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Ecotoxicological information

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

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Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect concentration:
38 mg/L

Additional information

Thioglycolic acid toxicity to invertebrates has been investigated for Daphnia magna in a static test according to OECD guideline # 202. The EC50 determined was 38 mg/L based on nominal concentration in the test medium, as concentrations were maintained throughout the test.

Even though it is known that thioglycolic acid can be easilly oxidized, the conditions of the test surely prevented such kind of chemical action (lack of catalysts, buffer, pH, etc). This explains the stability of the concentrations tested throughout the test even in static conditions.

Thioglycolic acid can be therefore considered as harmful for invertebrates (Thiébaud, 1997).

On the other hand, in 2004, the acute toxicity of Diammonium dithioglycolate to Daphnia magna has been investigated by Sewell and McKenzie through a test in accordance with OECD Guideline 202 and GLP requirements. Based on the results of this study, EC50-48h determined was higher than 100 mg/L and NOEC was of 100 mg/L.

Diammonium dithioglycolate is the main degradation product of thioglycolic acid when released in the environment occuring few hours after the release (Devaux, 2003 - Smolin and Fölsing, 2009).

On this basis one can confirm that thioglycolic acid toxicity to invertebrates is moderate due to its relative short half-life in the environment. Moreover the degradation product obtained is not considered as harmful for Daphnia magna.