Lithium bis(oxalato)borate

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

2009-12-17 to 2010-01-10

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP and guideline compliant study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Version / remarks:

, adopted 17.07.92, Limit Test

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

- Concentrations: Test concentrations of Range-Finding Test: Control, 1 mg/L, 10 mg/L and 100 mg/L;
Test concentrations of Definite Test as Limit Test: Control, 100 mg/L
- Sampling method: In the Range-Finding Test pH-value, dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature were registered at start and end of test
periods
0 - 24 h and 24 - 48 h. In the Definite Test as Limit Test pH-value, dissolved oxygen concentration and temperature were registered at start and end of test periods 0 - 24 h, 24 - 48 h, 48 - 72 h and 72 - 96 h. Samples of the control and test concentration of 100 mg/L of the Definite Test as Limit Test were taken for AES-analysis (AES=Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) at the start and end of test periods 0 - 24 h and 72 - 96 h to assess stability of exposure
concentrations.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

The test item Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate was delivered on 02.11.09 and kept at room temperature until starting of the Range-Finding- and Definite Fish Test.
According to Safety Data Sheet of 29.10.09 the test item Lithium-bis(oxalato) borate has a purity of > 99.4 % and is a solid powder that solubilises in water
under hydrolysis. Information provided by the study sponsor Rockwood Lithium GmbH of 15.03.09 confirms, that hydrolysis products of Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate are Boric acid, Oxalic acid and Lithiumhydrogenoxalate. As these hydrolysis products lead to a decrease of the pH-value, a preliminary study in de-chlorinated tap water was accomplished, to assess the course of pH-values under test conditions.

For the Range-Finding Test the test concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 mg/L were prepared in 2 L glass beakers in de-chlorinated tap water by stirring for 1 minute at 8000 rpm using a mixing device (Ultra-Turrax, Janke & Kunkel).

For the Definite Test as Limit Test the test concentrations of 100 mg/L were prepared in a 20 L solid-glass fish tank in de-chlorinated tap water by stirring for 2 minutes at 8000 rpm using a mixing device (Ultra-Turrax, Janke & Kunkel).

For the Range-Finding Test the test solutions were prepared for test periods of
0 - 24 h and 24 - 48 h. For the Definite Test as Limit Test the test concentrations of 100 mg/L were prepared for test periods of 0 - 24 h, 24 - 48 h, 48 - 72 h
and 72 - 96 h. The test solutions were replenished after each successive 24-h exposure period (i.e. semi-static test) for a total exposure period of 48 h in the
Range-Finding Test and 96 h in the Definite Test as Limit Test. The test solutions obtained using this method were clear at first and became turbid within a few minutes. A whitish precipitation, obviously formed by Calciumoxalate and Calciumcarbonate, could be observed after each 24-h exposure period.

The Range-Finding- and Definite Fish Test were carried out without adjustment of the pH.
The fish were transferred into the test solutions immediately after preparation.

Samples for AES-analysis (AES=Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) including control media and test solutions of the Definite Test as Limit Test were taken at
the start and end of test periods 0 - 24 h and 72 - 96 h.

Test organisms (species):

Danio rerio (previous name: Brachydanio rerio)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
Species: Zebra Fish (Danio rerio), Teleostei, Cyprinidae
Supplier: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen
Pre-treatment: none, the animals were kept in an air-conditioned room
(light/dark = 16 h/8 h; illumination: fluorescent tubes);
for > 12 days before testing, mortality < 1 %
(nominal value ≤ 5 %)
Size: 3.0 - 3.5 cm

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Hardness:

Total hardness: 8,97 °dH
Carbonate hardness: 6,98 °dH,

Test temperature:

23 ± 2°C (test water)

pH:

pH-values of control: in a range of 8.0 - 8.1
pH-values of Definite Test concentration 100 mg/L: in a range of 7.2 - 7.6

Dissolved oxygen:

Dissolved oxygen of control: in a range of 94 - 99 %
Dissolved oxygen of of Definite Test concentration 100 mg/L: in a range of 94 - 98 %

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Results of AES-analysis confirmed stability of the test solutions in a range of 99.7 % to 103.6 %. The values corresponded with the expected
concentration of Lithium, calculated from the loading of 100 mg/L of the test item Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate and the amount of Lithium in the
test item
(3.58 % theoretical value, calculated from the sum formula). As a consequence results of the Definite
Fish Test were referred to the nominal concentrations.

Details on test conditions:

TEST CONDITIONS

Range-Finding Test:
Loading: 2 animals/test concentration
Duration: 48 h
Test vessels: 2 L glass beakers
Test volume: 1.5 L
Mode: semi-static
Water renewal: every 24 h
Temperature: 23 ± 2°C (test water)
Light: fluorescent tubes (16 h light, 8 h dark)
Aeration: none
Feeding: no feeding during the test
Water: de-chlorinated tap water
Total hardness: 8,97 °dH
Carbonate hardness: 6,98 °dH,
Nitrate: 4,4 mg/L, Nitrite: < 0,005 mg/L,
Ammonium: < 0,01 mg/L, Hg/Cd/Pb/Cu/Ni: < 0,001 mg/L

Definite Test:
Loading: 7 animals/test concentration
Duration: 96 h
Test vessels: 20 L solid-glass fish tanks
Test volume: 7 L
Mode: semi-static
Water renewal: every 24 h
Temperature: 23 ± 2°C (test water)
Light: fluorescent tubes (16 h light, 8 h dark)
Aeration: none
Feeding: no feeding during the test
Water: de-chlorinated tap water (see above)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

behaviour

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Test solutions of Lithium bis(oxalato)borate caused no acute toxic effects on Danio rerio. A 96-h LC50 of > 100 mg/L and a NOEC of 100 mg/L have been determined.

Executive summary:

Lithium bis(oxalato)borate was assessed in a short term toxicity study to fish according to OECD guideline 203. Lithium-bis(oxalato)borate caused no acute toxic effects on Danio rerio. A 96-h LC50 of > 100 mg/L and a NOEC of 100 mg/L have been determined.

Description of key information

LiBOB was tested for acute toxicity to freshwater fish in a  96h-semi-static test. The test item showed no mortality up to a nominal concentration of 150 mg/L revealing a LC50 of greater than 150 mg/L and a NOEC of 150 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

150 mg/L

Additional information

LiBOB was assessed in a short-term toxicity to fish study, according to OECD guideline 203 and EU method C.1. Young zebrafish were exposed to the test item in a semi-static test for 96 h at nominal concentrations of 0, 100 and 150 mg/L. The test item showed no mortality up to a nominal concentration of 150 mg/L. Therefore the 96 h LC 50 was determined to be greater than 150 mg/L and the 96 h NOEC was determined to be 150 mg/L. (MEP, 2011)