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EC number: 202-855-7 | CAS number: 100-47-0
- 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
Endpoint summary
Administrative data
Description of key information
Several acute toxicity studies are available for all routes. Overall with sufficient reliability.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
Acute toxicity: via oral route
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- acute toxicity: oral
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Study period:
- 1970
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- guideline study with acceptable restrictions
- Qualifier:
- equivalent or similar to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 401 (Acute Oral Toxicity)
- Deviations:
- not specified
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Test type:
- standard acute method
- Limit test:
- no
- Species:
- rat
- Strain:
- other: Charles River Albino (COBS)
- Sex:
- male/female
- Route of administration:
- oral: gavage
- Vehicle:
- unchanged (no vehicle)
- Doses:
- ranging from 0.6 to 2.0 g/kg bw
- No. of animals per sex per dose:
- 2 males and 2 females per dose
- Control animals:
- not specified
- Key result
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Effect level:
- 1 000 mg/kg bw
- Mortality:
- see "Other results incl Tables"
- Interpretation of results:
- Toxicity Category IV
- Conclusions:
- The acute oral median lethal dose (LD50) for oral application of benzonitrile on rats was determined at: LD50= 1.0 g/kg.
- Executive summary:
In an acute oral toxicity study 4 groups (2 male + 2 female each) of young Albino rats (body weight ranged from 176 to 252 grams) were given a single oral dose of undiluted benzonitrile at doses of 0.6, 0.9, 1.4 and 2.0 g/kg bw. Animals were then observed for 14 days.
Oral LD50 Combined = 1.0 g/kg bw (Standard Deviation of LD50 =±0.2 g/kg)
Benzonitrile is of slight toxicity based on the combined LD50. According (EC) 1272/2008 benzonitrile is classified as acute toxic Category 4.
Reference
The acute oral median lethal dose (LD50) was calculated using the techniques of Weil (1952), Thompson (1947), and Thompson and Weil (1952).
Acute Oral Toxicity Study with Albino Rates – Mortality and Body Weight Data
Dose* |
Animal Number and Sex |
Individual Body Weights (grams) Test Day Number |
Number Dead / Number Tested |
Percent Dead |
|
0 |
14 |
||||
0.6 |
1-M |
252 |
342 |
0/4 |
0 |
2-M |
242 |
326 |
|||
3-F |
183 |
234 |
|||
4-F |
180 |
230 |
|||
0.9 |
5-M |
233 |
346 |
2/4 |
50 |
6-M |
220 |
(2 days) |
|||
7-F |
196 |
(3 days) |
|||
8-F |
178 |
243 |
|||
1.4 |
9-M |
176 |
283 |
3/4 |
75 |
10-M |
249 |
(6 days) |
|||
11-F |
194 |
(2 days) |
|||
12-F |
197 |
(2 days) |
|||
2.0 |
13-M |
214 |
(3 days) |
4/4 |
100 |
14-M |
221 |
(3 days) |
|||
15-F |
220 |
(3 days) |
|||
16-F |
184 |
(6-22 hours) |
|||
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate time of death * Benzonitrile ws administered undiluted. Acute Oral LD50 = 1.0 g/kg Standard Deviation of LD50 =±.2 g/kg |
Summary of Reactions to the Acute Oral Toxicity Study of Albino Rats
Dose |
Reaction |
Time of Onset following Dose Administration (hours) |
Duration of Reaction (days) |
Time of Death Following Dose Administration (days) |
0.6 |
Hyperactivity |
6-22 |
2 |
- |
Muscular weakness |
6-22 |
2 |
||
Ruffed fur |
6-22 |
2 |
||
0.9 |
Hyperactivity |
1 |
3 |
2-3 |
Muscular weakness |
1 |
3 |
||
Ruffed fur |
6-22 |
2 |
||
Prostration |
6-22 |
2 |
||
1.4 |
Hyperactivity |
1 |
4 |
2-6 |
Muscular weakness |
1 |
4 |
||
Ruffed fur |
6-22 |
4 |
||
Prostration |
6-22 |
2 |
||
2.0 |
Hyperactivity |
1 |
Until death |
6 hours–3 days |
Muscular weakness |
1 |
|
||
Ruffed fur |
6-22 |
|
||
Prostration |
6-22 |
|
||
Dyspnea |
6-22 |
|
||
Lacrimation |
1 day |
|
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 1 000 mg/kg bw
- Quality of whole database:
- good; none of the available studies indicate a more severe oral toxicity.
Acute toxicity: via inhalation route
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- acute toxicity: inhalation
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Study period:
- 1970
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions
- Qualifier:
- equivalent or similar to guideline
- Guideline:
- OECD Guideline 403 (Acute Inhalation Toxicity)
- Deviations:
- not specified
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Test type:
- standard acute method
- Limit test:
- no
- Species:
- rat
- Strain:
- other: Albino
- Sex:
- male/female
- Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
- Young adult albino rats with average body weight of 220 g were used as test animals.
The rats were housed individually in stock cages and maintained on a standard laboratory diet of Purina Rat Chow plus water ad libitum, except during inhalation exposure.
Each exposure of individual rat in specially constructed all-Plexiglass inhalation chamber (with a capacity of 70 L) ran for 240 min (4 h) during which time observations were made.
At the end of the exposure the rats were returned to their stock cages and observed for the following 14 days. - Route of administration:
- inhalation: aerosol
- Type of inhalation exposure:
- whole body
- Vehicle:
- clean air
- Details on inhalation exposure:
- Undiluted test material was passed through Ohio Ball-Jet Nebulizer using clean dry air (-40°C dew point), resulting air-aerosol stream mixed with clean dry air to desired aerosol concentration, introduced into the exposure chamber from the top (exhausted from the bottom).
Average aerosol concentrations were calculated by dividing the nebulizer weight loss by the total volume of air used during each inhalation exposure (see "any other information materials and methods"). - Duration of exposure:
- 240 min
- Concentrations:
- 0.8 mg/L and 8.0 mg/L air average aerosol concentration of undiluted benzonitrile
- No. of animals per sex per dose:
- 5
- Control animals:
- not specified
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LC0
- Effect level:
- 0.8 mg/L air
- Exp. duration:
- 4 h
- Remarks on result:
- other: no effect
- Key result
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LCLo
- Effect level:
- 8 mg/L air
- Based on:
- test mat.
- Exp. duration:
- 4 h
- Remarks on result:
- other: 3 of 10 dead
- Interpretation of results:
- GHS criteria not met
- Conclusions:
- The acute aerosol inhalation study performed on rats provided no effects at the low dose of 0.8 mg/L air and 3 out of 10 death at the high dose of 8.0 mg/L air.
- Executive summary:
In an acute inhalation toxicity study, two groups of young adult Charles River albino rats (5 male + 5 female) were exposed by inhalation route to undiluted benzonitrile aerosol in a specially constructed all-Plexiglass inhalation chamber (with a capacity of 70 L). The exposure ran for 240 min (4 h) at concentrations of 0.8 mg/L and 8.0 mg/L. Animals then were observed for 14 days.
No effects were observed at low concentration. At 8 mg/L the mortality was 3 out of 10 (LD50 > 8 mg/L).
Reference
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LC50
- Value:
- 8 000 mg/m³ air
- Quality of whole database:
- ambigous results. LC50 in rat range form 3.9 to 38.6 mg/L. Mice seem to be more sensitive with LD50 values in the range of 1.8 - 6 mg/L.
Acute toxicity: via dermal route
Link to relevant study records
- Endpoint:
- acute toxicity: dermal
- Type of information:
- experimental study
- Adequacy of study:
- key study
- Study period:
- 1980
- Reliability:
- 2 (reliable with restrictions)
- Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
- test procedure in accordance with national standard methods
- Qualifier:
- according to guideline
- Guideline:
- other: 40 CFR Part 163.81-2
- Principles of method if other than guideline:
- EPA, Pesticides Programs, proposed guidelines for registering pesticides in the U.S., hazard evaluation: humans and domestic animals
- GLP compliance:
- no
- Test type:
- standard acute method
- Limit test:
- no
- Species:
- rabbit
- Strain:
- New Zealand White
- Sex:
- male/female
- Type of coverage:
- occlusive
- Vehicle:
- unchanged (no vehicle)
- Duration of exposure:
- 24 hours
- Doses:
- 2.0 g/kg, and thereafter 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg,
- No. of animals per sex per dose:
- 1 male + 1 female for range finding and 4 male + 4 female for LD50 determination
- Control animals:
- yes
- Key result
- Sex:
- male/female
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Effect level:
- 1 400 mg/kg bw
- Based on:
- test mat.
- 95% CL:
- 1 - 1.8
- Interpretation of results:
- Toxicity Category IV
- Conclusions:
- The LD50 was calculated at 1.4 g/kg.
- Executive summary:
In an acute dermal toxicity study, groups of 4 young adults New Zealand White rabbits/sex/dose were dermally exposed to Benzonitril (100 % a.i) for 24 hours to 10% of body surface area at doses of 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.4 and 2.0 g/kg bw. Animals then were observed for 14 days.
Dermal LD50:
Males =1.8 g/kg bw (95% C.I. 1.2 to 2.4 g/kg bw)
Females = 1.0 g/kg bw (95% C.I. 0.6 to 1.4 g/kg bw.)
Combined = 1.4 g/kg bw (95% C.I. 1.0 to 1.8 g/kg bw.)
Reference
Preliminary Range Finding Study:
Dose |
Mortality |
(g/kg) |
|
0.01 |
0/2 |
0.05 |
0/2 |
0.1 |
0/2 |
0.5 |
0/2 |
1.0 |
0/2 |
Dose level, mortality data and LD50calculations:
|
Dose Level |
Mortality |
||||
|
(g/kg) |
Male |
Female |
Abraded Skin |
Intact Skin |
Total |
Mortality |
0.5 |
0/4 |
0/4 |
0/4 |
0/4 |
0/8 |
0.7 |
0/4 |
1/4 |
0/4 |
1/4 |
1/8 |
|
1.0 |
0/4 |
2/4 |
1/4 |
1/4 |
2/8 |
|
1.4 |
1/4 |
3/4 |
1/4 |
3/4 |
4/8 |
|
2.0 |
3/5 |
5/5 |
8/10 |
0/0 |
8/10 |
|
Control |
(0/4) |
(0/4) |
(0/4) |
(0/4) |
(0/4) |
|
LD50 |
|
1.8 |
1.0 |
1.55 |
1.05 |
1.4 |
95% Confidence Limit |
|
1.2 to |
0.6 to |
1.15 to |
0.65 to |
1.0 to |
Endpoint conclusion
- Endpoint conclusion:
- adverse effect observed
- Dose descriptor:
- LD50
- Value:
- 1 400 mg/kg bw
- Quality of whole database:
- good; none of the available studies indicate a more severe dermal toxicity.
Additional information
Several acute toxicity studies report oral LD50 values between 690 - 1500 mg/kg in rat; up to 1400 mg/kg in mouse; 800 mg/kg in rabbit and 400-800 mg/kg in cat. The oral LD50 in rats is 800 mg/kg bw. For chemical safety assessement an LD50 of 1000 mg/kg (rat) is taken from Mastri et al. (1970).
Several acute toxicity studies are available for the inhalation route. No mortalities were reported after 4h exposure to saturated vapour (Zeller, 1969); an LC50 of above 8 mg/L was reported by Mastri (1970) and Cato (1974). LC50 in mouse range from 2.95 mg/L (MacEwen, 1974) to 6 mg/L (Agaev, 1975). Most reports do not present sufficient data to evaluate the method used for generation an exposure atmosphere. The most reliable description is presented by Mastri et al. (1970). The LC50 of > 8 mg/L (aerosol/mist) reported in this study does not lead to a classification according regulation (EC) 1272/2008. Mice seam more sensitive, but aren't the typical species used for classification. Therefore only results for rat are used for classification.
LD50 values form acute dermal toxicity studies were reported to be 1400 mg/kg (Auletta, 1980), 1200 mg/kg (Mastri, 1970), and 1250 mg/kg (Moreno, 1977). Zeller 1969 report an LD100 of 1500 mg/kg in rabbit and an LD0 or 200 mg/kg. Auletta (1980) was conducted according an US-EPA method and is considered the most reliable study. An LD50 of 1400 mg/kg is used for chemical safety assessment.
Justification for selection of acute toxicity – oral endpoint
most reliable study; similar to OECD 401
Justification for selection of acute toxicity – inhalation endpoint
most reliable study; similar to OECD 403
Justification for selection of acute toxicity – dermal endpoint
most reliable guideline study
Justification for classification or non-classification
Benzonitrile is classified Acute Tox. 4 with respect to oral (LD50 = 1000) and dermal (LD50 = 1400 mg/kg) exposure according to regulation (EC) 1272/2008. For the inhalation route a classification is not warranted based on an LC50 > 8 mg/L (aerosol/mist) with rat.
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