Trichloroethylene

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

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: GLP status unknown, guideline study, published in peer reviewed literature, adequate for assessment.

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: EPA-660/3-75-009

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

not specified

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

A 100 mL water sample was collected and placed in a modified 100 mL volumetric flask. Each aquarium sampled at least 3 times to determine concentration.

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

Acetone used as co-solvent to introduce chemicals into the diluter. Nominal acetone concentrations were 79-198 mg/l depending on diluter cell; measured concentrations of acetone in test tanks did not exceed 2% of LC50 for acetone (8,500 mg/l).

Test organisms (species):

Jordanella floridae

Details on test organisms:

Laboratory-reared juvenile (2-4 month old) fish were used. Fish were raised in the dilutent water and fed freshly-hatched and adult brine shrimp.

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Post exposure observation period:

None

Hardness:

48 mg/l as CaCO3

Test temperature:

25±2°C

pH:

6.95 ± 0.35

Dissolved oxygen:

>90%

Salinity:

Not applicable

Nominal and measured concentrations:

5 or 6 duplicate concentrations in logarithmic series,

Details on test conditions:

Dechlorinated Lake Superior water taken from the Thunder Bay was used.
Fish were not fed during the test.
Water and acetone (79-198 mg/l) controls were employed.
No aeration was used during the test.
30 litre aquaria, 10 fish per aquarium, flow rate 6 litres/hour

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

28.3 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

meas. (not specified)

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Non-GLP, non-guideline study, adequate for assessment

Principles of method if other than guideline:

96h LC50 was determined by the method of Doudoroff et. al. (1951)

GLP compliance:

no

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Vehicle:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

solutions not aerated

Test organisms (species):

Limanda limanda

Details on test organisms:

5 dab (Limanda limanda, marine fish) used, 15-20 cm long

Test type:

flow-through

Water media type:

saltwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Measured concentrations

Details on test conditions:

glass flow-through apparatus

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

16 mg/L

Description of key information

The lowest acute toxicity value for freshwater fish was the 96h LC50 for American flagfish, Jordanella floridae which was 28.3 mg/l.

For marine water fish the lowest toxicity value was the 96h LC50 16 mg/l found in Limanda limanda.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

28.3 mg/L

Marine water fish

Marine water fish

Effect concentration:

16 mg/L

Additional information

Several studies with both freshwater and marine fish are available. For the freshwater compartment a flow-through study with the American flagfish Jordanella floridae, conducted according to the EPA-660/3-75-00 guideline was found to be the most critical (Smithet al.1991). The 96-h LC50 was 28.3 mg/l. For the marine compartment a flow-through study with the dabLimanda limanda, was found to be most critical (Pearsonet al.1975). Although this study was not conducted according to an accepted guideline the study was a well conducted near-guideline study, the 96-h LC50 was 16 mg/l. Other studies were less critical and/or not reliable.