2-methylpentane-2,4-diol

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Description of key information

Daphnid EC50 (immibilization) is 2800 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect concentration:

2 800 mg/L

Additional information

The acute toxicity of hexylene glycol was assessed in Daphnia magna in a freshwater, static test system as part of a series of tests conducted by Thurston et al. (1985). The 48-hour EC50 of hexylene glycol in Daphnia magna was determined to be 5410 mg/L.

 

Other acute toxicity tests conducted by Elnabarawy et al. (1986) were performed in Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex and in Ceriodaphnia sp. under more or less similar conditions as above. The 48-hour EC50 of hexylene glycol in Daphnia pulex was determined to be 3300 mg/L, in Daphnia magna was 3200 mg/L and 2800 mg/L in Ceriodaphnia sp., based on nominal concentrations.

 

Tests were also performed on Tanytarsus dissimilis (Thuston et al., 1985) in a freshwater, static test system using closed beakers. Five to 7 dilutions of hexylene glycol were tested. The 96-hour LC50 of hexylene glycol was determined to be 4310 mg/L. The test performed in Orconectes immunis (crayfish) was conducted in a freshwater, flow-through system using 5 unspecified test concentrations and 1 control group. The 96-hour LC50 of hexylene glycol in Orconectes immunis was determined to be 16500 mg/L.

 

In addition, Linden et al. (1979 ) determined that the 96-hour IC50 of hexylene glycol was 7600 mg/L in adult Harpacticoid (Nitocra spinipes), based on nominal concentrations. The test was performed using a brackish water, static system in which 10 animals were exposed to each of 6 concentrations, with one control group in duplicate.