Formamide

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

Study period:

1989, June 12-16

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions (exposure concentrations in the test and the stability of the test item were not confirmed by chemical analysis)

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: German Industrial Standard DIN 38412, Part 15

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

Test duration 96 h instead of 48 h; compared to nowadays standards the number of test concentrations is low (4 incl. control), but this has no impact on the validity of the study

GLP compliance:

no

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Method: the product was added to the test water without any pretreatment; subsequently the fish were placed into the aquaria

Test organisms (species):

Leuciscus idus

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: golden orfe
- Strain: golden variety
- Source: Fischzucht Paul Eggers, D/2354 Hohenweststedt
- Length at study initiation (length definition, mean, range and SD): 6.9 cm, range: 6.3-7.5 cm
- Weight at study initiation (mean and range, SD): 2.7 g, range: 2.0-3.6 g
- corpulence factor of the batch: 0.8
- other: During the 3-months housing period, fish were treated twice with 0.05 mg/L malachite green chloride and once with 10 mg/L tetracycline 
hydrochloride

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 3 days
- Feeding frequency: withdrawal of food 1 day before and during exposure
- Health during acclimation (any mortality observed): No

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

2.5 mmol/L

Test temperature:

20°C

pH:

8.0

Dissolved oxygen:

> 60%

Nominal and measured concentrations:

0.0 (Control), 2150, 4640, 9300 mg/L (nominal)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: All glass aquaria (30x22x24 cm)
- fill volume: 10 L
- Aeration: Slight with oil free air
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates):
- No. of vessels per control (replicates):
- Biomass loading rate: 2.7 g fish/L test water


TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: Reconstituted freshwater was prepared from fully demineralized tap water according to DIN 38 412, Part 11
(1982). The water was resalted by the addition of 294.0 mg/L CaCl2*2H2O, 123.3 mg/L MgSO4*7H2O, 63 mg/L NaHCO3 and 5.5 mg/L KCl. 
- Ca/mg ratio: 4:1
- acid capacity: 0.8 mmol/L
- Na/K ions = 10:1
- Conductivity:
- Culture medium different from test medium: No
- Intervals of water quality measurement:


OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Photoperiod: 16 h light and 8 h darkness


EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) : Determination of mortality and symptoms after 1, 4, 24, 48, 72, 96 h

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

Chloroacetamide, LC 50 after 48 hours approx. 25 mg/L

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

4 640 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

behaviour

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LOEC

Effect conc.:

9 300 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

behaviour

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC0

Effect conc.:

4 640 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

6 569 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: Geometric mean of LC0 and LC100

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC100

Effect conc.:

9 300 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

- Other biological observations: Narcotic like state after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h at 9300 mg/L
- Mortality of control: No
- Other adverse effects control: No
- Abnormal responses: tumbling after 48 h at 9300 mg/L

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Mortality:

Nominal conc. [mg/L]	Number of dead fish
	24 h	48 h	72 h	96 h
Control	0	0	0	0
2150	0	0	0	0
4640	0	0	0	0
9300	0	5	8	10

Physico-chemical parameters:

Nominal concentration mg/L	pH (1 h)	pH (96 h)
Control	7.7	7.5
2150	7.7	7.6
4640	7.6	7.6
9300	7.5	7.8

Oxygen content:

Nominal concentration mg/L	Oxygen (1h) mg/L	Oxygen (96 h) mg/L
Control	7.9	7.0
2150	8,6	8.0
4640	8.4	8.7
9300	7.8	8.8

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

Since the substance is hydrolytically stable and has no potential for evaporation, the study is acceptable for assessment although the substance concentrations were not verified by analytical monitoring. The LC50 at 96 hours was determined to be 6569 mg/L.

Description of key information

The LC50/Danio rerio/96 hours was 6562 mg/L and the NOEC was 4640 mg/L in a guideline study demonstrating that the substance is not acutely harmful to fish.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect concentration:

6 569 mg/L