Dimethyl carbonate

Toxicity to terrestrial plants

Administrative data

Endpoint:

toxicity to terrestrial plants: short-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Die Wirkung von organischen Substanzen (Lösemitteln) in der Gasphase auf höhere Pflanzen.

Author:

Christ RA

Year:

1996

Bibliographic source:

Gefahrstoffe -Reinhaltung der Luft 56, 345-350 (1996)

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Higher plants were fumigated with organic solvents (e.g. dimethyl carbonate) in cuvettes for 3 h and the visible damage symptoms, the rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, and leaf growth recorded.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Dimethyl carbonate

EC Number:

210-478-4

EC Name:

Dimethyl carbonate

Cas Number:

616-38-6

Molecular formula:

C3H6O3

IUPAC Name:

dimethyl carbonate

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Test organisms

1

Species:

Beta vulgaris

2

Species:

Glycine max (G. soja)

3

Species:

Helianthus annuus

4

Species:

Lycopersicon esculentum

5

Species:

Phaseolus vulgaris

6

Species:

Triticum aestivum

7

Species:

other: Tropaeolum majus

Study design

Test type:

other: investigation of damage symptoms of leaves, rate of photosynthesis, transpiration and leaf growth

Study type:

laboratory study

Substrate type:

other: fumigation

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Test conditions

Test temperature:

in winter:25°C
in summer: 35°C

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test container (type, material, size): cuvette (volume: 260 L), mineral glass
- No. of plant pots per container: 6-8
- No. of plants (retained after thinning): not reported
- No. of replicates per treatment group: 1
- No. of replicates per control: 1

GROWTH CONDITIONS: not reported

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable): damage symptoms of leaves, rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, and leaf growth

TEST CONCENTRATIONS: not reported

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

HCl, NH3, and SO2

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Species:

other: higher plants

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

LOEC

Effect conc.:

3 000 other: mg/m³

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: photosynthesis

Remarks on result:

other: average value for the 6 tested plants

Effect concentrations 2

Species:

other: higher plants

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

LOEC

Effect conc.:

10 000 other: mg/m³

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

other: visible damage symptoms of leaves

Remarks on result:

other: average value for the 6 tested plants

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not applicable

Conclusions:

In 3 h fumigation tests with DMC, the limit concentrations (average of the 6 tested higher plants) were determined to be 10 g DMC/m³ and 3 g/m³ in respect to visible damage symptoms and photosynhesis, respectively. According to the classification of the author, DMC belongs to the class of substances being less hazardous.

Executive summary:

The effect of organic solvents as air pollutants on higher plants was investigated. For this purpose, 6 higher plants (Beta vulgaris, Glycine maxima, Helianthus annus, Lycopersicum esculentum, Phaseolus vulgaris, Triticum aestivum, and Tropaeolum majus) were fumigated with e.g. dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in cuvettes for 3 h and the visible damage symptoms of the leaves, the rate of photosynthesis, transpiration, and leaf growth recorded. The limit concentrations (average of the 6 tested higher plants) were determined to be 10 g DMC/m³ and 3 g/m³ in respect to visible damage symptoms and photosynhesis, respectively. According to the classification of the author, DMC belongs to the class of substances being less hazardous.