Ammonium carbonate

Sediment toxicity

Administrative data

Endpoint:

sediment toxicity: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Acceptable, well documented study which meets basic scientific principles. Method not in accordance with OECD guideline standards, but study was conducted under defined conditions, therefore scientifically acceptable.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Chronic toxicity of ammonia to the amphipod Hyalella azteca, Importance of ammonia to water hardness.

Author:

Borgmann U

Year:

1994

Bibliographic source:

Environmental Pollution 86: 329-335

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Batch test without sediment, weekly renewal culture.
Method followed: Borgmann et al. (1991). Relationship between chronic toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium in Hylella azteca. Can J Aquat Fish Sci 48: 1055-60.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Ammonium chloride

EC Number:

235-186-4

EC Name:

Ammonium chloride

Cas Number:

12125-02-9

IUPAC Name:

ammonium chloride

Details on test material:

- Analytical Purity: no data

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Hyalella azteca

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Test type:

other: weekly renewal

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Exposure duration

Duration:

10 wk

Exposure phase:

total exposure duration

Test conditions

Hardness:

130 mg/L

Test temperature:

25 ºC

pH:

8.04 / 8.43

Nominal and measured concentrations:

0, 0.1, 0.18, 0.32, 0.56, 1.0, 1.8, mM NH3 (10 weeks exposure)
0,00.32, 0.56, 1.0, 1.8 mM NH3 (6 weeks exposure)

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

10 wk

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

3.7 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

Ammonium hydrogencarbonate

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: pH 8, 25°C

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

10 wk

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

0.66 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

element

Remarks:

N

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: pH 8, 25°C

Any other information on results incl. tables

Abstract: Ammonia toxicity resulted in the continuous mortality of Hyalella aztecafor up to 10 weeks with similar mortality rates for adults and young.Growth was not reduced concentrations below those causing chronicmortality (1 mM total ammonia inwater), but reproductionwas reduced at concentrations as low as 0.32 mM. Chronic mortality was afunction of total ammonia (or ammonium ion), and not un-ionized ammonia,when the pH was adjusted by addition of acid. However, a 1 in 10 dilutionof water in distilled water resulted in a 10 fold reductionin the 4 week LC50. In contrast to common practice, ammonia toxicity toHyalella is best defined on a total ammonia basis, but variations inhardness and other ions must be taken intoaccount.Ammonia concentrations were measured as total ammonia using an ammonia electrode. The measured concentrations were close to nominal for total ammonia concentrations (at concentration > 0.1mM). Ammonia concentrations remained relatively constant between water changes; final/initial measured ammonia concentrations averaged 1.09.Control survival: 66.3 % (10 week exposure)Control survival: 80 % (6 week exposure)Control survival was 86 -88 % for young and adult amphipods after 4 weeks exposure.LC50 Young amphipods: 0.77 mM NH3/l (test duration= 10 weeks)LC50 Adults: 0.75 mM NH3/l (test duration = 6 weeks)No effects on reproduction were observed at 0.18 mM NH3.