Potassium bromide

Toxicity to birds

Description of key information

Acute toxicity tests on Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) were conducted with sodium bromide according to FIFRA guideline 71-1 and ASTM Standard E857-81. No mortalities occurred during the course of the study for mallard duck. Signs of toxicity typical of intoxication with sodium bromide included slight to severe ataxia (increasing with external stimuli), wing droop, lethargy, ventral head curl, and loss of righting reflex. When compared with the controls there was no effect on body weight or consumption at any of the concentrations tested. The 5-d LC50 > 5633 mg/kg for both species.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Short-term EC50 or LC50 for birds:

5 633 mg/kg food

Additional information

Potassium bromide is an inorganic salt that dissociates to its composite ions in aqueous solutions at environmental pH and temperature. Comparison of the available data on the various bromide salts have shown that the bromide ion is the relevant ion for determination of the toxicological profile with simple cations such as potassium, sodium or ammonium, that are ubiquitous in nature, having little or no influence on the bromide ion properties. It is therefore justified to read-across data from other inorganic bromide salts to potassium bromide.

An acute toxicity test was conducted according to FIFRA guideline 71-1 and ASTM Standard E857-81. Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) were given single oral doses of sodium bromide by gavage and monitored for 14 days afterwards – 10 birds per dose group were tested. No mortalities occurred in any dose groups of bobwhite quail. When compared to controls, there was no effect on body weight or feed consumption at any dosage level. Various signs of toxicity were observed in each dose groups at some point during the first week except the lowest dose and control groups. No signs persisted into the second week of observation. No mortalities occurred during the course of the study for mallard duck. Signs of toxicity typical of intoxication with sodium bromide included slight to severe ataxia (increasing with external stimuli), wing droop, lethargy, ventral head curl, and loss of righting reflex. When compared with the controls there was no effect on body weight or consumption at any of the concentrations tested. The 5-d LC50 > 5633 mg/kg for both species.