Distillation residue, butyl alcohols production, rectification

Short-term toxicity to fish

Description of key information

The acute toxicity of the substance to the fish Poecilia reticulata was determined by using the OECD guideline method 203 in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice. because the substance is a UVCB-substance, the exposure was expressed as the loading rate (mass to volume ratio of the mixture to medium) and the test concentration was prepared as WAF. The mortality was observed after 24 hour exposure.

Additional information

The original aim of the study was to determine if the limit loading rate (100 mg/L) of the substance can elicit toxicity – mortality on fish Poecilia reticulata in a 96 - hour semi - static test. A limit test was performed at loading rate 100 mg/L in order to demonstrate that the LL50 is greater than this loading rate. The limit test was performed using of 10 fish in the control and 10 fish in test solution. The loading rate (100 mg/L) used in the limit test with fish showed a rapid mortality of fish exposed. This has been confirmed by the fact that 80 % of fish were died after 2 – hour exposure. The total 100 % mortality was observed in regular inspection after 24 - hour exposure, but most probably it has occurred much sooner. The experiment had to be terminated prematurely in comparison with the date planned in the Study plan. It was not possible to calculate lethal loading rate (LL50) because the test was not designed for that purpose. However, from the results obtained it can be assumed that 24, 48 and 96 hour - LL50 will be less than limit loading rate 100 mg/L. Before the fish died they had been losing balance for a short time due to probably rapid narcotic and toxic effect of the test substance. The results confirmed that UVCB substance as WAF loading rate 100 mg/L causes toxicity on fish and the toxicity is comparable on general level with toxicity test results on D. magna and algae.