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Diss Factsheets

Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

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Endpoint:
toxicity to terrestrial plants: short-term
Type of information:
read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)
Adequacy of study:
key study
Justification for type of information:
1. HYPOTHESIS FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
Bulk calcium carbonate and uncoated nano calcium carbonate are chemically identical. The only difference between them is the particle size, which may result in minor differences in physico-chemical properties. However, in biological systems and in the environment, both bulk and uncoated nano calcium carbonate are expected to have identical (eco)toxicological and environmental fate properties.
2. SOURCE AND TARGET CHEMICAL(S) (INCLUDING INFORMATION ON PURITY AND IMPURITIES)
Uncoated nano calcium carbonate (Source): Refer to IUCLID section 1.2 for information on purity and impurities.
Bulk calcium carbonate (Target): Refer to IUCLID section 1.2 for information on purity and impurities.
The majority of new studies have been performed using uncoated nano calcium carbonate as the test material, hence it has been designated as the ‘Source’ in the read-across justification. However, for some endpoints data on bulk calcium carbonate are available and used to read-across to uncoated nano calcium carbonate so for these endpoints, marked with a * in the read-across justification document, bulk calcium carbonate is the ‘Source’.
3. ANALOGUE APPROACH JUSTIFICATION
Please refer to the justification attached in Section 13 of the dataset
4. DATA MATRIX
Please refer to the justification attached in Section 13 of the dataset
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
read-across source
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
read-across: supporting information
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 208 (Terrestrial Plants Test: Seedling Emergence and Seedling Growth Test)
Deviations:
no
Species:
other: All species tested (soybean, tomato and oat)
Duration:
21 d
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
> 1 000 mg/kg soil dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
seedling emergence
Species:
other: All species tested (soybean, tomato and oat)
Duration:
21 d
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
> 1 000 mg/kg soil dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
growth
Species:
other: All species tested (soybean, tomato and oat)
Duration:
21 d
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
1 000 mg/kg soil dw
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
other: growth and seedling emergence
Endpoint:
toxicity to terrestrial plants: long-term
Data waiving:
study scientifically not necessary / other information available
Justification for data waiving:
other:

Description of key information

The acute toxicity of uncoated nano calcium carbonate to three species of plant (soybean, tomato and oat) has been investigated in a GLP study performed in accordance with OECD Guideline 208. The 21 day EC50 was >1000 mg/kg dw soil and the NOEC was 1000 mg/kg dw soil.

The result from this study demonstrates that calcium carbonate is not acutely toxic to plants at the concentration tested.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

Acute Toxicity:

The key study for short term toxicity to plants (Goodband, 2010) was performed to OECD TG 208 and in accordance with GLP. The study assessed the acute toxicity of uncoated nano calcium carbonate to three species of plant (soybean, tomato and oat) in a limit test. No toxic effects on either growth or seedling emergence were noted at the concentration tested. Hence, the 21 day EC50 for uncoated nano calcium carbonate was found to be >1000 mg/kg dw soil and the NOEC was 1000 mg/kg dw soil.Uncoated nano calcium carbonate was tested because it was anticipated to represent the worst case as it is likely to be more soluble than bulk calcium carbonate due to the smaller particle size and hence greater surface area. However, the results are directly applicable to bulk calcium carbonate.

Long Term Toxicity:

Calcium carbonate and calcium and carbonate ions are ubiquitous in the environment and are found naturally in soil, water and sediment.Calcium is an important constituent of most soils and the minerals found in soil are mostly compounds of calcium with other substances. Furthermore, calcium carbonate is used as an inorganic fertiliser to improve soil quality, both pH and structure and guarantees an adequate supply of calcium to plants.

 

Soil calcium is necessary for proper plant functions and helps in producing healthy fruits and flowers. Some of the functions that require soil calcium include enzyme activity for the absorption of other nutrients, proper cell formation and division, increased metabolic activities, starch breakdown and nitrate uptake. Without soil calcium plants tend to lose their colour, have a short life and produce little or no fruit.

Soil calcium is mainly important for lowering the pH level and the associated acidity. It is often recommended to include up to 40 – 50% of calcium in any fertilizer to account for its deficiency in the soil. The resulting plants will have stronger roots and better growth rate than a calcium deficient soil. In addition to this, calcium also helps in regulating the flow of water and air in the soil for proper absorption by the plant cells.

 

Furthermore, a seedling emergence and growth test was performed according to OECD 208 using a concentration of uncoated nano calcium carbonate of 1000 mg/kg dw soil (Goodband, 2010). No toxic effects were observed at the concentration tested. As a result, calcium carbonate is considered not toxic to plants and hence long term testing is considered to be unnecessary.

 

Given the extensive and continued use of calcium carbonate as a constituent of fertiliser and its natural occurrence in the environment, it is considered that calcium carbonate would not have a detrimental effect on plants at the concentrations released to soil. Therefore, the performance of long term toxicity tests on plants is not scientifically justified.