Pitch, coal tar, high-temp., < 1% 4- to 5-membered condensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons

Toxicity to terrestrial arthropods

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial arthropods: long-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Soil ecotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in relation to soil sorption, lipophilicity, and water solubility (§)

Author:

Sverdrup LE, Nielsen T, Krogh PH

Year:

2002

Bibliographic source:

Environ. Sci. Technol. 36, 2429-2435

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

ISO 11267 (Inhibition of Reproduction of Collembola by Soil Pollutants)

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Other PAH have also been tested in this study.

GLP compliance:

no

Application method:

soil

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Benzo[def]chrysene

EC Number:

200-028-5

EC Name:

Benzo[def]chrysene

Cas Number:

50-32-8

Molecular formula:

C20H12

IUPAC Name:

benzo[pqr]tetraphene

Test material form:

solid

Details on test material:

- Substance type: organic
Phys.-chem. properties (data from EU 2008: Coal-Tar Pitch, high temperature - Risk Assessment. European Union Risk Assessment Report, The Netherlands, and WHO 1998: EHC 202)
- Vapour pressure: 7.3E-7 Pa (at 25 °C)
- Water solubility: in freshwater, approx. 1.5 - 3.8 µg/L (20 - 25 °C);
- Henry's law constant: 0.034 Pa*m³/mol (at 20 °C)
- log Pow: = 6.13 - 6.5
- pKa: not applicable
- Stability in water: limited due to photolytic decomposition and evaporation
- Stability in light: instable in the presence of UV
- pH dependance on stability: not applicable

Specific details on test material used for the study:

- Name of test material as cited in study report: benzo[a)]yrene
- Source: Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO
- Purity: >98 %
- Stability in water: limited due to photolytic decomposition and evaporation
- Stability in light: instable in the presence of UV

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Soil samples of 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg soil (dw)
Analysis at start and at the end of experiment

Test substrate

Vehicle:

yes

Details on preparation and application of test substrate:

- Method of test material application: test substance dissolved in acetone was added to each container (26 g dw soil/container)
- Volume of test solution applied: 4 ml
- Controls: acetone (4ml) without test substance was applied
- Chemical name of vehicle (organic solvent, emulsifier or dispersant): aceton
- Concentration of vehicle in test medium (stock solution and final test solution): not applicable
- Evaporation of vehicle before use: yes; evaporation in fume hood for 24 h

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Folsomia fimetaria

Animal group:

Collembola (soil-dwelling springtail)

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: springtail
- Source: synchronized animals, no further information
- Age at test initiation (mean and range, SD): 23-26 d
- Weight at test initiation (mean and range, SD): no data

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

21 d

Test conditions

Test temperature:

20 ±1 °C

pH (if soil or dung study):

see details below

Humidity:

50 % of water holding capacity

Photoperiod and lighting:

- Photoperiod: 12:12 h (light:dark)
- Light intensity: 400-800 lux

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test container (material, size): no data
- Amount of soil or substrate: 26 g ± 0.05 g artificial soil
- No. of organisms per container (treatment): 10 males, 10 females
- No. of replicates per treatment group: 4
- No. of replicates per vehicle control: 4

SOURCE AND PROPERTIES OF SUBSTRATE
- Artificial soil test substrate: Danish agricultural soil (Askov, Jutland)
- Composition: Sandy loam
Coarse sand (0.2 – 2 mm) 38.4 %, fine sand (0.063 – 0.2 mm) 23.6 %, coarse silt (0.02 – 0.063 mm) 10.0 %, fine silt (0.002 – 0.02 mm) 12.3 %, clay (<0.002 mm)
13 %, humus 2.8 %
- Organic carbon content: 1.6 %
- Soil pH: 6.2, no adjustment
- Density: 1.135 g/cm3,
- Cation exchange capacity: 8.14 meq/100 g
- Pretreatment of soil: samples were sieved through a 2 mm mesh before use

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Photoperiod: 12/12 h (light/dark)
- Light intensity: 400-800 lux

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED: Mortality, reproduction at end of exposure time (21 d)

VEHICLE CONTROL PERFORMED: yes (details see above)

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 3 - 3.3
- Range finding study: no data

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal: 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg soil (dw)
Measured for 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg soil (dw), recovery: 8.3, 79, and 840 mg/kg soil (dw) prior to exposure
Ratio measured / nominal concentration: 81.7 %

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Key result

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

EC10

Effect conc.:

> 840 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (initial)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

reproduction

Remarks on result:

other: highest concentration tested

Effect concentrations 2

Key result

Duration:

21 d

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 840 mg/kg soil dw

Nominal / measured:

meas. (initial)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Remarks on result:

other: highest concentration tested

Details on results:

Measured concentrations of test substance after test period (21 d):

10 mg/ kg soil (dw) nominal: 5.8 mg/ kg soil (dw)
100 mg/ kg soil (dw) nominal: 66 mg/ kg soil (dw)
1000 mg/ kg soil (dw) nominal: 840 mg/ kg soil (dw)

Ratio measured/ nominal concentrations: 69.2 %

Reported statistics and error estimates:

EC10 values (reproduction): estimated by logistic regression by SAS/STAT PROCLIN
LC50 values (mortality): estimated using probit analysis in SAS/STAT