4,4,5,5-Tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane

Toxicity to birds

Administrative data

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to birds: dietary toxicity test

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across from supporting substance (structural analogue or surrogate)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: well documented publication

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Toxic effects of boron on mallard reproduction

Author:

Smith GJ, Anders VP

Year:

1989

Bibliographic source:

Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 8: 943-950

Reference 2

Reference Type:

secondary source

Title:

Environmental Health Criteria 204 - Boron

Author:

WHO

Year:

1998

Bibliographic source:

WHO, International Programme on Chemical Safety

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Effects of boron on the reproduction.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Boric acid

EC Number:

233-139-2

EC Name:

Boric acid

Cas Number:

10043-35-3

Molecular formula:

BH3O3

IUPAC Name:

boric acid

Constituent 2

Reference substance name:

Boric acid

EC Number:

234-343-4

EC Name:

Boric acid

Cas Number:

11113-50-1

Molecular formula:

B H3 O3

IUPAC Name:

Boric acid

Dose method:

feed

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

no

Details on preparation and analysis of diet:

- diet were mixed at approximately two weeks intervals
- diets were prepared with duck developer supplemented with powdered boric acid

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Anas platyrhynchos

Details on test organisms:

- Mallards from commercial farm

Study design

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration (if not single dose):

3 wk

No. of animals per sex per dose and/or stage:

- 15 birds of each sex received boron diet, and 25 control pairs

Control animals:

yes, concurrent no treatment

Nominal and measured doses / concentrations:

- test concentrations (nominal/measured): 0/8, 30/35, 300/288, 1000/1000 mg boron/kg

Details on test conditions:

- two week acclimation time
- females were kept on 8 h light / 16 h dark to prevent egg laying
- body weights were measured when males and females were paired and when they were killed
- eggs were candled at 14 d of incubation to determine fertility and embryo viability
- ducklings were weighed at hatch, 7, 14, and 21 days
- one selected duckling from each brood were examined for macroscopic pathological changes in organs (brain, liver, kidney and heart)

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Remarks on result:

other: see "Any other information on results incl. tables"

Any other information on results incl. tables

1000 mg boron/kg diet:
embryo mortality significantly increased, hatching success
and duckling survival significantly reduced

    

liver boron level of 33-51 µg/g liver associated with
reproductive impairment in high dose group.

>= 300 mg boron/kg diet:
body weight of hatchlings reduced
>= 30 mg boron/kg diet:
ducklings growth significantly reduced. No effects on egg fertility, eggshell thickness or quality;
no overt signs of toxicity in young or adult mallards;