Amines, polyethylenepoly-, tetraethylenepentamine fraction

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

02 Mar - 28 Apr 1989

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Remarks:

Study is complete, performed under GLP and valid. However no analysis was performed and thus the usability for risk assessment purposes is limited when assessing the bioavailable fraction.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.1 (Acute Toxicity for Fish)

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: S.A.L.M. Kooyman: "Parametric Analysis of mortality rates in bio-assays". Water Research 15{l981)107-119.

GLP compliance:

yes

Analytical monitoring:

no

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Poecilia reticulata

Details on test organisms:

A stock solution of 25 g/l was prepared by dissolving the test substance in demineralized water containing concentrated HCl.
The presence of the test substance in the test medium caused a change of the pH, which was outside the range that can be supported by the test animal. Therefore, the pH was neutralized both in the stock solution and in the dilution water to a value between 7.0 and 7.3. The chosen test concentrations were prepared by dilution of the stock solution.

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

68.4 mg Ca/l, 35.7 mg Mg/l, 17.7 °dH

Test temperature:

21.7-23.0 °C

pH:

7.0-7.7

Dissolved oxygen:

7.1-7.7 mg/L

Nominal and measured concentrations:

nominal: 100, 180, 320, 560, 1000 mg/L

Details on test conditions:

The temperature was kept between 21.7 and 23.0 °C, and the light regime was 15 hours ambient light per day.
The duration of the test was 96 hours.
The test vessels were 2 l glass aquaria, containing 1 l of test medium.
The loading in the test vessels was approximately 0.6 g biomass/l.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

0.42 g/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CI: 0.35-0.51 g/L

Details on results:

No significant mortality occurred at 0.32 g/l, and 100% mortality occurred at 1 g/l. The LC50-96h was 0.42 g/l. The 95% confidence limits are 0.35 and 0.51 g/l.
The quality criteria of this test have been fulfilled: the mortality in the control was 90%, the oxygen concentration was >60% of the air-saturation value throughout the test, and the concentration of TEPA in the test medium remained constant.
An earlier study on the toxicity of TEPA for guppy resulted in an LC50-96 h of 0.32 g/l with 95% confidence limits of 0.28 and 0.37 g/l (Ten Berge and Blok, 1975). These results are confirmed by the present test.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

The LC50 was determined with an LC50 program of Griffioen (RIZA), based on a model of Kooyman (1981).

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Nominal concentration mg/L	Cumulative animals surviving
	0h	24h	48h	72h	96h
Control	30	30	30	30	30
100	10	10	10	10	10
180	10	10	10	10	10
320	10	10	10	10	9
560	10	10	8	4	1
100	10	10	3	0	0

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

No significant mortality occurred at 0.32 g/l, and 100% mortality occurred at 1 g/l. The LC50 -96h was 0.42 g/l. The 95% confidence limits are 0.35 and 0.51 g/l.
The quality criteria of this test have been fulfilled: the mortality in the control was 90%, the oxygen concentration was >60% of the air-saturation value throughout the test, and the concentration of TEPA in the test medium remained constant. The test is valid. Only nominal concentrations were recorded so this is a limitation when using these values in a risk assessment.

Executive summary:

Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) was tested in an acute toxicity test with guppy (Poecilia reticulata). The test was performed according to the EEC method, part C.: Methods for the determination of ecotoxicity, C.1. Acute toxicity to fish. The test was performed as a semi-static test, in which the solution was renewed after 48 hours. During this time tetraethylenepentamine is not (bio)degradable. No significant mortality was observed up to 0.32 g/l nominal. The LC50 was 0.42 g/l, with 95% confidence limits of 0.35 and 0.51 g/l nominal. The study is valid and performed according to GLP.

Description of key information

LC50 (96 h): 420 mg/L (nominal)

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

420 mg/L

Additional information

The acute toxicity of the test substance to fish was tested following EU Method C.1 and GLP (Acute Toxicity for Fish). The fish (Poecilia reticulata) were exposed to nominal substance concentrations of 100, 180, 320, 560 and 1000 mg/L in a semi-static test. The test solution was renewed after 48 hours. Analytical dose verification was not performed since the substance was expected to be stable under the tested conditions. Mortality was not observed up to a concentration of 180 mg/L. At test termination after 96 hours a LC50 of 420 mg/L (nominal) was determined.