Calcium diformate

Toxicity to birds

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

toxicity to birds, other

Remarks:

Scientifically acceptable publication

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Scientifically acceptable publication

Test organisms (species):

other: other avian: Cobb 500 male broilers

Inclusion of up to 1.0 % FA or 1.45 % CaF had no adverse effects on body  weight, feed utilization, or livability. 

This is in agreement with the reports of Vogt et al. 1981, 1982, and  Patten & Waldroup 1988.

Feeding 0.25 % FA resulted in a 94 % decrease in the level of salmonellae  found on control carcasses; however, this decrease was not statistically  significant. There was also a decrease (P = 0.07) in the level of  salmonellae in the cecae of the birds fed 0.36 % CaF and 0.5 % FA.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to birds: acute oral toxicity test

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other:

Remarks:

Paper published in peer-reviewed journal (1983)

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Methods were previously described by DeCino et al. (1966), Schafer et al. (1967) and Schafer (1972).

GLP compliance:

not specified

Dose method:

gavage

Test organisms (species):

other: avian: redwinged blackbird

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

>= 111 mg/kg bw

Basis for effect:

mortality

Reference 3

Endpoint:

long-term toxicity to birds: reproduction test

Data waiving:

study scientifically not necessary / other information available

Justification for data waiving:

other:

Reference 4

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to birds: acute oral toxicity test

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other:

Remarks:

Paper published in peer-reviewed journal (1983)

Justification for type of information:

It is considered appropriate to address the toxicity to birds data requirement for calcium formate by read-across to an available study on formic acid.
Calcium formate is the calcium salt of formic acid, and will dissociate immediately in aqueous and biological surroundings to the formate ion. It is therefore expected that the toxicological profile of formic acid and calcium formate will be similar.

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Methods were previously described by DeCino et al. (1966), Schafer et al. (1967) and Schafer (1972).

GLP compliance:

not specified

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Formic acid is being used as a read-across for calcium formate.

Dose method:

gavage

Test organisms (species):

other: avian: redwinged blackbird

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

>= 111 mg/kg bw

Basis for effect:

mortality

Description of key information

From the available literature data there is no indication of unacceptable risks for birds from exposure to formic acid or formate. However, data from the mammalian dataset should be used for the risk assessment.

Additional information

In Annex X of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 REACH concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), it is suggested, that in case of long term toxicity testing to birds "any need for testing should be carefully considered taking into account the large mammalian dataset that is usually available at this tonnage level."

Furthermore, ECHA (2008) states in the "Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment Chapter R.7c" that "given that mammalian toxicity is considered in detail for human health protection, the need for additional data for birds must be considered very carefully – new tests are a last resort in the data collection process."

Exposure of birds is generally only considered for the fish and earthworm food chains following the release of a substance via a sewage treatment works. It is unlikely that a secondary poisoning risk will be identified for calcium diformate since it is readily biodegradable and has a log Kow below 3).