Sodium long chain alkyl salicylate

Short-term toxicity to fish

Description of key information

96 h LC50 2.2 mg/L (Cyprinus carpio), OECD 203, EU Method C.1 and OECD 23

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

2.2 mg/L

Additional information

In the key study, the toxicity of the test material to Carp (Cyprinus carpio) was investigated in accordance with the standardised guidelines OECD 203, EU Method C.1 and OECD 23 under GLP conditions. The study was awarded a reliability score of 1 in accordance with the principles for assessing data quality set forth by Klimisch et al. (1997).

The batch of test material tested was not completely soluble in test medium at the initial loading rate prepared. Preparation of test solutions started with a loading rate of 100 mg/L, applying two days of magnetic stirring to ensure maximum dissolution of the test material in the test medium was reached. The resulting dispersion was filtered twice through a 0.45 µm membrane filter to remove the undissolved test material. The resulting Water Soluble Fraction (WSF) was used as highest test concentration and used to prepare the lower test concentrations by subsequent dilution in test medium.

A final LC50 test was performed based on the results obtained in a preceding range-finding test. Seven carp per test group were exposed to an untreated control and to test concentrations representing 10, 18, 32, 56 and 100 % of a WSF prepared at a loading rate of 100 mg/L. The total test period was 96 hours and a static test system was applied. Samples for analytical confirmation of actual exposure concentrations were taken at the start and the end of the test and on days with complete mortality observed in a particular test group.

Analysis of the samples taken at the start of the final test showed measured concentrations of 0.68, 1.14, 2.0, 2.83 and 5.87 mg/L for the test groups representing 10, 18, 32, 56 and 100 % WSF, respectively. A slight decrease was observed in the two highest solutions with complete mortality after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. A somewhat higher decrease was observed at the end of the test period in the three lowest test groups with surviving fish. The range tested based on average measured concentrations corresponded with 0.49, 0.97, 1.6, 2.9 and 5.8 mg/L. The concentration measured in the undiluted WSF was comparable to the water solubility (determined to be 5.89 mg/L).

The study met the acceptability criteria and was considered valid.

The 96 h LC50 was 2.2 mg/L based on average exposure concentrations with 0 % mortality at 1.6 mg/L and 100 % mortality at 2.9 mg/L and was reached after 48 hours of exposure.

Further information is available in the form of a disregarded study. The test was carried out using methodology similar to that outlined in the standardised guideline OECD 203 under GLP conditions, however there were shortcomings. The test material was not wholly soluble in water and was used as an homogeneous emulsion. There was no attempt to remove impurities such as xylene and no analysis of test material levels took place during the study. Effects are considered likely to be the result of physical contact with oil droplets combined with toxicity of impurities. The study was awarded a reliability score of 3 in accordance with the principles for assessing data quality set forth by Klimisch et al. (1997).

Salmo gairdneri were exposed to the test material for 96 hours. The LC50 was calculated to be 1.0 mg/L with 95 % confidence limits of 1.4 to 2.7 mg/L.