Reaction mass of bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, butyl 2-ethylhexyl terephthalate, and dibutyl terephthalate

Toxicity to microorganisms

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

The study was conducted between 29 September 2016 and 30 September 2016

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 209 (Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test (Carbon and Ammonium Oxidation))

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Test item (alternative names) : GL500, GL520
Physical state/Appearance: clear colorless liquid
Batch: GLFG160607
Purity: 99.8%
Expiry Date: 7 June 2017
Storage Conditions: room temperature in the dark

Analytical monitoring:

no

Details on test solutions:

The test water used for the test was deionized reverse osmosis water containing less than 1 mg/L Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC).

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage

Details on inoculum:

A synthetic sewage of the following composition, was added to each test vessel to act as a respiratory substrate:

16 g Peptone
11 g Meat extract
3 g Urea
0.7 g NaCl
0.4 g CaCl2.2H2O
0.2 g MgSO4.7H2O
2.8 g K2HPO4

dissolved in a final volume of 1 liter of water with the aid of ultrasonication for approximately 10 minutes.

The pH of the synthetic sewage stock was 7.2. The pH value was measured using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter.

The activated sewage sludge sample was maintained on continuous aeration in the laboratory at a temperature of approximately 21 ºC and was used on the day of collection. The pH of the sample was 7.2 measured using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter. Determination of the suspended solids level of the activated sewage sludge was carried out by filtering a sample (100 mL) of the activated sewage sludge by suction through a pre-weighed GF/A filter paper (rinsed three times with 20 mL deionized reverse osmosis water prior to drying in an oven) using a Buchner funnel which was then rinsed 3 times with 10 mL of deionized reverse osmosis water and filtration continued for 3 minutes. The filter paper was then dried in an oven at approximately 105 ºC for at least one hour and allowed to cool before weighing. This process was repeated until a constant weight was attained. The suspended solids concentration was equal to 3.0 g/L.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Post exposure observation period:

None

Hardness:

Not measured

Test temperature:

21ºC

pH:

7.4 to 8.1

Dissolved oxygen:

5.6 to 8.4 mg O2/L

Salinity:

Not measured

Conductivity:

Not measured

Nominal and measured concentrations:

10, 100 and 1000 mg/L (nominal)

Details on test conditions:

Range-Finding Test
Test Item Preparation
In the range-finding test, activated sewage sludge micro-organisms were exposed to a series of nominal test concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L. The test item was dispersed directly in water.
Nominal amounts of test item (5, 50 and 500 mg (in triplicate)) were each separately dispersed in approximately 200 mL of deionized reverse osmosis water and subjected to ultrasonication for approximately 15 minutes followed by magnetic stirring for 24 hours, at temperatures of between 20 °C and 21 °C, in order to maximize the dissolved test item concentration. All test vessels were shielded from the light during mixing. Synthetic sewage (16 mL), activated sewage sludge (250 mL) and water were added to a final volume of 500 mL to give the required concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L (3 replicates).

The pH of the test item dispersions was measured after stirring using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter (see Table 1) and adjusted to between pH 7.0 and 8.0 if necessary.

As it was not a requirement of the Test Guidelines, no analysis was conducted to determine the homogeneity, concentration or stability of the test item formulation. This is an exception with regard to GLP and has been reflected in the GLP compliance statement.

The control group was maintained under identical conditions but not exposed to the test item.

Reference Item Preparation
A reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol, was included in the range-finding test at concentrations of 3.2, 10 and 32 mg/L in order to confirm the suitability of the inoculum. A stock solution of 0.5 g/L was prepared by dissolving the reference item directly in water with the aid of ultrasonication for approximately 12 minutes. The pH of this stock solution was measured to be pH 5.9 and was adjusted to pH 7.1 using 1.0 M NaOH. The pH values were measured using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter. Aliquots (3.2, 10 and 32 mL) of the stock solution were removed and dispersed with activated sewage sludge (250 mL), synthetic sewage (16 mL) and water to a final volume of 500 mL to give the required concentrations of 3.2, 10 and 32 mg/L. The volumetric flask containing the reference item was inverted several times to ensure homogeneity of the solution.

Preparation of Test System
At time "0" 16 mL of synthetic sewage was diluted to 250 mL with water and 250 mL of inoculum added in a 500 mL conical flask (first control). The mixture was aerated with clean, oil-free compressed air via narrow bore glass tubes at a rate of 0.5 to 1.0 liter per minute. Thereafter, at 15 minute intervals the procedure was repeated for the second control followed by the reference item vessels with appropriate amounts of the reference item being added. Finally two further control vessels were prepared.

The test was conducted under normal laboratory lighting in a temperature controlled room at a measured temperature of 21 ºC.

Assessments
Observations
Observations were made on the test preparations throughout the test period. Observations of the test item vessels at 0 hours were made prior to addition of activated sewage sludge.

pH Measurements
The pH of test preparations was measured at the test start (i.e. after the addition of activated sludge) and at the end of the 3-Hour incubation period using a Hach HQ40d Flexi handheld meter.

Oxygen Concentration
The oxygen concentrations in all vessels were measured after 30 minutes contact time.

Measurement of the Respiration Rates
As each vessel reached 3 hours contact time an aliquot was removed from the conical flask and poured into the measuring vessel (250 mL darkened glass Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) bottle) and the rate of respiration measured using a Yellow Springs dissolved oxygen meter fitted with a BOD probe. The contents of the measuring vessel were stirred constantly by magnetic stirrer. The rate of respiration for each flask was measured over the linear portion of the oxygen consumption trace (where possible between 7 mg O2/L and 2 mg O2/L). In the case of a rapid oxygen consumption, measurements may have been outside this range but the oxygen consumption was always within the linear portion of the respiration curve. In the case of low oxygen consumption, the rate was determined over an approximate 10 minute period.

Calculation of the Oxygen Uptake Rates
The respiration rate, R, expressed in milligrams oxygen per liter per hour (mg O2/L/h), was calculated from the linear part of the recorded oxygen decrease graph. The specific respiration rate, RS, expressed as the amount of oxygen consumed per gram dry weight of sludge per hour (mg O2/g/h) was deduced. The percentage inhibition was calculated.

ECX and NOEC
The percentage inhibition values were plotted against concentration for the reference item only, a line fitted using the Xlfit software package (IDBS) and the EC10, EC20, EC50 and EC80 values determined from the equation for the fitted line.
The EC10, EC20, EC50 and EC80 values for the test item were determined by inspection of the inhibition of respiration rate data.
95% confidence limits were calculated for the reference item EC50 value using the method of Litchfield and Wilcoxon (Litchfield and Wilcoxon, 1949).
To determine the NOEC, one way analysis of variance incorporating Bartlett's test for homogeneity of variance (Sokal and Rohlf, 1981) and Dunnett's multiple comparison procedure for comparing several treatments with a control (Dunnett, 1955) was carried out on the oxygen consumption data after 3 hours for the control and all test concentrations to determine any statistically significant differences between the test and control groups. All statistical analyses were performed using the SAS computer software package (SAS, 1999 - 2001).

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-dichlorophenol

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Details on results:

Range-Finding Test
The dissolved oxygen concentrations after 30 minutes contact time in all vessels were above 60% of the dissolved oxygen saturation level of 8.9 mg O2/L.
No statistically significant toxic effects were shown at all of the test concentrations employed. It was therefore considered justifiable not to perform a definitive test.
It was considered unnecessary and unrealistic to test at concentrations in excess of 1000 mg/L.
Percentage inhibition is plotted against concentration for the reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol.

Validation Criteria
The coefficient of variation of oxygen uptake in the control vessels was 5.2% and the specific respiration rate of the controls was 42.00 mg oxygen per gram dry weight of sludge per hour. The validation criteria have therefore been satisfied.
The validation criterion for the reference item EC50 value was also satisfied.

Inhibition of Respiration Rate
The following results were derived:

GL500 3,5-dichlorophenol
ECx (3 Hours) (mg/L) 95% Confidence Limits (mg/L) ECx (3 Hours) (mg/L) 95% Confidence Limits (mg/L)
EC10 >1000 - 1.7 -
EC20 >1000 - 2.5 -
EC50 >1000 - 7.7 6.0 - 9.9
EC80 >1000 - 23 -
NOEC 1000 - - -

In some instances, the initial and final dissolved oxygen concentrations were outside those recommended in the test guidelines (7 mg O2/L and 2 mg O2/L respectively). This was considered to have had no adverse effect on the results of the study given that in all cases the oxygen consumption rate was determined over the linear portion of the oxygen consumption trace.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

See above table

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge micro-organisms gave a 3-Hour EC50 value of greater than 1000 mg/L. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 1000 mg/L.

Executive summary:

Introduction

A study was performed to assess the effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge. The method followed was designed to be compatible with the OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals (2010) No. 209 "Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test (Carbon and Ammonium Oxidation)".

Methods

Activated sewage sludge was exposed to an aqueous dispersion of the test item at concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L (3 replicates of the 1000 mg/L test concentration) for a period of 3 hours at a measured temperature of 21 °C with the addition of a synthetic sewage as a respiratory substrate.

The rate of respiration was determined after 3 hours contact time and compared to data for the control and a reference item, 3,5-dichlorophenol.

Results

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge gave a 3-Hour EC50 value of greater than 1000 mg/L. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 1000 mg/L.

It was considered unnecessary and unrealistic to test at concentrations in excess of 1000 mg/L.

The reference item gave a 3-Hour EC50 value of 7.7 mg/L, 95% confidence limits 6.0 to 9.9 mg/L.

Description of key information

The effect of the test item on the respiration of activated sewage sludge micro-organisms gave a 3-Hour EC50 value of greater than 1000 mg/L. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) after 3 hours exposure was 1000 mg/L.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for microorganisms:

1 000 mg/L

EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:

1 000 mg/L