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EC number: 233-484-9 | CAS number: 10196-04-0
Toxicity to microorganisms
Administrative data
Link to relevant study record(s)
Description of key information
The value of 634.4 mg (SO3)2-/L (ECT, 2010) is put forward for the environmental assessment of sulfite/disulfite compounds to micro-organisms.
Key value for chemical safety assessment
- EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:
- 634.4 mg/L
Additional information
Five different studies reported on the effect on sufites/disulfites on microbial activity in the aquatic environment.
Growth inhibition tests with the bacteria Pseudomonas putida were conducted with three different sulfite compounds: potassium sulfite (K2SO3), sodium metabiosulfite (Na2S2O5) and potassium metabisulfite (K2S2O5). Table below gives an overview of the different effect levels that were determined in this study.
Compound |
MM |
%S |
17h-EC50 (mg test item/L) |
17h-EC50 (mg S/L) |
17h-EC50 (mg SO32-/L) |
K2SO3 |
158.26 |
20.3 |
410 |
83.1 |
207.2 |
K2S2O5 |
222.32 |
28.8 |
65 |
18.8 |
46.8 |
Na2S2O5 |
190.1 |
33.7 |
56.1 |
18.9 |
47.2 |
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|
Compound |
MM |
%S |
17h-EC10 (mg test item/L) |
17h-LC10 (mg S/L) |
17h-EC10 (mg SO32-/L) |
K2SO3 |
158.26 |
20.3 |
153 |
31 |
77.3 |
K2S2O5 |
222.32 |
28.8 |
32 |
9.2 |
23.0 |
Na2S2O5 |
190.1 |
33.7 |
30.8 |
10.4 |
25.9 |
Expressed as SO32-, similar 17h-EC50,10 values were obtained for sodium and potassium metabisulfite. Somewhat lower toxicity was noted when potiassium sulfite was used as test substance.
An OECD No. 209 respiration inhibition test (under GLP) was conducted witt sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) as test substance. The activated sludge originated from the sewage treatment works in Frankfurt/Main Niederrad treating predominantly domestic sewage. No effects on respiration were noted at 1000 mg test substance/L. Therefore the 3h-EC50 and 3h-NOEC – expressed as SO32-, were equal to (or higher than) 634.4 mg/L (or 254.4 mg S/L). The absence of any effect at these levels is confirmed by Alsop et al (1980) who conducted a growth inhibition test on a mixed culture of bacteria, and who reported a 16h-EC50o f 2000 mg Na2SO3/L (i.e., 1268 mg SO32-).
As respiration tests with activated sludge is a more relevant test design for evaluating effects of a substance on micro-organisms, and taking into account that the ECT (2010) study was an OECD Guideline GLP-study, the data reported by ECT (2010) are put forward for the effects assessment of sulfites/disulfites for micro-organisms.
The value of 634.4 mg SO32-/L is put forward for the environmental assessment of sulfite/disulfite compounds to micro-organisms.
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