36.8, And 110 μg / L, respectively. The NOEC values were 12.6 μg / L (growth), 36.8 μg / L (mortality) and 36.8 μg / L (individual growth rate).

A read-across has been performed between copper cyanide (CAS No. 544-92-3; target chemical) and copper chloride (CAS No. 7758-89-6; source chemical).

Indeed, the registered substance is insoluble and has low degradability and low rate of decomposition into copper compounds and cyanides in water. However, when decomposed, the cyanide rapidly changes into hydrogen cyanide, which is not bioconcentrated. Therefore, it is considered that the harmfulness to the environment will have a greater influence on the copper compound. Therefore, since there is no long-term toxicity data on aquatic invertebrates available for the registered substance copper cyanide, data on copper chloride were used.

Based on these elements and to the fact that both target and source chemicals are inorganic substances having close physical-chemical properties and environmental fate, it can be assumed that copper chloride and copper cyanide may have similar ecotoxicological properties. The read-across approach between copper cyanide and copper chloride is therefore relevant for this endpoint.

Therefore, under the conditions of a long-term study to assess the toxicity of copper chloride on Daphnia magna and based on a read-across approach, the NOECs were considered to be 12.6 (growth rate), 36,8 (mortality rate), and 36.8 (individual growth rate) μg/L for the registered substance copper cyanide.

Description of key information

Under the conditions of a long-term study to assess the toxicity of copper chloride on Daphnia magna and based on a read-across approach, the NOECs were considered to be 12.6 (growth rate), 36,8 (mortality rate), and 36.8 (individual growth rate) μg/L for the registered substance copper cyanide.

The most conservative 21d-NOEC value 12.6 μg/L is selected as the key result for that endpoint among these three NOEC available.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Effect concentration:

12.6 µg/L

Additional information

For that endpoint, a study on the registered substance was not available. Nevertheless, a study was available to assess the long-term toxicity of copper chloride on the aquatic invertebrate Daphnia magna.

In this study, the toxicity values that affect the growth rate of daphnia (length of carapace), mortality, and individual growth rate for 21 days exposure of Copper chloride were investigated.The material was decomposed into Cu2 + ions under the test conditions (temperature 20 ° C, pH 8.1, hardness 225 mg / L CaCO3, DOC 2 mg / L) and the average copper concentrations were 2.6, 3.9, 6.1, 12.6, 36.8, And 110 μg / L, respectively. The NOEC values were 12.6 μg / L (growth), 36.8 μg / L (mortality) and 36.8 μg / L (individual growth rate).

A read-across has been performed between copper cyanide (CAS No. 544-92-3; target chemical) and copper chloride (CAS No. 7758-89-6; source chemical).

Indeed, the registered substance is insoluble and has low degradability and low rate of decomposition into copper compounds and cyanides in water. However, when decomposed, the cyanide rapidly changes into hydrogen cyanide, which is not bioconcentrated. Therefore, it is considered that the harmfulness to the environment will have a greater influence on the copper compound. Therefore, since there is no long-term toxicity data on aquatic invertebrates available for the registered substance copper cyanide, data on copper chloride were used.

Based on these elements and to the fact that both target and source chemicals are inorganic substances having close physical-chemical properties and environmental fate, it can be assumed that copper chloride and copper cyanide may have similar ecotoxicological properties. The read-across approach between copper cyanide and copper chloride is therefore relevant for this endpoint.