Aluminium sulphate

Toxicity to birds

Description of key information

The  lowest reliable short-term toxicity to birds (Coturnix coturnix japonica) which is reported by Hussein A, Cantor A and Johnson T, 1988, after a 28 days exposure to aluminium sulphate was 5000 mg/kg food (EC50). One of the 28d NOAEC was 1000 mg/kg diet.
The NOELs can be converted to NOECs with the following two formulae:
 
NOECbird=NOAELbird.CONVbird
 
Conversion factors from NOAEL to NOEC for bird species Coturnix coturnix japonica is (bw/dfi)
bw = body weight (g); dfi: daily food intake (g/day)
 
NOECbird=125 x 8=1000 mg/kg/diet
EC50=5 x 1000 =5000 mg/kg food
This information will be take into account for birds toxicity for the derivation of PNEC.
The  lowest reliable long-term toxicity to birds (White leghorn laying ) which is reported by Wisser LA 1990,, after a 17 wk exposure to aluminium sulphate was 1500 mg/kg diet (NOAEC). One of the 17 wk NOAEC was 1500 mg/kg food.
For the assessment of secondary poisoning, the results always have to be expressed as the concentration in food in order to be able to compare it to the PEC.
For the assessment of secondary poisoning, the results always have to be expressed as the concentration in food in order to be able to compare it to the PEC. TheNOELs can be converted to NOECs with the following two formulae:   NOECbird=NOAELbird.CONVbird  
Conversion factors from NOAEL to NOEC for bird species White leghorn laying hens is (bw/dfi) bw = body weight (g); dfi: daily food intake (g/day)  
NOECbird=187.5 x 8=1500 mg/kg/diet

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Short-term EC50 or LC50 for birds:

5 000 mg/kg food

Long-term EC10, LC10 or NOEC for birds:

1 500 mg/kg food

Additional information

Under the conditions of the study of Hussein A, Cantor A and Johnson T, 1988, aluminium sulphate induced No significantly decreased egg production, temporarily reduced eggshell-breaking strength and food consumption in Coturnix coturnix japonica below 5000 mg/kg food (EC50). One of the 28d NOEC was 1000 mg/kg diet.

 

For the assessment of secondary poisoning, the results always have to be expressed as the concentration in food in order to be able to compare it to the PEC.

The NOELs can be converted to NOECs with the following two formulae:

 

NOEC_bird=NOAEL_bird.CONV_bird

 

Conversion factors from NOAEL to NOEC for bird species Coturnix coturnix japonica is 8

(bw/dfi)

bw = body weight (g); dfi: daily food intake (g/day)

 

NOEC_bird=125 x 8=1000 mg/kg/diet

 

For the assessment of secondary poisoning, the results always have to be expressed as the concentration in food in order to be able to compare it to the PEC. TheNOELs can be converted to NOECs with the following two formulae:   NOECbird=NOAELbird.CONVbird  

Conversion factors from NOAEL to NOEC for bird species White leghorn laying hens is (bw/dfi) bw = body weight (g); dfi: daily food intake (g/day)  

NOECbird=187.5 x 8=1500 mg/kg/diet

 

Hussein et al. (1988) fed Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica) on diets containing 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.3% aluminium (as aluminium sulfate) for 4 weeks. Egg production was significantly decreased at 0.1% and body weight gain at 0.15%. Feed intake was significantly depressed temporarily at 0.1 and 0.15% and permanently at 0.3%. Eggshell breaking strength was temporarily reduced (after 1 week only) at 0.1, 0.15 and 0.3%.

 

Hussein et al. (1989a) fed white leghorn laying hens on a diet containing 0.05, 0.1 or 0.15% aluminium (as aluminium sulfate) for 28 days. Feed intake, body weight, tibia breaking strength and plasmainorganic phosphorus were significantly reduced at 0.15%. Egg production was only significantly depressed after 21 days at 0.15%. Eggshell breaking strength was unaffected by the treatment. In asecond experiment hens were exposed to diets containing up to 0.3% aluminium for 42 days. Feeding 0.3% aluminium significantly decreased plasma inorganic phosphorus in samples collected immediately following oviposition (10 to 42 days). Plasma calcium, tibia weight and tibia breaking strength were unaffected. Egg production and feed intake weresignificantly reduced during days 1 to 21 but not during days 22 to42. The effects of 0.3% aluminium on the egg production and shellquality of laying hens are similar to those obtained with conventional  force-moulting procedures using feed restriction (Hussein et al., 1989b).

Carrière et al. (1986) fed ring doves ( Streptopelia risoria) on a diet containing 0.1% aluminium sulfate with reduced calcium and phosphorus levels (0.9% Ca; 0.5% P) for a period of 4 months. There were no significant effects on egg production, fertility, hatchability, growth or final weight of chicks. Egg permeability was initially decreased but subsequently recovered to normal levels. The diet had no effect on plasma calcium, phosphorus or magnesium. There was no effect on weight or growth rate in juvenile doves fed diets containing 500, 1000 or 1500 mg/kg aluminium sulfate from day 21 to day 63.