Barium hydroxide

Endpoint summary

Description of key information

 The acute oral LD50 of the substance in the rat is reported to be 333 mg/kg bw (Müller, 1983); no data are available for acute dermal or inhalation toxicity however waiver are appropriate for these endpoints due to the corrosive nature of the substance.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Acute toxicity: via oral route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

March/April 1983

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

GLP-compliant guideline study with the following deviations: - According to the guideline, healthy young adults should be used. The age of the rats was missing in this report. - The analytical purity of the test substance is not indicated in the report.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 401 (Acute Oral Toxicity)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes

Test type:

standard acute method

Limit test:

no

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Dr. A. Ivanovas, 7964 Kisslegg/Allgäu
- Age at study initiation: Not reported
- Weight at study initiation: Males: 105-130 g; Females: 95-130 g
- Housing: Group housing of five animals per sex per cage in labelled Makrolon cages (type III) containing sawdust bedding material (Fa. Brandenburg, 2849 Goldenstedt-Arkeburg).
- Diet (ad libitum except overnight prior to and approx. 4 hours after dosing): Pelleted rodent diet (Ssniff R10 pellets, Ssniff Versuchstierdiäten, 4770 Soest/Westf.
- Water (ad libitum): Tap water
- Acclimation period: 5 days before start of treatment

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Animals were housed in a controlled environment.
- Temperature: ca. 20°C
- Relative humidity: 40 - 60 %
- Air changes: Approx. 10 air changes per hour
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12/12

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose)

Details on oral exposure:

VEHICLE
- Concentration in vehicle: 1%

MAXIMUM DOSE VOLUME APPLIED: 5.0 ml/kg
The control animals received the vehicle alone.

Doses:

Control (group I), 261 mg/kg (group II), 316 mg/kg (group III), 383 mg/kg (group IV), 464 mg/kg (group V), 562 mg/kg (group VI), 681 mg/kg (group VII)

No. of animals per sex per dose:

5 male / 5 female

Control animals:

yes

Details on study design:

- Duration of observation period following administration: 14 days
- Frequency of observations and weighing: On the day of dosing animals were observed for signs of reaction to treatment at frequent intervals. On subsequent days animals were observed at leaste once daily. Individual bodyweights were recorded on the day of dosing and on days 8 and 15.
- Necropsy of survivors performed: yes
- Other examinations performed: clinical signs, body weight

Statistics:

The acute oral median lethal dose (LD50) based on the mortality rate (x/n) during 14 days after dosing was calculated using the method of Finney, I.J. (1971) Probit Analysis (3rd edition) Cambridge University Press.

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Effect level:

333 mg/kg bw

Based on:

test mat.

95% CL:

> 188 - < 417

Mortality:

Number of dead males per dose:
Control: 0/5
261 mg/kg: 0/5
316 mg/kg: 4/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)
383 mg/kg: 3/5 (within 24 hours after dosing)
464 mg/kg: 4/5 (within 24 hours after dosing)
562 mg/kg: 5/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)
681 mg/kg: 5/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)

Number of dead females per dose:
Control: 0/5
261 mg/kg: 0/5
316 mg/kg: 4/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)
383 mg/kg: 3/5 (within 24 hours after dosing)
464 mg/kg: 4/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)
562 mg/kg: 5/5 (within 24 hours after dosing)
681 mg/kg: 5/5 (within 6 hours after dosing)

Clinical signs:

other: Slight pilo-erection and hunched posture was observed in the control animals on the day of dosing. Clinical signs observed in rats treated with barium hydroxide included pilo-erection, hunched posture, pallor of extremities, abnormal gait (waddling), incr

Gross pathology:

Autopsy mainly revealed congestion of liver and spleen. Congestion and haemorrhaging was seen in the mucous membrane of the stomach.

Interpretation of results:

Category 4 based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

An LD50 of 333 mg/kg bw has been calculated for males/females for barium hydroxide. No difference in sensitivity was observed between males and females. According to the test result the substance has to be classified as harmful if swallowed (H302).

Executive summary:

In a GLP compliant acute oral toxicity study, performed according to OECD guideline 401, the test item Barium hydroxide was administered to groups of 5 male and 5 female Sprague Dawley rats at dose levels of 261, 316, 383, 464, 562 and 681 mg/kg body weight. Mortalities occurred within 24 hours after dosing. No difference in sensitivity was observed between males and females. Signs of reaction to treatment included pilo-erection, hunched posture, pallor of extremities, abnormal gait (waddling), increased or decreased respiratory rate, gasping or laboured respiration, diarrhoea, decreased motility, loss of righting reflex, muscular spasms and loss of coordination. Complete recovery was evident in surviving animals by day 4 as judged by external appearance and behaviour. Autopsy mainly revealed congestion of liver and spleen. Congestion and haemorrhaging in the mucous membrane of the stomach was also observed. Body weight gain was poor in the surviving animals of the 316, 383 and 464 mg/kg groups.

In conclusion, the LD50 of Barium hydroxide is calculated to be 333 mg/kg body weight by oral route in the rat.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

LD50

Value:

333 mg/kg bw

Acute toxicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Acute toxicity: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Additional information

Acute oral toxicity

The acute oral LD50 of the substance in the rat is reported to be 333 mg/kg bw (Müller, 1983).

Acute dermal toxicity

According to regulation (EC) 1907/2009 Annex VIII column 2 the study should only be conducted if inhalation of the substance is unlikely, skin contact in production and/use is likely and the phys-chem. and toxicological properties suggest potential for a significant rate of absorption through the skin. Barium hydroxide is not used in consumer products and due to the fact that the substance is classified as corrosive (pH 13; 10% solution) the worker has to use sufficient gloves (see “guidance on safe use”). However, since skin contact is unlikely and therefore absorption through skin is only possible in case of an accident no acute dermal toxicity study was conducted.

Acute inhalation toxicity

According to regulation (EC) 1907/2009 Annex VIII column 2 no study on acute toxicity via inhalation should be conducted due to the corrosive properties of the substance (pH 13; 10 % solution). As a worst case assumption the substance has to be classified as “corrosive to the respiratory tract” (EUH071).

Justification for classification or non-classification

In a reliable GLP study performed to OECD Guideline 401, the acute oral LD50 of barium hydroxide was 333 mg/kg bw and therefore it was concluded that barium hydroxide requires a classification and labelling as "acute tox 4"; H302 (harmful if swallowed) according to GHS. According to regulation (EC) 1907/2009 Annex VIII column 2 no study on acute toxicity via inhalation should be conducted due to the corrosive properties of the substance (pH 13; 10 % solution). As a worst case assumption the substance has to be labelled as “corrosive to the respiratory tract” (EUH071).