Pitch, coal tar, high-temp.

Short-term toxicity to fish

Administrative data

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:

guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1991

Report date:

1991

Reference 2

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1985

Report date:

1985

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

Remarks:

but adjustment to the properties of the test material (see Details on test solutions )

GLP compliance:

yes

Test material

Test material information

1

Reference substance name:

Pitch, coal tar

Molecular formula:

not applicable

IUPAC Name:

Pitch, coal tar

Test material form:

solid

Details on test material:

- Source: Nippon Steel Chemical Comp.
- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Pitch (coal tar)
- Substance type: organic
- Physical state: solid
- Analytical purity: not applicable

Specific details on test material used for the study:

- Source: Nippon Steel Chemical Comp.
- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Pitch (coal tar)
- Substance type: organic
- Physical state: solid
- Analytical purity: not applicable, UVCB substance

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Test solutions

Vehicle:

no

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Direct dosing method A: Each test solution prepared separately without separation of undissolved matter (settling for 7 h);
- Direct dosing method B: Each test solution prepared separately with separation of the supernatant from not dissolved matter but without further filtration; stirring time was 24 h for coal-tar pitch at 25 ± 2 °C.

As alternative dissolution method, coal-tar pitch was spread over glass plates at 50 mg/cm², and a corresponding number of plates was used for a 24-h extraction in test medium.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Oryzias latipes

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Red killifish
- Source: Nakashima Fish Farm, Arao city
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): no data
- Length at study initiation: mean 3.2 cm
- Weight at study initiation: mean 0.25 g

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: 14 d
- Type and amount of food: no data
- Feeding frequency: no data

Study design

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Remarks on exposure duration:

water renewal each 24 h

Post exposure observation period:

none

Test conditions

Hardness:

no data

Test temperature:

25 ± 2°C

pH:

no data

Dissolved oxygen:

no data

Salinity:

no data

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal: no data, >= 5 loadings spaced at a factor of 1.8
Analysis: The water-soluble fraction was about 0.13 - 0.07 % of the nominal amount and ranged from ca. 0.630 - 0.670 mg/L 
(total of 11 substances, incl. naphthalene) at nominal 500 and 1000 mg/L, respectively (Yoshida, 1985, Tab. A17, p. 38).   
----------------------------
After 24 h, ca. 50 % of the initial concentration was recovered from 1000 mg/L pitch (Yoshida 1985, p. 11 and Tab. A17, p. 38)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel:
- Type (delete if not applicable): open, covered with aluminium foil
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: glass vessel (29.5 x 15 cm in diameter), test volume = 5 litres
- Aeration: probably no ("sufficiently aerated" medium was taken)
- Renewal rate of test solution (frequency/flow rate): 24 h
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 1
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 1
- Biomass loading rate: estimated 5 L/10 x0.25 g = approx. 2 L/g fish


TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: well water

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Adjustment of pH: no
- Photoperiod: 14 h light
- Light intensity: no data


TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: no data
- Range finding study
- Test concentrations: no data

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LL50

Effect conc.:

> 100 - < 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks:

10/10 (100 %) animals died at 1000 mg/L

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LL0

Effect conc.:

ca. 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Remarks:

1/10 (10 %) and 0/10 animals died (relating to Method A and B, resp.) (see above Details on test solution)

Effect concentrations 3

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LL100

Effect conc.:

1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

Exact LL50 had not been determined

Reported statistics and error estimates:

not applicable

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Remarks:

Criteria for poorly soluble substances fulfilled