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EC number: 231-768-7 | CAS number: 7723-14-0
- Life Cycle description
- Uses advised against
- Endpoint summary
- Appearance / physical state / colour
- Melting point / freezing point
- Boiling point
- Density
- Particle size distribution (Granulometry)
- Vapour pressure
- Partition coefficient
- Water solubility
- Solubility in organic solvents / fat solubility
- Surface tension
- Flash point
- Auto flammability
- Flammability
- Explosiveness
- Oxidising properties
- Oxidation reduction potential
- Stability in organic solvents and identity of relevant degradation products
- Storage stability and reactivity towards container material
- Stability: thermal, sunlight, metals
- pH
- Dissociation constant
- Viscosity
- Additional physico-chemical information
- Additional physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials
- Nanomaterial agglomeration / aggregation
- Nanomaterial crystalline phase
- Nanomaterial crystallite and grain size
- Nanomaterial aspect ratio / shape
- Nanomaterial specific surface area
- Nanomaterial Zeta potential
- Nanomaterial surface chemistry
- Nanomaterial dustiness
- Nanomaterial porosity
- Nanomaterial pour density
- Nanomaterial photocatalytic activity
- Nanomaterial radical formation potential
- Nanomaterial catalytic activity
- Endpoint summary
- Stability
- Biodegradation
- Bioaccumulation
- Transport and distribution
- Environmental data
- Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
- Ecotoxicological Summary
- Aquatic toxicity
- Endpoint summary
- Short-term toxicity to fish
- Long-term toxicity to fish
- Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Long-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates
- Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
- Toxicity to aquatic plants other than algae
- Toxicity to microorganisms
- Endocrine disrupter testing in aquatic vertebrates – in vivo
- Toxicity to other aquatic organisms
- Sediment toxicity
- Terrestrial toxicity
- Biological effects monitoring
- Biotransformation and kinetics
- Additional ecotoxological information
- Toxicological Summary
- Toxicokinetics, metabolism and distribution
- Acute Toxicity
- Irritation / corrosion
- Sensitisation
- Repeated dose toxicity
- Genetic toxicity
- Carcinogenicity
- Toxicity to reproduction
- Specific investigations
- Exposure related observations in humans
- Toxic effects on livestock and pets
- Additional toxicological data
Short-term toxicity to fish
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
- Endpoint:
- short-term toxicity to fish
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: Published study.
- Qualifier:
- no guideline followed
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- Acute dietary toxicity in Salvelinus fontinalis
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Remarks:
- : older, non-standard published study
- Analytical monitoring:
- no
- Details on sampling:
- No data on sampling
- Vehicle:
- yes
- Details on test solutions:
- The test substance was administered in the diet (cod muscle / liver)
- Test organisms (species):
- Salvelinus fontinalis
- Details on test organisms:
- Yearling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) of weight 50-200 g were obtained from Cobequid fish.
- Test type:
- static
- Water media type:
- freshwater
- Limit test:
- no
- Hardness:
- Not reported
- Test temperature:
- Not reported
- pH:
- Not reported
- Dissolved oxygen:
- Not reported
- Salinity:
- Not reported
- Reference substance (positive control):
- no
- Dose descriptor:
- other: Toxic dose
- Remarks:
- Results were based on observed toxicity in brook trout exposed to yellow phosphorus via their diet.
- Effect conc.:
- >= 1.23 - <= 2.73 other: mg
- Remarks on result:
- other: The authors note that the symptoms of yellow phosphorus poisoning in exposed fish were identical to those observed when the element is present in water, namely external redness, haemolysis and reduced haematocrit.
- Details on results:
- Yellow phosphorus (P4) contaminated cod muscle (P4, 4-11 ug/g) and liver (P4, 194 ug/g) were lethal when fed to brook trout.
- Results with reference substance (positive control):
- Not investigated
- Reported statistics and error estimates:
- Not reported
- Sublethal observations / clinical signs:
The authors note that the symptoms of P4 poisoning in the exposed fish were identical to those observed when the element is present in water, namely external redness, haemolysis and reduced haematocrit. The approximate toxic dose of P4 ranged from 1.23- 2.73 mg.
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not specified
- Conclusions:
- Yellow phosphorus (P4) contaminated cod muscle (P4, 4-11 ug/g) and liver (P4, 194 ug/g) were lethal when fed to brook trout.
- Executive summary:
Yearling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were exposed to P4 in the diet (cod muscle, cod liver). The approximate toxic dose of P4 ranged from 1.23- 2.73 mg.
The authors note that the symptoms of P4 poisoning in the exposed fish were identical to those observed when the element is present in water , namely, external redness, haemolysis and reduced haematocrit.
- Endpoint:
- short-term toxicity to fish
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: Published study
- Qualifier:
- no guideline followed
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- Acute toxicity of the substance (48h) in Gadus morhua
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Remarks:
- : older published study
- Analytical monitoring:
- yes
- Details on sampling:
- No details
- Vehicle:
- yes
- Details on test solutions:
- Phosphorus dissolved in water
- Test organisms (species):
- Gadus morrhua
- Details on test organisms:
- No further details
- Test type:
- static
- Water media type:
- saltwater
- Limit test:
- no
- Total exposure duration:
- 48 h
- Post exposure observation period:
- No post exposure observation period.
- Hardness:
- Not reported
- Test temperature:
- Not reported
- pH:
- Not reported
- Dissolved oxygen:
- Not reported
- Salinity:
- Not reported
- Nominal and measured concentrations:
- nominal
- Details on test conditions:
- Cod were exposed to a range of concnetrations of elemental phosphorus in water.
- Reference substance (positive control):
- no
- Duration:
- 48 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 14.4 µg/L
- Details on results:
- The acute toxicity of dissolved elemental phosphorus to cod (Gadus morhua) has been investigated in the absence of colloidal phosphorus. The 48 h LC50 for dissolved elemental phosphorus is 14·4 μg/L, and evidence is presented that the incipient lethal level is ca. 1–2 μg/L. Elemental phosphorus was rapidly assimilated into the body tissues of the test animals. The distribution of phosphorus was homogeneous in the muscle tissue with levels ca. 10–30 times the exposure level, highest concentrations were measured in the liver.
- Results with reference substance (positive control):
- No reference substance used.
- Reported statistics and error estimates:
- No reported statistics.
- Sublethal observations / clinical signs:
No further information.
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not applicable
- Conclusions:
- The 48 h LC50 for dissolved elemental phosphorus is 14·4 μg/L, and evidence is presented that the incipient lethal level is ca. 1–2 μg/L.
- Executive summary:
The acute toxicity of dissolved elemental phosphorus to cod (Gadus morhua) was investigated in the absence of colloidal phosphorus. The 48 h LC50 for dissolved elemental phosphorus is 14·4 μg/L, and evidence is presented that the incipient lethal level is ca. 1–2 μg/L. Elemental phosphorus was rapidly assimilated into the body tissues of the test animals. The distribution of phosphorus was homogeneous in the muscle tissue with levels ca. 10–30 times the exposure level, highest concentrations were measured in the liver.
- Endpoint:
- short-term toxicity to fish
- Type of information:
- other: review
- Adequacy of study:
- weight of evidence
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- other: Review of avaliable data on white phosphorus.
- Qualifier:
- no guideline followed
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- Literature review of available data
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Remarks:
- older, published review
- Analytical monitoring:
- not required
- Details on sampling:
- Not required
- Vehicle:
- not specified
- Details on test solutions:
- Not required
- Test organisms (species):
- other: the available data on various species are reviewed
- Details on test organisms:
- The review covers studies on species including bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque), cod (Gadus morhus), atlantic salmon (Salmo salis), herring (Clupea harenqus), Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Smelt (Osmerus mordax) and Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)
- Test type:
- not specified
- Water media type:
- saltwater
- Limit test:
- no
- Post exposure observation period:
- No details
- Hardness:
- No details
- Test temperature:
- No details
- pH:
- No details
- Dissolved oxygen:
- No details
- Salinity:
- No details
- Nominal and measured concentrations:
- No details
- Details on test conditions:
- No further details are reported in this review.
- Reference substance (positive control):
- not required
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- ca. 45 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: Static fresh water bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) - Isom (1960)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 2.5 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: continuous saltwater, Cod (Gadus morhua) - Fletcher and Hoyle (1972)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 2.3 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: Continuous saltwater - Atlantic Salmon - Zitko et al (1970) and Fletcher and Hoyle (1972)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 3.7 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: Static salt water, Herring (Clupea harengus) - Zitko et al (1970)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 2.5 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: continuous saltwater, Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Fletcher et al (1970, 1971)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- 2.5 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: Continuous saltwater, Smelt (Osmerus mordax)- Fletcher et al (1971)
- Duration:
- 96 h
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Effect conc.:
- > 20 µg/L
- Nominal / measured:
- nominal
- Conc. based on:
- test mat.
- Basis for effect:
- mortality (fish)
- Remarks on result:
- other: Continuous saltwater, Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) - Fletcher et al (1971)
- Details on results:
- The results demonstrate that white phosphosphoris is of high acute toxicity to fish. Addtional data indicate that colloidal phosphorus may be of higher toxicity than the dissolved substance.
- Results with reference substance (positive control):
- No results to report
- Reported statistics and error estimates:
- Not applicable
- Sublethal observations / clinical signs:
No further information
- Validity criteria fulfilled:
- not applicable
- Conclusions:
- The LC50s obtained for a variety of fish species are 3 ±0.7 ug/L.
- Executive summary:
The authors review the available data relting to the acute toxicity of white phosphorus to fish species. They conclude that white phosphorus is highly toxic to fish. The 96 hour LC50 values are less than 50 ppb for all fish species studied, and it is noted that the incipient lethal level is 'probably less than 1 ppb' for most fish. Phosphorus poisoning appears to be cumulative and irreversible, though the cause of mortality has not been determined. While phosphorus is readily taken up by fish and other aquatic organisms directly from the water, fish may also acquire lethal quantities of elemental phosphorus through the food chain, since the few macroinvertebrates studied have a much higher tolerance for white phosphorus than fish. The symptoms of phosphorus intoxication are passed onto brook trout when they are fed muscle tissue from phosphorus-poisoned cod. The authors postulate that that the minimum 'incipient lethal level' is 0.1 ug/l, comparable to the NOEC, (1/5 the lowest measured).
Referenceopen allclose all
Description of key information
White phosphorus is of very high acute toxicity to fish species, with reported LC50 values as low as 2.3 ug/L.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Fresh water fish
Fresh water fish
- Effect concentration:
- 0.002 mg/L
Marine water fish
Marine water fish
- Effect concentration:
- 0.014 mg/L
Additional information
The acute toxicity of dissolved elemental phosphorus to cod (Gadus morhua) was investigated in the absence of colloidal phosphorus. The 48 h LC50 for dissolved elemental phosphorus is 14·4 μg/L, and evidence is presented that the incipient lethal level is ca. 1–2 μg/L. Elemental phosphorus was rapidly assimilated into the body tissues of the test animals. The distribution of phosphorus was homogeneous in the muscle tissue with levels ca. 10–30 times the exposure level, highest concentrations were measured in the liver (Maddock & Taylor, 1976).
In a literature review, Burrows et al (1973) conclude that white phosphorus is highly toxic to fish. The 96 hour LC50 values are less than 50 ppb for all fish species studied, and it is noted that the incipient lethal level is 'probably less than 1 ppb' for most fish. Phosphorus poisoning appears to be cumulative and irreversible, though the cause of mortality has not been determined. While phosphorus is readily taken up by fish and other aquatic organisms directly from the water, fish may also acquire lethal quantities of elemental phosphorus through the food chain, since the few macroinvertebrates studied have a much higher tolerance for white phosphorus than fish. The symptoms of phosphorus intoxication are passed onto brook trout when they are fed muscle tissue from phosphorus-poisoned cod. The authors postulate that that the minimum 'incipient lethal level' is 0.1 ug/l, comparable to the NOEC, (1/5 the lowest measured).
In a study of dietary toxicity (Fletcher, 1973), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were exposed to P4 in the diet (cod muscle, cod liver). The approximate toxic dose of P4 ranged from 1.23- 2.73 mg.
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