Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

28 Oct 2021 to 5 Nov 2021

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Version / remarks:

OECD Guideline 203. "Fish, Acute Toxicity Test", 2019.

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

No further details specified in the study report.

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Samples for possible analysis were taken from the limit concentration and the control according to the schedule below. A method was developed for four major components of the UVCB test material.
Frequency: At t=0 and t=96 hours.
Volume: At t=0 hours 1.0 ml, and at t=96 hours 0.80 mL, from the approximate center of the test solutions.
Storage: Not applicable, samples were transferred to the analytical laboratory at the Test Facility and analyzed on the day of sampling.

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

The batch of Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid tested was a clear light yellow liquid UVCB and not completely soluble in test medium at the loading rate prepared. No correction was made for the purity/composition of the test material.
Due to the expected very low solubility of the test material in test medium and the non-GLP solubility trials visually confirming that, the method of preparation was based on the principles laid down in the OECD Guidance Document on aqueous-phase aquatic toxicity testing of difficult test chemicals as referred to in the OECD Guidance Document On The Use Of The Harmonised System For The Classification Of Chemicals Which Are Hazardous For The Aquatic Environment, section 3.5: "Difficult to test substances".
A Water Accommodated Fraction (WAF) was prepared at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L, which was expected to be far above the solubility limit of the test material. A loading rate of 1.0 mg/L represents the technical limitation of the balance used to weigh the test material and allows for visual confirmation of the presence of undissolved test material.
The test material was weighed on a watch glass, after which the watch glass was added to the test medium. A one-day period of slow magnetic stirring was applied (the vortex depth was minimal, i.e. formed a dimple). This slow stirring ensured maximum dissolution of the test material in medium, while attempting to avoid the formation of micelles. The one-day period of stirring was chosen since no test material could be measured in the non-GLP solubility trial, and therefore no Saturation Test could be conducted to confirm the most suitable test solution preparation. The stirring time was chosen to be long enough for maximum dissolution, but short enough to prevent potential degradation of the test material over a longer period. The obtained mixture was allowed to settle for a period of 3 hours. After this period of settlement, test material was still observed on the watch glass, and in addition, some droplets were floating on the surface of the test solution. This indicates that even at the low loading rate of 1.0 mg/L the test material was not fully dissolved.
Thereafter, the WSF was collected by means of siphoning from the approximate center of the solution and was inspected on appearance and presence of undissolved material by using a laser-pen (i.e. presence of the Tyndall effect). All test solutions were clear and colorless at the end of the preparation procedure. No undissolved material was observed in the test solutions.
Pre-incubation of test vessels was applied. To this end, volumes of 50 mL test solution were added to each replicate of the test concentration. The vessels were then pre-incubated for one day to minimize the risk of test material loss due to potential sorption of test material to the glassware. At the end of the pre-incubation phase, the test vessels were emptied and re-filled with freshly prepared volumes of 50 mL of the respective test solution.
Any residual volumes were discarded.

Test organisms (species):

Cyprinus carpio

Details on test organisms:

Species:Carp (Cyprinus carpio, Teleostei Cyprinidae).
Source: ‘De Haar Vissen’, Zodiac proefacc. Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands. In case of a different supplier, details of the source will be included in the report.
Mean length: Limit test: 3.3 ± 0.2 cm.
Mean weight: Limit test: 0.38 ± 0.07 g.
Characteristics: F1 from a single parent-pair bred in UV-treated water.
Reason for selection: This system has been selected as an internationally accepted species. Healthy fish supplied with a health certificate.
Total fish used: 14

Holding
Quarantine/Acclimatization: At least 12 days after delivery.
Holding Medium: Test medium.
Measurements: Conductivity, pH, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia concentration: once a week. Temperature was continuously recorded. In addition, pH and temperature were measured before transferring the fish to the test system.
Water quality parameters: Were kept within the optimum limits for the respective fish species.
Feeding: Daily with pelleted fish food (F-0.5 GR Pro Aqua Brut, Skretting, Fontaine-lès-Vervins, France) until at the latest 24 hours before the start of exposure).
Validity of batch: In the batch of fish used for the test, mortality during the seven days prior to the start of the test was less than 5%.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Remarks on exposure duration:

In accordance with test guideline

Post exposure observation period:

No post exposure observation period specified in the study report

Hardness:

CaCO3: 180 mg/L.

Test temperature:

20 and 21°C

pH:

7.6 - 8.0

Dissolved oxygen:

7.0 - 9.4 mg/L

Salinity:

No specified

Conductivity:

Not specified

Nominal and measured concentrations:

WAF individually prepared at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L.

Details on test conditions:

Testing Strategy and Experimental Design
A limit test was performed, as no toxicity was expected due to the low solubility of the test material in water.

Test Concentrations
Test material: WAF individually prepared at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L.
Control: Test medium without test material or other additives.

Test Procedure and Conditions
Test duration: 96 hours
Test type: Static
Test vessels: 10 liters, all-glass, containing 8.0 liters of test solution.
Test medium: The following salts (analytical grade) were added to tap water purified by Reverse Osmosis (RO-water, GEON Waterbehandeling, Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands):
CaCl2.2H2O 211.5 mg/L
MgSO4.7H2O 88.8 mg/L
NaHCO3 46.7 mg/L
KCl 4.2 mg/L
The hardness of test medium expressed as CaCO3: 180 mg/L.
Number of fish: 7 per test group.
Loading: 0.33 g fish/liter, i.e. 7 fish per 8 liters of test medium.
Illumination: 16 hours photoperiod daily with a light intensity ranging between 810 - 878 lux.
Aeration: The test solutions were not aerated during the test.
Feeding: No feeding from 24 hours prior to the test and during the total exposure period.
Introduction of fish: Within 10 minutes after preparation of the test media from a holding tank with comparable water quality parameters and pH and temperature differences between test and holding tank media of less than 1 unit and 1°C, respectively.

Measurements and Recordings
Mortality and other effects: At 2, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours following the start of exposure. In addition, every afternoon from day 0 to observe for any dead or severely distressed fish. Dead fish were removed when observed.
Dissolved oxygen content, pH and temperature: Daily in all vessels with surviving fish, beginning at the start of the test (day 0). Temperature was additionally continuously measured in a temperature control vessel, beginning at the start of the test.

TERMINAL PROCEDURES
Euthanasia: At the end of the test the surviving fish were rapidly killed by exposing them to ca. 1.2% ethylene glycol monophenylether in water.

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LL50

Effect conc.:

> 1 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Remarks:

Loading Rate

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

Measured Concentrations
An analytical method was developed for four major compounds of the UVCB test material, and samples were analyzed for each of these compounds.
Samples taken from the limit concentration and the control were analyzed. At the start of the test, a test material related response was observed, indicating exposure. However, the measured concentrations of the whole test material based on each of the four components were below the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) of 2.0 µg/L at the start and end of the test.
Low levels of test item were detected in the samples taken from the control at the start and end of the test. The levels were below the LOQ and were concluded to not have impacted the study interpretation as the control fish showed no mortality or other signs of distress.
Based on these results, effect parameters were expressed based on loading rates.

Mortality and Clinical Effects
No mortality or clinical effects were observed in the control and the limit concentration throughout the test. The responses recorded in this test allowed for reliable determination of an LR50.

Experimental Conditions
The temperature continuously measured in a temperature control vessel varied between 20 and 21°C. All test conditions remained within the ranges prescribed by the study plan (pH: 6.0-8.5, constant within 1 unit; temperature 20-24°C, constant within 2°C; oxygen > 60% of air saturation).

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Incidence of Mortality and Total Mortality in the Limit Test

Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaeryhtritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid Loading rate (mg/L)	Initial Number of Fish	Cumulative mortality					Total mortality (%)
		2h	24h	48h	72h	96h
Control 1.0	7 7	0 0	0 0	0 0	0 0	0 0	0 0

 

Effect Parameters

Parameter (mg/L)	Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid Loading rate (mg/L)
24h-, 48h-, 72h-, 96h-ELR50	>1.0

 

pH-Values and Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations (mg/L) in the Limit Test

Test item^1 Loading rate (mgL)	Day 0		Day 1		Day 2		Day 3		Day 4
	pH^2	O2	pH	O2	pH	O2	pH	O2	pH	O2
Control 1.0	7.8 7.7	9.4 8.9	7.7 7.6	7.7 7.4	7.7 7.6	7.5 7.2	7.9 7.7	7.8 7.6	8.0 7.9	7.3 7.0

¹ Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid

² pH of culture medium was: 8.1

 

Temperatures (°C) Measured in the Limit Test

Test item^1 Loading rate (mg/L)	Day 0^2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Control 1.0	21 22	21 21	20 21	21 21	20 21

¹ Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid

² Temperature of culture medium was: 22 °C

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Remarks:

The study met the acceptability criteria prescribed by the study plan and was considered valid

Conclusions:

The 96h-LR50 for carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid was beyond the range of concentrations tested, i.e. exceeded a geometric mean concentration of 1.0 µg/L being considered the maximum concentration soluble in test medium at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L.

Executive summary:

The objective of the study was to evaluate Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid for its ability to generate acute toxic effects in Carp (Cyprinus carpio) during an exposure period of 96 hours hours and, if possible, to determine the LR₅₀ at all observation times.

A limit test was performed based on he results of several pre-tests.

Test conditions and results of the limit test are presented below:

 

Test material: Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid

Appearance: Clear light yellow liquid

Purity: UVCB

Preparation of test solutions: WSF prepared at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L

Specific procedure: Test vessels were pre-incubated for one day to minimise the risk of test material loss due to potential sorption of test material to the glass ware.

 

Experimental set-up

Guideline: OECD TG 203 and OECD GD 23

Exposure design: Static, no renewals

Test concentration: WSF prepared at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L

Control: Blank control

Number of replicates: 1 replicate containing 7 fish each

Sampling for analysis: at t=0 and t=96 h.

 

Experimental conditions

pH and temperature: Within the ranges specified in OECD TG 203

light regime: A daily photoperiod of 16 hours

 

Results

Actual exposure concentrations: The concentration of the test material based on quantification of the four major compounds for which a method was developed were measured at 1.0 μg/L (geometric mean concentration) in the WSF prepared at loading rate of 1.0 mg/L.

Recorded effects: No mortality was observed in the control and limit concentration throughout the exposure period.  

 

The effect parameters (based on loading rates) obtained in the study are summarised in the table below.

Parameter (mg/L)	Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid Loading rate (mg/L)
24h-, 48h-, 72h-, 96h-LL50	>1.0

 

In conclusion, the 96h-LL₅₀ for carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to Decanoic acid, mixed esters with dipentaerythritol, octanoic acid and valeric acid was beyond the range of concentrations tested, i.e. exceeded a geometric mean concentration of 1.0 μg/L being considered the maximum concentration soluble in test medium at a loading rate of 1.0 mg/L.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

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

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

April 29, 2003 to August 18, 2003

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Justification for type of information:

In accordance with Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 Annex XI (1.5) and the relevant ECHA guidance documents, the substance is read across to reduce the need for unnecessary repeat testing on the basis that the substances are similar on the basis of:
1) a common functional group and
2) the common precursors and/or the likelihood of common breakdown products via physical and biological processes, which result in structurally similar chemicals.

The molecules share a similar route of manufacture and similar starting materials, some of which are common to each molecule.
Additional details and justification is attached in Section 13. A further confirmatory study is currently underway on the substance.

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

read-across source

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.1 (Acute Toxicity for Fish)

Deviations:

no

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

ISO 7346-1 (Determination of the Acute Lethal Toxicity of Substances to a Freshwater Fish [Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)] - Part 1: Static Method)

Deviations:

no

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 0 g/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Description of key information

 Read across to structural analogue. All members of this category of esters have a hydrophobic nature. Based on structural similarities of the substance of interest and the members of the category it was concluded that it was justified to applyread across for this endpoint. The 96h-LC50 exceeded the maximum solubility of the analogue in the test medium.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

100 mg/L

Additional information

Read across to structural analogue. All members of this category of esters have a hydrophobic nature. Based on structural similarities of the substance of interest and the members of the category it was concluded that it was justified to applyread across for this endpoint.

 

96-Hour Acute Toxicity Study in Carp with HATCOL 3331.

A limit test was performed exposing seven carp to a filtered (ca. 5 μm) HATCOL 3331 solution prepared at a loading rate of 100 mg/l and to a blank-control. The total test period was 96 hours.

HATCOL 3331 induced no visible effects in carp at the concentration obtained in a filtered solution prepared at a loading rate of 100 mg/l, corresponding to an average exposure concentration approaching the solubility limit, i.e. 0.22-0.27 mg/l.

In conclusion: Due to the very low solubility of HATCOL 3331 in water, concentration levels that might be toxic for carp could not be reached. Therefore, the 96h-LC50 exceeded the maximum solubility of HATCOL 3331 in test medium.