Phenol, 2,4-dinitro-, sulfurized, thiosulfonated

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:

03 August - 25 September, 2017

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))

Version / remarks:

July 22, 2010

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.11 (Biodegradation: Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test)

Version / remarks:

1st March 2016

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Ecological Effects Test Guidelines of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 712-C-014): OCSPP 850.3300, "Modified Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test", January 2012.

Version / remarks:

January 2012.

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Date of production: 30.11.2016
Expiration date: 30.11.2021

Analytical monitoring:

no

Details on sampling:

Test solution with a final volume of 300 mL was tested per treatment in a glass flask. 9.6 mL synthetic sewage and an adequate volume of the stock solution of the N-allylthiourea adequate volumes of the stock solution of reference item were filled up with water (with purified, deionized water) to 150 mL before the start of the test. The composition and order of the test media are summarized in the Table 2. At the test item treatments the 3, 30 and 3 x 300 mg (respectively) test item was measured directly into the empty test containers.

At the start of the test 150 mL activated sludge inoculum with a sludge concentration of 3 g/L (on dry weight basis) was added to the test containers, first to the blank controls (CBA, thereafter CBB, CBC and CBD the “start” CB group), then to the nitrification controls (CNA, CNB, CNC), to the test solutions
of the reference item (R1(A-C), R2(A-C), R3(A-C)) and to the test item (containing the adequate amount of test item, the 150 mL synthetic sewage-water mixture that was filled into the test containers just before the inoculation); and finally to the “end” CB group (CBE, CBF, CBG, and CBH). The abiotic controls were started after the test item treatments with the administration of the test item (3 x 300 mg) only, without activated sludge inoculum. In time intervals of approximately 12 minutes (an arbitrary but convenient interval) a maximum of four test vessels were started. Due to studies run in parallel and common controls between the common “start” and “end” controls and test item groups of the present study (T1 T3 and abiotic controls,), test item containers from other study (not further detailed in this report) were started and examined. The test was performed using four oxygen electrodes that allow the simultaneous testing of four test vessels. The difference between “start” and “end” blank control respiration rates (CBA, CBB, CBC and CBD beginning and CBE, CBF, CBG, and CBH end of the exposure period, respectively) were minimal, within the biological variability of the applied system. The test flasks were incubated for 3 hours. The test vessels were aerated and shaken continuously such as to ensure an appropriate dissolved O2 level in the samples.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

Preparation of the Reference Item
A stock solution of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was prepared according to the following guideline procedure: 0.1 g 3,5-Dichlorophenol was dissolved in warm water ad 100 mL purified, deionized water in a volumetric flask. The pH of the stock solution (after cooling) was adjusted with 1N NaOH to 7.86 to fall within the range of 7 – 8.

Specific Inhibitor of the Nitrification
Name: N-allylthiourea (ATU)
Batch No.: STBG0110V
Expiry Date: 14 November 2017
Supplier: SIGMA-ALDRICH
Storage: Dry and cool place in tightly closed container
(In the testing laboratory it is stored at room temperature)
Safety Precautions: According to the MSDS

Preparation of ATU
According to the OECD Guideline No. 209 the N-allylthiourea solution was prepared by dissolving 0.232 g of N-allylthiourea in 100 mL of purified, deionized water.

Synthetic Sewage
The ratio of components referring to 1000 mL:
Peptone: 16 g
LAB-LEMCO Powder (BEEF extract): 11 g
Urea: 3 g
NaCl: 0.7 g
CaCl2 x 2H2O: 0.4 g
MgSO4 x 7H2O: 0.2 g
K2HPO4: 2.8 g
Deionized water ad. 1000 mL
Analytical grade reagents were used in the study. The pH of the synthetic sewage solution was measured on the day of preparation. The measured pH of the prepared synthetic sewage solution was 7.42 (within the range of 7.5 ± 0.5); therefore no additional pH adjustment was necessary. The prepared synthetic sewage was stored from 07 to 09 August 2017 in the dark, in refrigerator at the temperature range of 3.0-5.8 °C.

Test Mixtures
For correct administration, ~3 g test item was ground with a pestle and mortar (as fine as possible)*. Thereafter, defined amounts of the ground test item (1 x 3; 1 x 30 mg test item that corresponded to the investigated 10 and 100 mg/L concentrations) and non-ground test item (3 x 300 mg that corresponded to the investigated 1000 mg/L concentration) were directly weighed (administered) into each test flask. The subsequent calculations refer to the initial weighed nominal concentration. Concentrations in excess of nominal 1000 mg test item/L were not tested.
* Remark: The handling of ground test item was difficult, due to its electrostatic behavior. Therefore the exact test item amounts at the highest examined concentration level were prepared by using non-ground test item.

Controls
Blank Control (CB):
In this preliminary range-finding test eight replicates of blank control group (water, synthetic sewage and inoculum, but without addition of the test or reference item) were tested concurrently, four at the start and four at the end of the test series.
Abiotic Control (CA):
Abiotic controls (water, synthetic sewage and the test item at the concentration of 1000 mg/L, but without inoculum) were prepared to measure the abiotic oxygen consumption. In this preliminary range-finding the abiotic control was tested at the highest test item concentration (for that reason 3 x 300 mg test item was directly weighed into assigned containers) in three parallels.
Reference Control (R):
Concurrent to the test item, the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol was tested at three concentrations each with three parallels (the nominal test concentrations of 2, 7 and 24.5 mg/L) under otherwise identical test conditions.
Nitrification Control (CN):
In order to decide whether the sludge nitrifies and at what rate, mixtures in three parallels (same as the blank controls, however containing 11.6 mg/L N-allylthiourea) were included in the preliminary experiment.

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge, domestic

Details on inoculum:

Species:
Activated sludge, microorganisms from a domestic waste water treatment plant.
Origin:
The (controlled) activated sludge was supplied by the sewage plant for domestic sewage in Balatonfüred, Hungary, on 07 August 2017 (two days before the test).
Preparation of Activated Sludge Inoculum:
The coarse particles were removed by settling for 10 minutes, and the upper layer of finer solids was decanted. The activated sludge used for this study was washed by centrifugation and the supernatant liquid phase was decanted. The solid material was re-suspended in isotonic saline solution with shaking and again centrifuged. This procedure was repeated twice. An aliquot of the final sludge suspension was weighed (6.613 g wet weight), dried and the ratio of wet sludge to dry weight (0.5668 g dry weight) determined. Based on this ratio, calculated amount of wet sludge (60 g dry weight that was equivalent to 700 g wet sludge) was suspended in isotonic saline solution (ad. 20 L) to yield a concentration equivalent to about 3 g per litre (on dry weight basis). (In the test containers (300 mL final volume) the final concentration of suspended solids, containing 150 mL inoculum was 1.5 g per litre on dry weight basis.)
The above concentration calculation accounts for the dilution resulting from feeding with synthetic sewage. The activated sludge was not used on the day of the collection, but continuously aerated (2 L/minute) at the test temperature for about 48 hours (2 days) and fed daily with 50 mL synthetic sewage/L activated sludge. The pH of the activated sludge inoculum was checked after preparation (pH: 7.31), pH adjustment of the inoculum was considered not necessary.

Foaming:
In this test the occurring foaming was not significant, controlling was not necessary during the incubation.

Test type:

other: The purpose of the 3-hour test was to evaluate the influence of the test item Solubilised Sulphur Black 1 on the activity of activated sludge by measuring the respiration rate under defined conditions.

Water media type:

other: deionized

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Test temperature:

20 °C +/-2 °C

pH:

The test was performed without pH adjustment

Dissolved oxygen:

Oxygen concentrations were determined in all test vessels before the inoculum addition, at the start (just after the inoculation) and at the end of the incubation period in all test concentrations, reference item concentrations and controls.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

For correct administration, ~3 g test item was ground with a pestle and mortar (as fine as possible)*. Thereafter, defined amounts of the ground test item (1 x 3; 1 x 30 mg test item that corresponded to the investigated 10 and 100 mg/L concentrations) and non-ground test item (3 x 300 mg that corresponded to the investigated 1000 mg/L concentration) were directly weighed (administered) into each test flask. The subsequent calculations refer to the initial weighed nominal concentration.
Concentrations in excess of nominal 1000 mg test item/L were not tested.

Details on test conditions:

The test was carried out in a controlled environment room (during the incubation, during the formulation and oxygen concentration measuring) at a temperature of 20±2 °C according to the guideline. The recorded temperatures in the environmental room varied between: 20.3-21.6 °C. The test flasks were aerated with compressed air (0.5 L/minute). The pH and the oxygen concentrations were determined at the start and at the end of the incubation period in all test concentrations, reference item concentrations and controls. The temperature was measured in the controlled environment room with a min/max thermometer during the incubation period. The water temperature was recorded during the oxygen measurement in all test bottles. The test conditions were measured with suitable instruments and documented in the raw data.

Equipment
Normal laboratory equipment were used in the study,
Complex measuring system with O2 electrode and pH electrode
and built in temperature probe
Aeration system,
Orbital shaker
Min/Max. Thermometer,
Balance,
Centrifuge,
Moisture content analyzer

Course of the Test
Test solution with a final volume of 300 mL was tested per treatment in a glass flask. 9.6 mL synthetic sewage and an adequate volume of the stock solution of the N-allylthiourea adequate volumes of the stock solution of reference item were filled up with water (with purified, deionized water) to 150 mL before the start of the test. The composition and order of the test media are summarized in the Table 2. At the test item treatments the 3, 30 and 3 x 300 mg (respectively) test item was measured directly into the empty test containers.

At the start of the test 150 mL activated sludge inoculum with a sludge concentration of 3 g/L (on dry weight basis) was added to the test containers, first to the blank controls (CBA, thereafter CBB, CBC and CBD the “start” CB group), then to the nitrification controls (CNA, CNB, CNC), to the test solutions of the reference item (R1(A-C), R2(A-C), R3(A-C)) and to the test item (containing the adequate amount of test item, the 150 mL synthetic sewage-water mixture that was filled into the test containers just before the inoculation); and finally to the “end” CB group (CBE, CBF, CBG, and CBH). The abiotic controls were started after the test item treatments with the administration of the test item (3 x 300 mg) only, without activated sludge inoculum. In time intervals of approximately 12 minutes (an arbitrary but convenient interval) a maximum of four test vessels were started. Due to studies run in parallel and common controls between the common “start” and “end” controls and test item groups of the present study (T1 T3 and abiotic controls), test item containers from other study (not further detailed in this report) were started and examined. The test was performed using four oxygen electrodes that allow the simultaneous testing of four test vessels. The difference between “start” and “end” blank control respiration rates (CBA, CBB, CBC and CBD beginning and CBE, CBF, CBG, and CBH end of the exposure period, respectively) were minimal, within the biological variability of the applied system. The test flasks were incubated for 3 hours. The test vessels were aerated and shaken continuously such as to ensure an appropriate dissolved O2 level in the samples. In this study analytical measurements were not performed.

Measurement of Respiration Rates
The measurement of the respiration rate in a well-mixed aerated sample of each treatment was performed after exactly 3 hours incubation time. The treatment sample was not further aerated. The oxygen concentration was measured with O2 electrode (working based on LDO method) under stirred conditions and was recorded for about 5.5-10 minutes. The measurement was carried out in completely filled Winkler bottles. For practical reason four O2 electrode were used. Simultaneous (a maximum of four vessels were investigated in parallel) measurements were performed; the test vessels were investigated in 7 cycles with the available four O2 electrodes. The oxygen consumption rate (in mg O2 L-1 hour-1) was determined from the linear part of the respiration curve (in the range between approximately 2 7 mg O2/L).

Measurement of pH, Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature
The pH and the oxygen concentrations were determined in all test vessels before the inoculum addition, at the start (just after the inoculation) and at the end of the incubation period in all test concentrations, reference item concentrations and controls. The temperature was measured in the controlled environment room with a min/max thermometer during the incubation period. The water temperature was recorded during the oxygen measurement in all test bottles.

Statistical Analysis
The EC50 value of the reference item was calculated using Probit analysis.
The analysis was done using the IBM® SPSS® Statistics, Version 24 (2016) statistical software program.
The specific respiration rates of the highest test item concentration level were compared to the blank control values by 2 Sample t-Test (2-sided, α=0.05) by IBM® SPSS® Statistics, Version 24 (2016) software.

In view of the variability often observed in the results, it may in many cases be sufficient to express the results additionally in order of magnitude.
For example:
EC50 <1 mg/L;
EC50 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L;
EC50 10 mg/L to 100 mg/L;
EC50 > 100 mg/L.

Validity Criteria of the Study
For the blank controls (without the test substance or reference substance) oxygen uptake rate should not be less than 20 mg oxygen per one gram of activated sludge (dry weight of suspended solids) in an hour. The coefficient of variation of oxygen uptake rate in control replicates should not be more than 30 % at the end of definitive test. The 3-hour EC50 of the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol (for the used activated sludge batch) should be in the range of 2 mg/L to 25 mg/L for total respiration, 5 mg/L to 40 mg/L for heterotrophic respiration and 0.1 mg/L to 10 mg/L for nitrification respiration.

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-Dichlorophenol was tested at three concentrations each with three parallels (the nominal test concentrations of 2, 7 and 24.5 mg/L) under otherwise identical test conditions

Key result

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

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:

act. ingr.

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:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Details on results:

Validity of the Study
The specific respiration rate of the blank controls (without the test substance or reference substance) was 33.69 mg oxygen per one gram of activated sludge (dry weight of suspended solids) in an hour (higher than 20 mg/gh) with a coefficient of variation of 2.87 %.

Specific Respiration Rates in the Test Item Concentrations
Defined amounts of the test item (1 x 3, 1 x 30, 3 x 300 mg in the test item treatments and 3 x 300 mg in the abiotic controls) were directly added in each test container, and after a pH measurement inoculated. The test item was investigated up to and including the concentration of 1000 mg/L without any pH adjustment before the inoculum addition. Analytical verification of test concentrations was not carried out.

In the experiment abiotic oxygen consumption of the test substance was not observed (in average 0.10 mg/Lh); therefore the total oxygen consumption rates were not corrected with the abiotic control values in the subsequent calculations. The measured nitrification potential of the applied activated sludge (see nitrification control values) did not necessitate further testing. The observed oxygen consumption rates and consequently the specific respiration rates were in the range of the blank controls. No inhibitory effect of the test item was observed. The observed 3.22 % at 10 mg/L, 3.62 % at 100 mg/L and in average 0.71 % at 1000 mg/L inhibitions were within the biological variability of the applied test system. The specific respiration rates of the highest dose, 1000 mg/L were compared with the blank control values using 2 Sample t-Test (2-sided, α=0.05). No statistical significant differences were observed in the comparison with the blank control values. Based on the results of this study the NOEC was determined to be 1000 mg/L. Based on measured oxygen consumption values and calculated specific respiration rates it is concluded that the 3-hour EC10 and EC50 values of the test item are higher than 1000 mg/L. The EC50 value was determined as: EC50 > 1000 mg/L.

Toxicity of 3,5-Dichlorophenol
The following concentrations of the positive reference control 3,5-Dichlorophenol were tested on the same activated sludge and under identical conditions as the test item: 2, 7 and 24.5 mg/L. In comparison to the blank controls the oxygen consumption rate of the activated sludge was inhibited by 7.13 % at the
lowest concentration of 2 mg/L and at the nominal concentrations of 7 and 24.5 mg/L, the oxygen consumption rate was inhibited by 27.09 % and 68.57 %, respectively. The 3-hour EC50 of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was calculated to be 13.87 mg/L, (95 % confidence limits: 11.23-17.87 mg/L).

Nitrification Controls
An additional nitrification control was examined in the test with three parallels to check the possible nitrification potential of the applied activated sludge batch. With the applying of the nitrification control the differentiation between the total, heterotrophic and nitrification respiration was possible. The total respiration
(RT) was 50.53 mg/Lh, the heterotrophic respiration (RH) was 49.67 mg/Lh, the nitrification respiration (RN): 0.86 mg/Lh was calculated according to the equation: RN= RT-RH. The obtained 0.86 mg/Lh was considered as not significantly different, being within a biological variability range of the applied test system, and lower than the 5 % of RT (2.53 mg/Lh) in blank controls, According to the above calculations and based on the OECD 209 guideline it was assumed that the heterotrophic oxygen uptake equals the total uptake.

Environmental Conditions (pH, Temperature)
This test was performed without pH adjustment. The measured pH values in the prepared solutions: 3,5-Dichlorophenol reference control stock solution, synthetic sewage, activated sludge inoculum prepared test mixtures etc. were in the acceptable pH 7-8 range at the start of the test.
The mixtures were aerated at 0.5 L/min in the temperature range of 20±2°C.
The temperature in the test mixtures during the measurements in average: 20.3°C, the measured minimum: 19.0 °C, maximum: 21.7 °C.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

The 3-hour EC50 of the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol (for the used activated sludge batch) was 13.87 mg/L within the range of 2 mg/L to 25 mg/L, that was required for total respiration (in this study the differentiation between heterotrophic respiration and nitrification was considered as not necessary).

Reported statistics and error estimates:

No statistical significant differences were observed, compared to the blank control values.

The Oxygen Concentrations and pH Values in the Test Item Groups and Controls

Identifi-cation	Concentration (mg/L)	Oxygen concentration (mg O2/L)		pH
		Start of the 3-hour aeration	End of the 3-hour aeration	Before the addition of inoculum	Start of the 3-hour aeration	End of the 3-hour aeration
CBA	0.00	7.95	7.62	7.60	7.79	8.13
CBB		7.72	7.52	7.60	7.79	8.22
CBC		7.62	7.55	7.59	7.81	8.18
CBD		7.62	7.57	7.59	7.82	8.14
CBE		7.86	7.76	7.55	7.87	8.22
CBF		7.68	7.31	7.56	7.88	8.30
CBG		7.73	7.57	7.56	7.91	8.20
CBH		7.81	7.50	7.57	7.90	8.03
CNA	11.6 mg ATU/L	7.87	7.55	7.60	7.86	8.17
CNB		7.70	7.77	7.60	7.87	8.10
CNC		7.72	7.28	7.59	7.86	8.05
R1A	2 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.69	7.33	7.59	7.87	8.12
R1B		7.87	7.10	7.62	7.87	8.21
R1C		7.74	7.77	7.60	7.83	8.24
R2A	7 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.82	7.37	7.61	7.86	8.25
R2B		7.78	7.37	7.60	7.88	8.11
R2C		7.63	7.19	7.58	7.81	8.18
R3A	24.5 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.80	7.57	7.63	7.86	8.10
R3B		7.91	7.15	7.63	7.86	8.22
R3C		7.70	7.17	7.63	7.87	8.23
T1/A	10 mg Test Item/L	8.04	7.14	7.56	7.87	8.05
T2/A	100 mg Test Item/L	7.82	7.51	7.63	7.88	8.00
T3/A	1000 mg Test Item/L	7.84	7.54	7.76	7.80	8.00
T3/B		7.70	7.12	7.87	7.91	8.01
T3/C		7.70	7.05	7.83	7.91	7.49
CA1	1000 mg Test Item/L	7.82	7.58	‑ *	7.83	8.15
CA2		7.90	7.35	‑ *	7.84	7.55
CA3		8.01	7.78	‑ *	7.87	7.54

3,5-DCP:  3,5-dichlorophenol

ATU:          N-allylthiourea

Remarks:         *     At the Abiotic controls no inoculum was added; therefore one pH measurement was carried out at              the start of the test.

The Q1, Q2 and the applied Δt valuesin the Test Item and Control Groups; theOxygen Consumption Rate (R), and % Inhibition of R

Identifi-cation	Concentration (mg/L)	Oxygen concentration (mg O2/L)		Δt (min)	Oxygen Consumption Rate (R) (mg O2/Lh)	Average R (mg O2/Lh)	Inhibition of R (%)
		Q1	Q2
CBA	0.00	7.20	2.04	6	51.60	50.53	0.00
CBB		7.08	2.40	5.5	51.05
CBC		7.12	2.38	5.5	51.71
CBD		7.18	2.24	6	49.40
CBE		7.36	2.19	6.5	47.72
CBF		7.31	2.29	6	50.20
CBG		7.13	2.35	5.5	52.15
CBH		7.08	2.04	6	50.40
CNA	11.6 mg ATU/L	7.14	2.19	6.0	49.50	49.67	1.71
CNB		7.35	2.34	6	50.10
CNC		7.28	2.34	6	49.40
R1A	2 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.33	2.37	6.5	45.78	46.93	7.13
R1B		7.10	2.28	6	48.20
R1C		7.00	2.32	6	46.80
R2A	7 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.06	2.11	8	37.13	36.84	27.09
R2B		7.06	2.14	8	36.90
R2C		7.19	2.02	8.5	36.49
R3A	24.5 mg 3,5-DCP/L	7.57	4.83	10	16.44	15.88	68.57
R3B		7.15	4.19	10	17.76
R3C		7.17	4.93	10	13.44
T1/A	10 mg Test Item/L	7.14	2.25	6	48.90	48.90	3.22
T2/A	100 mg Test Item/L	7.11	2.24	6	48.70	48.70	3.62
T3/A	1000 mg Test Item/L	7.10	2.34	5.5	51.93	50.17	0.71
T3/B		7.12	2.41	5.5	51.38
T3/C		7.05	2.33	6	47.20
CA1	1000 mg Test Item/L	7.58	7.57	8.5	0.07	0.10	99.81
CA2		7.35	7.36	9	-0.07
CA3		7.78	7.74	8.5	0.28

Q₁:             the oxygen concentration at the beginning of the selected section of the linear phase (mg/L);

Q₂:             the oxygen concentration at the end of the selected section of the linear phase (mg/L);Δt:the time interval between these two measurements (min.). 3,5-DCP:  3,5-dichlorophenolATU:

The Specific Respiration Rate (R_S) in the Test Item and ControlGroups

Identification	Concentration (mg/L)	Specific Respiration Rate (mg O2/gh)	Average RS (mg O2/gh)
CBA	0.00	34.40	33.69 CV(%)= 2.87
CBB		34.04
CBC		34.47
CBD		32.93
CBE		31.82
CBF		33.47
CBG		34.76
CBH		33.60
CNA	11.6 mg ATU/L	33.00	33.11 CV(%)= 0.82
CNB		33.40
CNC		32.93
R1A	2 mg 3,5-DCP/L	30.52	31.29 CV(%)= 2.58
R1B		32.13
R1C		31.20
R2A	7 mg 3,5-DCP/L	24.75	24.56 CV(%)= 0.87
R2B		24.60
R2C		24.33
R3A	24.5 mg 3,5-DCP/L	10.96	10.59 CV(%)= 13.94
R3B		11.84
R3C		8.96
T1/A	10 mg Test Item/L	32.60	32.60
T2/A	100 mg Test Item/L	32.47	32.47
T3/A	1000 mg Test Item/L	34.62	33.45^NS CV(%)= 5.16
T3/B		34.25
T3/C		31.47
CA1	1000 mg Test Item/L	0.05	0.06 CV(%)= 184.26^#
CA2		-0.04
CA3		0.19

3,5-DCP:  3,5-dichlorophenol

ATU:          N-allylthiourea

CV:            Coefficient of variation

^NS:   There is no statisticallysignificant difference when compared to the control (2-Sample t-Test; 2-sided; α = 0.05)

^#:     The high CV value was caused by the low calculated mean value and a standard deviation of 0.12.

 

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

Under the conditions of the performed Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test, the EC10 and EC50 values of test item were determined as greater than 1000 mg/L. Based on the statistical evaluation in this test the NOEC was 1000 mg/L. In conclusion this preliminary test demonstrated the absence of inhibition of oxygen consumption by the test substance up to and including the limit concentration of 1000 mg/L. Therefore, in line with OECD 209, a definite test is not required.

Executive summary:

The purpose of the 3-hour test was to evaluate the influence of the test item Solubilised Sulphur Black 1 on the activity of the activated sludge by measuring the respiration rate under defined conditions. The respiration rates (total, heterotrophic and nitrification oxygen uptake rates) of samples of activated sludge fed with synthetic sewage were measured in an enclosed cell containing an oxygen electrode after a contact time of 3 hours. This preliminary test was used to estimate the range of concentrations of the test item needed in a possible definite test for determining the inhibition of oxygen consumption. The test item Solubilised Sulphur Black 1 was investigated in this study at the nominal concentrations of 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L. Defined amounts of the test item were added directly into the test vessels. Triplicate vessels were prepared and investigated at the highest examined test item concentration. In parallel with the test item treatments 3,5-Dichlorophenol as positive reference control in a concentrations of 2, 7 and 24.5 mg/L; furthermore, blank (inoculum) control, nitrification controls and abiotic controls were investigated. Abiotic controls (investigated in three parallels) were prepared containing the test item in the concentration of 1000 mg/L, synthetics sewage feed, but no inoculum. In this test no abiotic oxygen consumption was noticed. The test was performed without pH adjustment. All validity criteria of the study were met. The average specific respiration rate of the blank was 33.69 mg O2/ g activated sludge (based on dry weight) in an hour with a coefficient of variation of 2.87 %. The 3-hour EC50 of the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol was 13.87 mg/L within the range of 2 mg/L to 25 mg/L, that was required for total respiration (in this study thedifferentiation between heterotrophic respiration and nitrification was considered as not necessary). The observed oxygen consumption rates and consequently the specific respiration rates in all examined test item concentrations remained in the range of the blank controls (the average specific respiration rate at 1000 mg/L: 33.45 mg O2/gh). No inhibitory effect of the test item was observed. Based on measured oxygen consumption values and calculated specific respiration rates it can be stated that the 3-hour EC10and EC50 values of the test item are greater than 1000 mg/L. The NOEC was determined to be 1000 mg/L, the highest concentration tested. The specific respiration rates at the examined highest test item concentration of 1000 mg/L were compared with the blank control values using 2-Sample T-test (a=0.05). No statistical significant differences were observed, compared to the blank control values. In conclusion, this preliminary test demonstrated the absence of inhibition of oxygen consumption by the test substance up to and including the limit concentration of 1000 mg/L, therefore in line with OECD 209 a definite test is not required.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC10 or NOEC for microorganisms:

1 000 mg/L

Additional information

Under the conditions of the performed Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test, the EC10 and EC50 values of test item were determined as greater than 1000 mg/L. Based on the statistical evaluation in this test the NOEC was 1000 mg/L. In conclusion this preliminary test demonstrated the absence of inhibition of oxygen consumption by the test substance up to and including the limit concentration of 1000 mg/L. Therefore, in line with OECD 209, a definite test is not required.