Formaldehyde, oligomeric reaction products with phenol

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

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: peer reviewed journal

Justification for type of information:

Data is from peer reviewed journal

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: as mention below

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The objective of the study was to determine short term toxicity of test chemical to Oncorhynchus mykiss for 48 h.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

Details on test solutions
PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: standard sock solution were prepared in distilled water according to the standard method. Appropriate dilutions of industrial wastewater were then prepared using water from the source of the receiving stream.

Test organisms (species):

Oncorhynchus mykiss (previous name: Salmo gairdneri)

Details on test organisms:

Details on test organisms
TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Rainbow trout
- Source: Fish farm
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): Juvenile
- Length at study initiation (length definition, mean, range and SD): 10 cm long

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 1 week
- Acclimation conditions (same as test or not): acclimated at 20 ° C step by step for 1 week
- Type and amount of food: Commercial fish food
- Feeding frequency: Daily

Test type:

not specified

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Test temperature:

20 ± 1 °C

pH:

7.8

Details on test conditions:

Details on test conditions
TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: Aquarium
- Aeration: The aquariums were slightly aerated to prevent any harm to the fish due to the decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water, caused by the possible degradation of test chemical.


EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : pH and dissolved oxygen measured daily

- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: Percent mortality of fish

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

Phenol and formaldehyde

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC10

Effect conc.:

12.5 other: % v/v

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

18.5 other: % v/v

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: Range: 15.8–21.6

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: LC90

Effect conc.:

27.2 other: % v/v

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

Study was conducted to determine median lethal concentration of test chemical. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the test chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC10, LC50 and LC90 was determine to be 12.5, 18.5 (Range: 15.8–21.6) and 27.2 % v/v, respectively.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

LC50 with 95 % CI was calculated using probit analysis.

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Table: Toxicity of phenol and formaldehyde to Oncorhynchus mykiss

Oncorhynchus mykiss	Phenol (mg/L)	Formaldehyde (mg/L)
48h LC10	10.3	29.3
48h LC50 (conf. limit)	13.1 (11.9–14.1)	50.0 (42.3–86.0)
48h LC90	16.6	87.0

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

Study was conducted to determine median lethal concentration of test chemical. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the test chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC10, LC50 and LC90 was determine to be 12.5, 18.5 (Range: 15.8–21.6) and 27.2 % v/v, respectively.

Executive summary:

Short term toxicity of test chemical present in industrial wastewater was determine on the growth of fish. Study also involves the finding out whether the effect of pure phenol and formaldehyde to aquatic organisms was similar to that produced by the mixture of both in the wastewater. Chemical was analytically monitored. Standard sock solution were prepared in distilled water according to the standard method. Appropriate dilutions of industrial wastewater were then prepared using water from the source of the receiving stream. Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, about 10 cm long were obtained from fish farms and acclimated to the 20°C step by step for at least one week. During this period, the rainbow trout were fed daily with commercial fish food. The aquariums were slightly aerated to prevent any harm to the fish due to the decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water, caused by the possible degradation of test chemical. The pH and dissolved oxygen were measured daily. After the exposure of 48 hrs LC50 with 95 % CI was calculated using probit analysis. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the test chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC10, LC50 and LC90 was determine to be 12.5, 18.5 (Range: 15.8–21.6) and 27.2 % v/v, respectively. Based on LC50 value and as chemical readily biodegradable in water thus we concluded that chemical was consider as nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Description of key information

Short term toxicity to fish:

Study was conducted to determine median lethal concentration of test chemical. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the test chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC10, LC50 and LC90 was determine to be 12.5, 18.5 (Range: 15.8–21.6) and 27.2 % v/v, respectively.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

100 mg/L

Additional information

Short term toxicity to fish:

Based on the various experimental data for the target chemical study have been reviewed to determine the toxic nature of target chemical test material on the growth of fishes. The studies are as mentioned below: 

In the first key study from peer reviewed journal, short term toxicity of test chemical present in industrial wastewater was determine on the growth of fish. Study also involves the finding out whether the effect of pure phenol and formaldehyde to aquatic organisms was similar to that produced by the mixture of both in the wastewater. Chemical was analytically monitored. Standard sock solution were prepared in distilled water according to the standard method. Appropriate dilutions of industrial wastewater were then prepared using water from the source of the receiving stream. Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, about 10 cm long were obtained from fish farms and acclimated to the 20°C step by step for at least one week. During this period, the rainbow trout were fed daily with commercial fish food. The aquariums were slightly aerated to prevent any harm to the fish due to the decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water, caused by the possible degradation of test chemical. The pH and dissolved oxygen were measured daily. After the exposure of 48 hrs LC50 with 95 % CI was calculated using probit analysis. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the test chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC10, LC50 and LC90 was determine to be 12.5, 18.5 (Range: 15.8–21.6) and 27.2 % v/v, respectively. Based on LC50 value and as chemical readily biodegradable in water thus we concluded that chemical was consider as nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

 

the second study was performed to determine the effect of test chemical present in industrial wastewater on the fish Oncorhynchus mykiss by providing the exposure period of 48 hrs. The untreated wastewater samples from a chemical industry producing test chemical were taken at the site of wastewater discharge into the river. The 24 h flow proportional wastewater samples were collected and transported to the laboratory in coolers with icepacks. The samples were stored in the dark at 4°C for analyses performed within three days, or frozen at –18°C until use. All wastewater samples were used for testing without any pre-treatment. 10 cm long Juvenile Rainbow trout were used for the test. Five concentrations and a control were tested for the conformation. After the exposure of test chemical mortality were measured by Probit analysis. Based on the mortality of Oncorhynchus mykiss by the chemical exposure for 48 hrs, the LC50 was determine to be 15.8 v/v%. Based on LC50 value and as chemical readily biodegradable in water thus we concluded that chemical was consider as nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Based on the above studies, it can be concluded that the chemical was nontoxic and not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.