Lithium acetate

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1997-06-10 to 1997-07-17

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.2 (Acute Toxicity for Daphnia)

Version / remarks:

December 1992

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 202 (Daphnia sp. Acute Immobilisation Test)

Version / remarks:

April 1984

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

SOURCE OF TEST MATERIAL
- Lot/batch No.: Chg. 19704472

STABILITY AND STORAGE CONDITIONS OF TEST MATERIAL
- Expiration date of the lot/batch: May 2017
- Storage condition of test material: room temperature at about 20 °C; in the dark

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Concentrations: nominal: 4.6; 10; 21; 46; 100 mg/L; measured: 19.64; 43.90; 99.20 mg/L (with pH adjustment); 9.58; 19.86; 44.80 (without pH adjustment);
- Sampling method: For the analytical measurements of the test substance concentrations, duplicate samples from the freshly prepared test media of all test concentrations of both test series (with and without pH-adjustment) and the control were taken just before the start of the test.
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: All samples were deep-frozen (-20 degree C) immediately after sampling. All samples are kept stored at about -20 degree C to enable additional analysis.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

- Before start of the test, two concentrated stock solutions were prepared. At each stock solution 1000 mg of test substance were dissolved in 100 mL bidistilled water, resulting in a nominal concentration of 10 g/L. At one stock solution, the pH was adjusted to pH 7.9 with 2 mol HCl, at the other stock solution the pH was not adjusted. Then, adequate volumes of both intensively stirred stock solutions were mixed into the test water to obtain the desired test concentrations. At one series of test media the pH was adjusted, at the other series not. This allowed to differentiate if a toxic effect is caused due to a pH-effect of the substance with strong basic pH, or if it is a real toxic effect of lithium (-hydroxide).
- The same five following test substance concentrations were tested in both experimental parts (with and without pH-adjustment): 4.6, 10, 21, 46 and 100 mg/L. Additionally, a control was tested in parallel (test water without addition of test substance). The test media were prepared just before introduction of Daphnia (= start of the test).

Test organisms (species):

Daphnia magna

Details on test organisms:

- The study was performed with young test animals of a clone of the species Daphnia magna Straus. The clone was originally supplied by the University of Sheffield/UK in 1992, defined from the supplier as clone 5. Since this date the clone is bred in the laboratories of RCC under similar temperature and light conditions as in the test, and in reconstituted water of similar quality regarding to pH, components of the main ions and total hardness as the test water used in the test.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

48 h

Hardness:

250.0 mg/L as CaCO3

Test temperature:

20 °C

pH:

without pH-adjustment: 8.9 at 4.6 mg/L to 11.2 at 100 mg/L;
with pH-adjustment: 7.9 to 8.1 at all concentrations;

Dissolved oxygen:

without pH-adjustment: 8.5 - 8.9 mg/L;
with pH-adjustment: 8.4 - 8.8 mg/L;

Nominal and measured concentrations:

nominal: 4.6; 10; 21; 46; 100 mg/L;
measured: 19.64; 43.90; 99.20 mg/L (with pH adjustment); 9.58; 19.86; 44.80 (without pH adjustment);

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
In each test concentration and the control, 20 Daphnia were tested, divided into two groups of ten animals, each group in 50 mL test medium in a 100-mL glass beaker. The test vessels were labelled with the RCC Project number and all necessary additional information to assure unmistakable identification. The test was performed in an air-temperated room.


TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Reconstituted water: In bidistilled water analytical grade salts were added to following nominal concentrations, and the water was aerated to oxygen saturation:
- CaCl2x2 H2O: 2.0 mmol/L (= 294.0 mg/L)
- MgSO4x7 H2O: 0.5 mmol/L (= 123.0 mg/L)
- NaHCO3: 0.75 mmol/L (= 65.0 mg/L)
- KCl: 0.075 mmol/L (= 5.8 mg/L)
- Water Hardness: 2.5 mmol/L (= 250 mg/L) as CaCO3
- Ratio of Ca:Mg = 4:1 (based on molarity)
- Ratio of Na:K = 10:1 (based on molarity)


OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: one stock solution to pH 7.9 with 2 mol HCl;
- Photoperiod: 16 hrs light to 8 hrs darkness;
- Light intensity: between 200 and 1200 Lux;
- The Daphnia were not feed, and the test media were not aerated during the test period;


EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED:
- The immobility or mortality of the Daphnia was determined by visual control after 24 and 48 hours. Those animals not able to swim within 15 seconds after gentle agitation of the test beaker were considered to be immobile.


TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- The test concentrations were based on a range-finding test. The range finding test was not performed in compliance with GLP-Regulations, but the raw data of the range-finding test will be archived under the RCC Project number of the present study.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

29.4 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 25.4 to 34.0 mg/L

Remarks:

LiOH anhydrous; without pH-adjustment

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

19.1 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 15.1 to 24.1 mg/L

Remarks:

LiOH anhydrous; without pH-adjustment

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

76.8 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 63.6 to 92.8 mg/L

Remarks:

LiOH anhydrous; with pH-adjustment

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

34.3 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: 95% CL: 29.6 to 39.7 mg/L

Remarks:

LiOH anhydrous; with pH-adjustment

Details on results:

The analytically determined test substance concentrations in the analysed test media varied in the range from 93.5 % to 103.2 % of the nominal values. In the test media the test substance concentrations were constant during the test period of 48 hours. Therefore, all reported biological results are related to the nominal concentrations of the test substance.
During the test period, the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the test media were at least 8.3 mg/L or higher. The pH-value in the freshly prepared test media without pH-adjustment ranged from pH 8.9 at the test concentration of 4.6 mg/L to pH 11.2 at 100 mg/L. At the end of the test period the pH-values had decreased to pH 8.0 - 8.7. The pH-value in the test media with pH-adjustment ranged from pH 7.9 to 8.1.

Test media without pH-adjustment
In the control and in the test media without pH-adjustment up to and including the test concentration of nominal 10 mg test substance/L no immobility or mortality of the test animals or other signs of intoxication were determined during the test period of 48 hours.
The 24-hour EC 50 of the test substance was calculated to be 29.4 mg test substance/L with 95 % confidence limits from 25.4 to 34.0 mg/L. The 24-hour EC 0 was 10 mg test substance/L, the 24-hour EC 100 amounted to 46 mg test substance/L.
After 48 hours of exposure the toxicity of the test substance to Daphnia magna had further increased. The 48-hour EC 50 was calculated to be 19.1 mg test substance/L with 95 % confidence limits from 15.1 to 24.1 mg/L. The 24-hour EC 0 and also the 48-hour NOEC (highest concentration tested without toxic effects after 48 hours) of lithium hydroxide was 10 mg test substance/L, since no significant immobilization rate and no other signs of intoxication were observed at the test animals up to and including this test concentration. The 48-hour EC 100 amounted to 46 mg test substance/L.

Test media with pH-adjustment:
In the test media with pH-adjustment the toxic effect of the test substance (Note: The test substance in the experimental part with pH-adjustment is LiCl instead of LiOH due to the pH-adjustment by means of HCl. The toxic effects are caused with high possibility by the lithium-ion) was slightly lower compared to the effects without pH-adjustment. Thus a part of the toxic effect of lithium hydroxide was obviously caused due to the strong basic pH.
The 24-hour EC 50 of the test substance (see above) after pH-adjustment to approximately pH 8 was calculated to be 76.8 mg/L with 95 % confidence limits from 63.6 to 92.8 mg/L. The 24-hour EC 0 was 21 mg/L, the 24-hour EC 100 amounted to > 100 mg/L.
The 48-hour EC 50 was calculated to be 34.3 mg/L with 95 % confidence limits from 29.6 to 39.7 mg/L. The 48-hour EC 0 and also the 48-hour NOEC (highest concentration tested without toxic effects after 48 hours) of the test substance after the pH-adjustment was 21 mg/L. The 48-hour EC 100 amounted to 46 mg/L.
In the test media with pH-adjustment no remarkable observations were made concerning the appearance of the test substance in the test media.
In the test media without pH-adjustment a small precipitate was observed at the test concentrations of 21 and 46 mg/L at the bottom of the testbeakers at the observations after 24 and 48 hours. At 100 mg/L the freshly prepared test media were turbid, and the precipitate was observed after 24 and 48 hours at the bottom and also at the medium surface. However, as the good recoveries of the analytical results demonstrate this was not the test substance which precipitated. Thus, it was possibly a precipitate out of the test water caused by the high pH-values.

Information on results incl. tables see attached background material.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Lithium hydroxide (55.2 %) was tested for short term aquatic toxicity in Daphnia in an 48-hour static test according to EU Method C.2 and OECD Guideline 202. Without pH-adjustment the 48 hour EC 50-value was 19.1 mg/L. With pH-adjustment the 48-hour EC 50-value 34.3 mg/L for lithium hydroxide anhydrous. Based on these data, the calculated EC50 without pH-adjustment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate was 33.5 mg/L and with pH-adjustment 60.1 mg/L.

Executive summary:

The acute toxicity of the test substance lithium hydroxide (55.2 %) to Daphnia magna was determined in a 48-hour static test according to the EU method Annex Part C.2 and the OECD Guideline No. 202. The nominal concentrations tested were 4.6, 10, 21, 46 and 100 mg test substance/L, and in parallel a control. At one series of test media the pH was adjusted to approximately pH 8 by HCl, at the other series not. This allowed to differentiate if a toxic effect is caused due to a pH-effect of the test substance with a strong basic pH, or if it is a real toxic effect of lithium(-hydroxide). The analytical determined test substance concentrations in the analysed test media varied in the range from 93.5 % to 103.2 % of the nominal values. In the test media the test substance concentrations were constant during the test period of 48 hours. Therefore, all reported biological results are related to the nominal concentrations of the test substance. Without pH-adjustment the 48 hour EC50-value was 19.1 mg/L and with pH-adjustment the 48-hour EC50-value 34.3 mg/L for lithium hydroxide anhydrous. Based on these data, the calculated EC50 without pH-adjustment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate was 33.5 mg/L and with pH-adjustment 60.1 mg/L. Consequently the LC50 values of 34.3 mg/L and 60.1 mg/L represent the relevant figures for lithium hydroxide anhydrous and lithium hydroxide monohydrate, respectively. It is obvious that lithium hydroxide monohydrate was the test material (due to the indicated purity: 55.2 %) but the study results and study title refer to lithium hydroxide anhydrous.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Justification for type of information:

HYPOTHESIS FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
Lithium acetate completely dissociates in water forming lithium cation and the corresponding acetate anion. Thus, lithium salts with different anion moieties were found to be suitable candidates for read-across. (Eco)toxicological properties were extrapolated to different endpoints by using the lowest effect concentration.
For further information, please refer to the read-across justification in chapter 13.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across: supporting information

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

52.63 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

other: recalculated for lithium acetate anhydrous (without pH-adjustment)

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: Based on LiOH (657652, 1997)

Key result

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

94.5 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

other: recalculated for lithium acetate anhydrous (with pH-adjustment)

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: Based on LiOH (657652, 1997)

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

146.09 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

other: recalculated for lithium acetate dihydrate (with pH-adjustment)

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: Based on LiOH (657652, 1997)

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

81.35 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

other: recalculated for lithium acetate dehydrate (without ph-adjustment)

Basis for effect:

mobility

Remarks on result:

other: Based on LiOH (657652, 1997)

Description of key information

Lithium hydroxide (55.2 %) was tested for short term aquatic toxicity in Daphnia in an48-hour static test according to EU Method C.2 and OECD Guideline 202. As final results the EC 50 value for lithium hydroxide anhydrous was 19.1 mg/L without and 34.3 mg/L with pH adjustment.

Based on these data, the calculated LC 50 values for lithium acetate anhydrate and lithium dihydrate are 94.5 and 146.03 mg/L, respectively.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water invertebrates

Fresh water invertebrates

Effect concentration:

94.5 mg/L

Additional information

A short-term toxicity study on aquatic invertebrates with lithium acetate is not available. Consequently, read-across was applied using a characteristically similar compound, lithium hydroxide (see IUCLID section 13 for read-across justification).

The acute toxicity of the test substance lithium hydroxide (55.2 %) to Daphnia magna was determined in a 48-hour static test according to the EU method Annex Part C.2 and the OECD Guideline No. 202. The nominal concentrations tested were 4.6, 10, 21, 46 and 100 mg test substance/L, and in parallel a control. At one series of test media the pH was adjusted to approximately pH 8 by HCl, at the other series not. This allowed to differentiate if a toxic effect is caused due to a pH-effect of the test substance with a strong basic pH, or if it is a real toxic effect of lithium (-hydroxide). The analytical determined test substance concentrations in the analysed test media varied in the range from 93.5 % to 103.2 % of the nominal values. In the test media the test substance concentrations were constant during the test period of 48 hours. Therefore, all reported biological results are related to the nominal concentrations of the test substance.

As final results the EC50 value for lithium hydroxide anhydrous was 19.1 mg/L without and 34.3 mg/L with pH adjustment. Based on these data, the calculated EC50 without pH-adjustment for lithium hydroxide monohydrate was 33.5 mg/L and with pH-adjustment 60.1 mg/L. Consequently the LC50 values of 34.3 mg/L and 60.1 mg/L represent the relevant figures for lithium hydroxide anhydrous and lithium hydroxide monohydrate, respectively. It is obvious that lithium hydroxide monohydrate was the test material (due to the indicated purity: 55.2 %) but the study results and study title refer to lithium hydroxide anhydrous.

Based on these data, the calculated EC50 values for lithium acetate anhydrate and lithium dihydrate are 52.63 mg/L and 81.35 mg/L (without pH-adjustment) and 94.51 mg/L and 146.09 mg/L (with pH-adjustment), repectively.