Acrylic acid

Endpoint summary

Additional information

For short-term toxicity towards fresh water organisms there are reliable, up-to-date OECD-guideline studies involving analytical monitoring for all three trophic levels available.

 

The LC50 value for Salmo gairdneri was determined to be 27 mg/L (measured) (BAMM, 1990) and for Brachydanio rerio the LC50 was 222 mg/L (nominal) (Huels AG, 1995).

The EC50 for Daphnia magna was 95 mg/L (measured) (BAMM, 1990) and 47 mg/L (nominal) (Huels AG, 1995), respectively. Thus, the effect values for acute toxicity towards freshwater fish and invertebrates were essentially in the same range, between 10 and 100 mg/L.

 

EC50 values for aquatic plants, i.e. algae, were lower by a factor of approx. 200. The 72-hour EC50 (growth rate) for Scenedesmus subspicatus was 0.13 and 0.205 mg/L (nominal), respectively (BASF AG, 1994, Huels AG, 1995). The 96-hour EC50 (cell number) for Selenastrum capricornutum was 0.17 mg/L (nominal) (BAMM, 1990). The 72-hour EC10 (growth rate) for Scendesmus subspicatus was 0.03 and 0.031 mg/L (nominal), respectively (BASF AG, 1994, Huels AG, 1995).

 

 

In addition, there are reliable data on short-term toxicity towards marine fish and invertebrates available. In a study conducted according to OECD Guideline 203 using a flow-through design in the sheepshead minnow (BAMM, 1995), the 96-hour LC50 was estimated to be 236 mg/L (measured). In a toxicity study with the seawater invertebrate Mysidopsis bahia (BAMM, 1996) an 96-hr LC50 of 97 mg/L based on mean measured concentrations was determined. This study was conducted according to the procedures in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 797, Section 1930, Mysid Shrimp Acute Toxicity Test, using a flow-through design.

 

 

Concerning long-term effects, two 21 -day chronic studies with Daphnia magna are available. BAMM (1996) conducted a 21-day chronic study with Daphnia magna under flow-through conditions according to EPA OTS 797.1330. The NOEC for reproduction was based on the parameter YAD (Young per adult reproductive day) and determined to be 19 mg/L; the corresponding LOEC (reproduction) was 38 mg/L. Based on the statistical endpoint of adult mean survival from this 21-day Daphnia magna chronic toxicity study, MATC limits were determined to be 8.1 mg/L (LOEC) and 3.8 mg/L (NOEC). The geometric mean of the MATC limits is 5.5 mg/L. The day 21 EC50 based on immobility/mortality of adult daphnia was determined to be > 8.1 mg/L. In addition, a 21-day chronic study with Daphnia magna conducted under semi-static conditions according to OECD TG 211 is available. The NOEC for maternal survival was determined to be 7 mg/L, the NOEC for reproduction based on young per adult was 12 mg/L (nominal).

Furthermore, a toxicity study with Oryzias latipes according to OECD TG 210 under consideration of GLP is available (LSI, 2019). After 45d of exposure no effects on any of the endpoints could be detected. The resulting NOEC was determined to be >= 10.1 mg/L (mean measured).

The EC10 (growth rate) = 0.03 mg/L of the algal growth inhibition study (BASF AG, 1994) is used as the lowest concentration for the determination of the chronic ecotoxicity of acrylic acid.

  

Concerning toxicity towards domestic activated sludge, an oxygen consumption inhibition test according to ISO standard was conducted (BASF AG, 1993). The resulting EC20 was 900 mg/L and the NOEC was 100 mg/L.