ALFERROCK

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

For details and justification of read-across please refer to the read-across report attached to IUCLID section 13.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 0.57 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Remarks:

aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 23.2 mg/L CaCO3; result from filterable aluminum fraction (0.4 µm polycarbonate filter)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 0.61 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Remarks:

aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 35.0 mg/L CaCO3; result from filterable aluminum fraction (0.4 µm polycarbonate filter)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 0.73 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Remarks:

aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 83.6 mg/L CaCO3; result from filterable aluminum fraction (0.4 µm polycarbonate filter)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 0.67 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Remarks:

aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 115.8 mg/L CaCO3; result from filterable aluminum fraction (0.4 µm polycarbonate filter)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

6.17 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: total aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 23.2 mg/L CaCO3

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

6.17 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: total aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 35 mg/L CaCO3

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

7.67 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: total aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 83.6 mg/L CaCO3

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

6.93 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (arithm. mean)

Conc. based on:

other: total aluminium

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hardness: 115.8 mg/L CaCO3

Details on results:

- Behavioural abnormalities: No data
- Observations on body length and weight: No data
- Other biological observations: No data
- Mortality of control: 0 %
- Other adverse effects control: No data
- Abnormal responses: No data
- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: None reported
- Effect concentrations exceeding solubility of substance in test medium: No

Reported statistics and error estimates:

LC50 by the trimmed Spearman-Karber estimator; 95 % confidence intervals.

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Test	Average hardness [mg/L CaCO3]	LC50 (95 % CI) based on measured aluminum [mg/L]
		Total	Filterable
Acute Hardness	23.2	6.17 (5.33–7.25)	0.57 (0.51–0.64)
	35.0	6.17 (5.31–7.20)	0.61 (0.51–0.73)
	83.6	7.67 (6.22–9.61)	0.73 (0.65–0.94)
	115.8	6.93 (n.a.)	0.67 (n.a.)

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Remarks:

Non-guideline study, but scientifically robust result published in peer-reviewed article.

Conclusions:

Short-term (96 h) toxicity of aluminium to fish (juvenile rainbow trout) was determined. The study revealed LC50 values between 6.17 and 7.67 mg/L total aluminium in dependence of water hardness (0.57-0.67 mg Al/L in filtered samples). Aluminium-induced mortality was higher at weakly alkaline pH (7.95 to 8.58) (attributed to up to 18-fold higher filterable aluminium concentrations) than near-neutral pH (7.14-7.64). The study revealed that the toxicity of aluminium towards fish depends on water hardness and pH. The 96-h LC50 values for total aluminium ranged from 6.17 to 7.67 mg aluminium per liter at average hardness concentrations of 23.2 and 83.6 mg per liter expressed as CaCO3.

Executive summary:

In a 96-h acute toxicity study, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to aluminium at measured concentrations of 0 (control), 0.11, 0.18, 0.42, and 1.00 mg/L in filtered samples (0.4 µm filter) under flow-through conditions. The 96-h LC₅₀was 0.57 mg/L in filtered samples and 6.17 mg/L in unfiltered samples. Sublethal effects of aluminium were not reported. Based on the results of this study, aluminium ions would be classified as acutely toxic fish in accordance with the classification system of CLP Regulation.

This toxicity study is classified as acceptable and satisfies the guideline requirement for fish toxicity studies.

Results synopsis

Test organism size/age: 1–3 cm

Test type: Flow-through

LC₅₀: 0.57 mg/L (95 % C.I.: 0.51–0.64 mg/L) as dissolved aluminium (0.4 µm filter)

LC₅₀: 6.17 mg/L (95 % C.I.: 5.33–7.25 mg/L) as total aluminium

Endpoint(s) effected: Mortality

This information is used in a read-across approach in the assessment of the target substance. For details and justification of read-across please refer to the read-across report attached to IUCLID section 13.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

For details and justification of read-across please refer to the read-across report attached to IUCLID section 13.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 584 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks:

at pH 5.5

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL = 444-676

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

ca. 599 µg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

dissolved

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks:

at pH 6.5

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL = 445-772

Details on results:

Other biological observations: At pH 5.5 and 6.5 without aluminium, histomorphological examinations revealed no abnormalities in gill tissue. In aluminium exposure, gill filaments and secondary lamellae were swollen and thickened.
- Other adverse effects control: none

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Effects of pH and toxicants on percent survival and growth of Atlantic salmon were evaluated by analysis of variance using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc. 1985).

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Remarks:

Non-guideline study, but scientifically robust result published in peer-reviewed article.

Conclusions:

Atlantic salmon was exposed to aluminum and the resulting LC50 (96 h) values were determined to 584 µg/L (pH 5.5) and to 599 µg/L (pH 6.5).

Executive summary:

In a 96-h acute toxicity study, Atlanic salmon (Salmo salar) were exposed to aluminum at nominal concentrations of 0 (control) and 4700 µg/L under static conditions. The 96-h LC₅₀was 584 µg/L. Sublethal effects of aluminium were not reported. Based on the results of this study, aluminium ions would be classified as acutely toxic fish in accordance with the classification system of CLP Regulation.

This toxicity study is classified as acceptable and satisfies the guideline requirement for fish toxicity studies.

Results synopsis

Test organism size/age: Alevins

Test type: Static

LC₅₀: 584 µg/L (95 % C.I.: 444–676 mg/L) as dissolved aluminium

Endpoint(s) effected: Mortality

This information is used in a read-across approach in the assessment of the target substance. For details and justification of read-across please refer to the read-across report attached to IUCLID section 13.

Description of key information

The short-term toxicity (96 h) of aluminium to fresh water fish (juvenile rainbow trout) has been determined to be between 6.17 and 7.67 mg/L total aluminium (depending on water hardness), corresponding to 0.57-0.67 mg Al/L in filtered samples.

In another study Atlantic salmon was exposed to aluminium and the resulting LC50 (96 h) values were determined to be between 584 µg Al/L (pH 5.5) and to 599 µg Al/L (pH 6.5).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect concentration:

0.57 mg/L

Marine water fish

Marine water fish

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect concentration:

0.584 mg/L

Additional information

Two studies have been evaluated to assess the short-term toxicity of aluminium, the environmentally relevant constituent of the substance "Neutralisation and reduction products of bauxite residue from refinement process", to fish. The studies revealed a higher short-term (96 h) toxicity of aluminium to the Atlantic salmon (0.584 -0.599 mg/L, depending on pH) and a similar toxicity to the freshwater fish juvenile rainbow trout (0.57-0.67mg/L, depending on water hardness). 

A general tendency of increased toxicity of aluminium towards marine fish cannot be claimed because only one species was used for each type of habitat.