Polyphosphoric acids, esters with triethanolamine, sodium salts

Short-term toxicity to fish

Description of key information

Three acute toxicity studies on fish are available (one freshwater study and two marine studies).
In all three studies the substance showed no toxicity to fish at the maximum test concentrations used in the studies (upto 1800 mg/l  (936 mg/l active ingredient) in freshwater and upto 1831 mg/l (952 mg/l active ingredient) and 320 mg/l in marine water studies respectively).

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Fresh water fish

Fresh water fish

Effect concentration:

936 mg/L

Marine water fish

Marine water fish

Effect concentration:

952 mg/L

Additional information

Freshwater study: (Sacker D J (2003))

The test substance was assessed for Acute Toxicity (96 h LC₅₀) to Rainbow Trout.

The test was conducted using semi-static test conditions based upon OECD Guidelines for Testing of Chemicals Fish, Acute Toxicity Test reference 203.

Test concentrations of 0 (control), 320, 560, 1000 and 1800 mg/l were prepared by addition of the appropriate volume of the sample to dilution water.

The results of this study indicate that, after 96 hours at the concentrations tested, the test substance was non-toxic to rainbow trout. The highest no-observed effect concentration (NOEC) was estimated as 1800 mg/L. The lowest observed (lethal) effect concentration (LOEC) could not be determined as there were no mortalities at the highest concentration.

The 96 hour LC₅₀of test substance was estimated to be >1800 mg/L. Based on an active ingredient composition the LC₅₀ of the substance was estimated to be > 936 mg/l (as active ingredient) and NOEC to be 936 mg/l (as active ingredient).

Marine studies:

Coughlan J (1999)

The study was conducted according to the Oslo and Paris Commissions 'Protocols on Methods for the Testing of Chemicals Used in the Offshore Industry - Part B Protocol for a Fish Acute Toxicity Test (OSPAR, 1995)'. The test was carried out using concentrations of 0 (control), 750, 937.5, 1172, 1465 and 1831 mg/l of test material. All animals exposed to the test substance survived. The LC₅₀is greater than 1831 mg/L of test substance but since there was no mortality the actual LC₅₀value cannot be determined. Similarly the lowest concentration producing 100% mortality could not be determined since there was no mortality in the highest concentration used. The No-Observed-Effect Concentration was determined as 1831 mg/L of test substance. Throughout the definitive test the majority of the animals in all concentrations showed normal behaviour, although a few exhibited hyperventilation and nervous erratic swimming (noted in a few animals in all test concentrations).

Based on an active ingredient composition the LC₅₀ of the substance was estimated to be > 952 mg/l (as active ingredient) and NOEC 952 mg/l (active ingredient).

 

Thomson N (2006)

A 96h limit test using the marine fish Scophthalmus maximus was conducted.

Test method was consistent with OECD 203 Guideline as adapted by OSPARCOM (1995) (amended March 2005) for marine testing of offshore chemicals. The method estimates the effect of chemicals on the mortality/immobility on juvenile fish over a period of 96h.

A single test concentration of 320 mg/l was tested (by direct addition of substance to seawater).

The test material exhibited no effect at 320 mg/l after 96h (direct addition) to the marine fish Scophthalmus maximus in the water phase.

The results of the above studies are all based on nominal concentrations. No analysis for the measurement of test substance concentration in the test samples was performed.