4-chlorobenzonitrile

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

calculation (if not (Q)SAR)

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

QSAR; calculation on basis of log Kow (2.24) using EPISUITE 3.12 (US-EPA 2004).

GLP compliance:

no

Test organisms (species):

other: fish

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

61 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

The calculated 96-h EC50 of 4-chlorobenzonitrile for fish using EPISUITE 3.12 (US-EPA 2004) is estimated to be 61 mg/L.

Executive summary:

In addition to available experimental data the 96-h LC50 of 4-chlorobenzonitrile for fish was calculated using EPISUITE 3.12 (US-EPA 2004). The calculated 96-h LC50 is 61mg/L.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Remarks:

National standard test (DIN 38412 L15) according to GLP; fish slightly larger than standard; substance non-soluable in water hence desolved in DMSO, no analytical control; At test concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher undissolved test material could be found on the bottom of the test vessels. In addition, at concentrations of 56 mg/L and higher, undissolved test material could also be found at the surface of the tests solutions. Effects of 4-chlorobenzonitrile on fish were recorded at concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher. Therefore, mortality could also have been induced by physical effects.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: DIN 38412 L15

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

DMSO used at 1000 µl/l of dilution water, exceeds allowable amount of an organic solvent of 100 mg/l (according to OECD 203 (ref.3))

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

yes

Test organisms (species):

Leuciscus idus

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

24 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 20-30 mg/l

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

22 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 18-27 mg/l

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC100

Effect conc.:

32 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

18 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

10 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: condition (swiming behaviour, colour, respiratory function or any other morphological or behavioural criterion)

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

At test concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher undissolved test material could be found on the bottom of the test vessels. In addition, at concentrations of 56 mg/L and higher, undissolved test material could also be found at the surface of the tests solutions.

Effects of 4-chlorobenzonitrile on fish were recorded at concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher. Therefore, mortality could also have been induced by physical effects.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The acute toxicity of p-chlorobenzonitrile to fresh-water fish species determined the 48-h LC50 to be 22 mg 4-chlorobenzonitrile.

Executive summary:

In a 48-h acute toxicity study,Leuciscus idus (‘Goldorfe’) were exposed to 4-Chlorobenzonitrile at nominal concentrations of 0 (control, solvent control), 3.2, 5.6, 10, 18, 32, 56 and 100 mg a.i./L under static conditions. The 48-h LC₅₀was 22 mg a.i./L. The 24-h LC₅₀ and NOEC values, based on mortality, were 24 and 18 mg a.i./L, respectively.

 

Results Synopsis

 

Test organism (Leuciscus idus - ‘Goldorfe’) with average size weight and length (8.2± 0.2 cm. 4.8 ±0.5 g and 0.9 ±0.05 g/cm³ respectively) were subject to a static test:

 

24h LC₅₀: 24 mg a.i./L with 95% C.I.: 20-30

48h LC₅₀: 22 mg a.i./L with 95% C.I.: 18-27

48h NOEC: 18 mg a.i./L

At test concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher undissolved test material could be found on the bottom of the test vessels. In addition, at concentrations of 56 mg/L and higher, undissolved test material could also be found at the surface of the tests solutions.

Effects of 4-chlorobenzonitrile on fish were recorded at concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher. Therefore, mortality could also have been induced by physical effects.

Description of key information

The 48-h LC50 for Leuciscus idus determined in a acute toxicity test according to DIN 38 412, DEV L15 (ref.1) is 22 mg/l.
The QSAR calculated 48-h LC50 for fathead minnnow is 14.4 mg/l.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

14.4 mg/L

Additional information

In the 48-h acute toxicity study according to DIN 38 412, Leuciscus idus ('Goldorfe') were exposed to 4-chlorobenzonitrile at nominal concentrations of 0 (control, solvent control), 3.2, 5.6, 10, 18, 32, 56 and 100 mg/l under static conditions. The 48-h LC50 was 22 mg/L. The 24-h LC50 and NOEC values, based on mortality, were 24 and 18 mg/L, respectively (see Hooftmann, 1990).

In this test, at test concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher undissolved test material could be found on the bottom of the test vessels. In addition, at concentrations of 56 mg/L and higher, undissolved test material could also be found at the surface of the tests solutions. Effects of 4-chlorobenzonitrile on fish were recorded at concentrations of 18 mg/L and higher. Therefore, mortality could also have been induced by physical effects.

 

Besides, a QSAR results are available for short-term toxicity to fish:

The 48-h LC50 for fathead minnow (Zhao et al., 1993), calculated in a QSAR approach, was determined to be 14.4 mg/l.

The QSAR approach was based on a extrapolation of EC50 values of the test substance determined for Photobacterium phosphoreum according the following equation:

log 1/LC50 = 0.6811* log 1/EC50 + 0.344 * log Kow + 0.35

The calculated LC50 values were stated to be in good agreement with the LC50 values that could be derived in acute toxicity tests.

In addition to available experimental data the 96-h LC50 of 4-chlorobenzonitrile for fish was calculated using EPISUITE 3.12 (US-EPA 2004, reported in BUA Stoffbericht 265, 2006). The calculated 96-h LC50 is 61mg/L.

The experimental results for Leuciscus idus (48-h LC50) and the calculated values for Fathead minnow (48-h LC50) are within the same range and much lower than the QSAR calculated 96-h LC50 for fish using EPISUITE. As the QSAR calculated value for fathead minnow is lower (> more sensitive result) than the experimentally derived value for Leuscicus idus, 14.4 mg/L is chosen as key value due to precautionary reasons.