Benzonitrile

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1961

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Documentation insufficent for assessment.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Method recommended by the subcommittee on Toxicity, Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Laboratory operations described in detail by Henderson and Tarzwell

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Lepomis macrochirus

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

78 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

78 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

78 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Results for different bioassays use

and experimental conditions :

		TLM / LC50 (mg/l)
Kind of Fish	Dilution Water	24 hour	48 hour	96 days
Bluegills	Soft	78.	78.	78.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

he 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for bluegill is 78 mg/L in soft water.

Executive summary:

The toxicity of benzonitrile for bluegill was tested under static condictions for groups of ten fish each at concentrations of

10, 5.6, 3.2, 1.8 and 1.0 ppm for up to 96 hours. The test was conducted under soft water conditions.

The 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for bluegill was determined to be 78 mg/L in soft water.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1961

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Documentation insufficient for assessment.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Method recommended by the subcommittee on Toxicity, Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Laboratory operations described in detail by Henderson and Tarzwell

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Pimephales promelas

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

116 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hard water

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

240 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

78 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hard water

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

180 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

78 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: hard water

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

135 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Results for different bioassays use

and experimental conditions :

		TLM / LC50 (mg/l)
Kind of Fish	Dilution Water	24 hour	48 hour	96 days
Fathead minnow	Hard	116.	78.	78.
Fathead minnow	Soft	240.	180.	135.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

The 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for fathead minnow is 78 mg/L in hard water and 135 mg/L in soft water.

Executive summary:

The toxicity of benzonitrile for fathead minnow was tested under static condictions for groups of ten fish each at concentrations of

10, 5.6, 3.2, 1.8 and 1.0 ppm for up to 96 hours. The test was conducted under hard water conditions as well as under soft water conditions.

The 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for fathead minnow was determined to be 78 mg/L in hard water and 135 mg/L in soft water.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1961

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Documentation insufficent for assessment.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Method recommended by the subcommittee on Toxicity, Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Laboratory operations described in detail by Henderson and Tarzwell

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms (species):

Poecilia reticulata

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

400 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

400 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

other: TLm

Effect conc.:

400 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks on result:

other: soft water

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Results for different bioassays use

and experimental conditions :

		TLM / LC50 (mg/l)
Kind of Fish	Dilution Water	24 hour	48 hour	96 days
Guppies	Soft	400.	400.	400.

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

he 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for guppy is 400 mg/L in soft water.

Executive summary:

The toxicity of benzonitrile for guppy was tested under static condictions for groups of ten fish each at concentrations of

10, 5.6, 3.2, 1.8 and 1.0 ppm for up to 96 hours. The test was conducted under soft water conditions.

The 96-h TLm (median toxic level) of Benzonitrile for guppy was determined to be 400 mg/L in soft water.

Reference 4

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Study period:

1982

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

abstract

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

no data; secondary reference

GLP compliance:

not specified

Remarks:

abstract from IFA GESTIS

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

other: Brachydanio rerio (new name: Danio rerio) & Leuciscus idus

Test type:

not specified

Water media type:

not specified

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

54 - 130 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

not specified

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks on result:

other: median 92 mg/l; number of studies: 2

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

LC 50 (fish, 96 h) = 92 mg/l (median);
reported minimum value: LC50 = 54 mg/L

Executive summary:

A study conducted by Wellens, H. (1982: Comparison of the Sensitivity of Brachydanio rerio and Leuciscus idus by Testing the Fish Toxicity of Chemicals and Wastewaters. Z.Wasser-Abwasser-Forsch. 51(2):49-52.) is referenced in the GESTIS-database on hazardous substances (www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis-database). The reported median LC50 (96) for Brachydario rerio and Leuciscus idus is 92 mg/l. The LC50 ranges between 54 and 130 mg/L.

Description of key information

The reported range of the 96-h LC50 of benzonitrile for different fish species is between 54 mg/L and 135 mg/L. 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

54 mg/L

Additional information

The toxicity of benzonitrile for fathead minnow, bluegill and guppy was tested under static conditions for groups of ten fish per concentration at levels of 10, 5.6, 3.2, 1.8 and 1.0 ppm for up to 96 hours. The tests were conducted under soft water conditions for all three fish species and in addition under hard water conditions for fathead minnow.

The 96-h TLm (median toxic level, equivalent to LC50) of benzonitrile for fathead minnow was determined to be 78 mg/L in hard water and 135 mg/L in soft water.

The 96-h TLm for bluegill and guppy was determined to be 78 mg/L and 400 mg/L, respectively, in soft water.

A study conducted by Wellens, 1982 is referenced in the GESTIS-database on hazardous substances (www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis-database). The reported median LC50 (96) for Brachydario rerio and Leuciscus idus is 92 mg/l. The minimum value determined in the study is 54 mg/L (species not reported).

As the value of 54 mg/L is the most sensitive value reported in all available studies, this value is used as key value for the chemical safety assessment.