4-methoxybenzyl alcohol

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

Short-term toxicity to fish:

Study was conducted to assess the effect of test chemical on the mortality of fish Danio rerio. Test conducted according to OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test).The test substance was soluble in water. Therefore, the test solution was prepared by dissolving 1 g of the test substance in 4 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) with continuous stirring for achieving test concentrations of 100 mg/L, respectively.Bowl aquaria containing 2 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) were loaded with 8 fishes. A static procedure was used for the study and it was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 203. After 96 hours of exposure to test item to various nominal test concentrations, LC50 was determine to be >100 mg/l . Based on the LC50, it can be consider that the chemical was not toxic and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates:

The Lethal concentration (LC50) value of test material in aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia Magna) in a 48 hr study based on mortality effect was estimated to be 114.788 mg/l Thus considering the value from CLP Criteria for aquatic classification of the substance , it is concluded that test material do not exhibit short term toxicity aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia Magna) and cannot be classified as per CLP criteria .

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria:

The study was designed to assess the toxic effects of the test compound on the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. Test was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 201 (Alga, Growth Inhibition Test).

Test was carried out in 100mL conical flasks which were carefully autoclaved and sterilized. The test solution in each of these test vessels was kept constant which is 60 ml so that a sufficient amount of head space was left.The test substance  was prepared by adding 60 µl of test substance in 300 ml of BBM to get the final concentration of 200 mg/L. The remaining test solutions were prepared by dilution from the above stock solution. To have a better growth and visibility of cells, the initial cell density of the culture was kept 1 X 104 cells/ml. Care was taken to have a homogeneous solution for the experiment.

For the assessment of algal growth, the test was conducted in replicates. The control flask was maintained in triplicates as recommended in the OECD guideline and the test concentration were selected in geometric series which were maintained in duplicates. To obtain a quantitative concentration-response relationship by regression analysis, a linearizing transformation of the response data into probit was performed. Using the same, effective concentration (EC) were determined.

Algal growth was calculated daily by counting the cells microscopically with the help of haemocytometer. For microscopic observations the cultures were observed daily with the help of a microscope to verify a normal and healthy appearance of the algal culture and also to observe any abnormal appearance of the algae (as may be caused by the exposure of the test item). Apart from this, the cell count of each test vessel was also noted with the help of a microscope and haemocytometer. By spectrophotometer the absorbance values of each test vessel and control vessel was noted at 680nm.The BBM was taken as blank for both control and test vessels. The absorbance value of each vessel was in line with the average specific growth rate.

As per OECD 201, the biomass in the control cultures should have increased exponentially by a factor of at least 16 within the 72 hr test period. This corresponds to a specific growth rate of 0.92 per day. Thus, the observed specific growth rate in the control cultures during the experiment was 0.358 per day. Secondly the mean coefficient of variation for section by section specific growth rates (days 0-1, 1-2 & 2-3, for 72 hr tests) in the control cultures must not exceed 35%. Thus, the observed mean coefficient of variation in the control cultures during the experiment was 33.42%. Thirdly the coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the whole test period in replicate control cultures must not exceed 10%. Thus, the observed coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the experiment in control cultures was 8.26%. Hence, the test is considered valid as per OECD guideline, 201

After 72 hours of exposure to test item to various nominal test concentrations, EC50 was determine to be >200 mg/l graphically and through probit analysis. Based on the EC50, it can be concluded that the chemical was not toxic and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Toxicity to microorganisms:

Antifungal activity of test material was tested at the dose concentrations of 20 and 200 mg/L on the fungi Lipomyces starkeyi IFO10381 for a duration of 7 days. The substance inhibited fungal growth by 14% at both concentrations.

Additional information

Short-term toxicity to fish:

Study was conducted to assess the effect of test chemical on the mortality of fish Danio rerio. Test conducted according to OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test).The test substance was soluble in water. Therefore, the test solution was prepared by dissolving 1 g of the test substance in 4 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) with continuous stirring for achieving test concentrations of 100 mg/L, respectively.Bowl aquaria containing 2 liters of potable water (passed through reverse osmosis system) were loaded with 8 fishes. A static procedure was used for the study and it was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 203. After 96 hours of exposure to test item to various nominal test concentrations, LC50 was determine to be >100 mg/l . Based on the LC50, it can be consider that the chemical was not toxic and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates:

The effect of test material on aquatic invertebrate was evaluaed based on the predicted data of target chemical along with data for structurally and functionally similar read across substance.

In the predicted study the Lethal concentration (LC50) value of test material in aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia Magna) in a 48 hr study based on mortality effect was estimated to be 114.788 mg/l Thus considering the value from CLP Criteria for aquatic classification of the substance , it is concluded that test material do not exhibit short term toxicity aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia Magna) and cannot be classified as per CLP criteria .

The above study was supported by structurally similar read across substance ,determination of the inhibition of the mobility of Daphnids was carried out with the test substanceaccording to OECD Guideline 202.

The stock solution 150.0 mg/L was prepared by dissolving white powder in reconstituted water. The solution was kept in ultrasonic bath for 20 min. The test solutions of required concentrations were prpared by mixing the stock solution of the test sample in reconstituted water.The test substance was tested at the concentrations 0, 30.0, 45.0, 67.5, 100.0 and 150.0 mg/L.The test was performed under static conditions in a fresh water system at a temperature of 20 °C± 1 °C. EC50 was calculated using non linear regression by the software Prism 4.0.

The median effective concentration (EC50) for the test substance, in Daphnia magna was determined to be 100.8 mg/L for immobilisation effects with 95% CI of 94.7 to 107.4 mg/L. Thus, based on this EC50 value and after comparing with CLP criteria for aquatic classification of the substance it is concluded that the test substance,does not exhibit short term toxicity to aquatic invertebrate (Daphnia Magna).

The above data was supported by another structurally similar read across substance,short term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates was performed in Daphnia magna for 48 hrs. The young daphnids were obtained from continuous cultures in 1 liter glass beakers at 21 ± 0.3 degree C, in dechlorinated and conditioned tap water, the medium was renewed in three weeks and daphnids were fed daily with the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum. The pH of test solution was adjusted to 7.45 ± 0.05 with HCL and NaOH. The concentrations of the resultant solutions were checked before and after (48 h) exposure using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. At the start of the experiment neonate were placed in 50 ml of beaker with 40 ml of test solution. All experiment was made in four replicates and performed at 21 ± 0.3 degree C under 16 h light: 8 h dark photoperiod. Immobility was observed after 24 and 48 hrs and EC 50 value was calculated. After the experiment the EC 50 value of test material for Daphnia magna was determined to be 943 mg/l in 48 hrs of exposure. Based on the CLP regulation the test material is not toxic to aquatic invertebrates and can be considered to be not classified.

The above read across was further supported by data for functionally similar read across substance,short term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates was performed in Daphnia magna for 48 hrs. The young daphnids were obtained from continuous cultures in 1 liter glass beakers at 21 ± 0.3 degree C, in dechlorinated and conditioned tap water, the medium was renewed in three weeks and daphnids were fed daily with the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum. The pH of test solution was adjusted to 7.45 ± 0.05 with HCL and NaOH. The concentrations of the resultant solutions were checked before and after (48 h) exposure using a UV–visible spectrophotometer.

At the start of the experiment neonate were placed in 50 ml of beaker with 40 ml of test solution. All experiment was made in four replicates and performed at 21 ± 0.3 degree C under 16 h light: 8 h dark photoperiod. Immobility was observed after 24 and 48 hrs and EC 50 value was calculated. The EC 50 value of test material for Daphnia magna was determined to be 908 mg/l in 48 hrs.

Based on the CLP regulation the test material is not toxic to aquatic invertebrates and can be considered to be not classified.

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria:

The study was designed to assess the toxic effects of the test compound on the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. Test was conducted in compliance with the OECD guideline 201 (Alga, Growth Inhibition Test).

Test was carried out in 100mL conical flasks which were carefully autoclaved and sterilized. The test solution in each of these test vessels was kept constant which is 60 ml so that a sufficient amount of head space was left.The test substance  was prepared by adding 60 µl of test substance in 300 ml of BBM to get the final concentration of 200 mg/L. The remaining test solutions were prepared by dilution from the above stock solution. To have a better growth and visibility of cells, the initial cell density of the culture was kept 1 X 104 cells/ml. Care was taken to have a homogeneous solution for the experiment.

For the assessment of algal growth, the test was conducted in replicates. The control flask was maintained in triplicates as recommended in the OECD guideline and the test concentration were selected in geometric series which were maintained in duplicates. To obtain a quantitative concentration-response relationship by regression analysis, a linearizing transformation of the response data into probit was performed. Using the same, effective concentration (EC) were determined.

Algal growth was calculated daily by counting the cells microscopically with the help of haemocytometer. For microscopic observations the cultures were observed daily with the help of a microscope to verify a normal and healthy appearance of the algal culture and also to observe any abnormal appearance of the algae (as may be caused by the exposure of the test item). Apart from this, the cell count of each test vessel was also noted with the help of a microscope and haemocytometer. By spectrophotometer the absorbance values of each test vessel and control vessel was noted at 680nm.The BBM was taken as blank for both control and test vessels. The absorbance value of each vessel was in line with the average specific growth rate.

As per OECD 201, the biomass in the control cultures should have increased exponentially by a factor of at least 16 within the 72 hr test period. This corresponds to a specific growth rate of 0.92 per day. Thus, the observed specific growth rate in the control cultures during the experiment was 0.358 per day. Secondly the mean coefficient of variation for section by section specific growth rates (days 0-1, 1-2 & 2-3, for 72 hr tests) in the control cultures must not exceed 35%. Thus, the observed mean coefficient of variation in the control cultures during the experiment was 33.42%. Thirdly the coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the whole test period in replicate control cultures must not exceed 10%. Thus, the observed coefficient of variation of average specific growth rates during the experiment in control cultures was 8.26%. Hence, the test is considered valid as per OECD guideline, 201

After 72 hours of exposure to test item to various nominal test concentrations, EC50 was determine to be >200 mg/l graphically and through probit analysis. Based on the EC50, it can be concluded that the chemical was not toxic and can be consider to be not classified as per the CLP classification criteria.

Toxicity to microorganisms:

Antifungal activity of test material was tested at the dose concentrations of 20 and 200 mg/L on the fungi Lipomyces starkeyi IFO10381 for a duration of 7 days. The substance inhibited fungal growth by 14% at both concentrations.