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Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

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Administrative data

Link to relevant study record(s)

Description of key information

Acutely toxic to algae.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for freshwater algae:
2.8 mg/L
EC50 for marine water algae:
24.7 mg/L
EC10 or NOEC for freshwater algae:
0.7 mg/L

Additional information

The key study was performed by NITE (1997). The test followed OECD 201 and used Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata as test species. The test concentrations were analytically verified, but the effect concentrations are based on nominal values since the measured concentrations remained between 84 and 109% of the nominal test concentrations. The 72-h ErC50 was determined to be 2.80 mg/L, the 72 -h ErC10 was 0.7 mg/L.

The key study is supported by a GLP study conducted by Huels (1997) following the EU method C.3. The test species was Desmodesmus subspicatus. The 72-h ErC50 was 22 mg/L, the 72-h ErC10 was 8.5 mg/L (measured).

Marine algae were tested by Libralato et al. (2010) according to ISO 10253. The test species was Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The concentration of the test item was analytically verified in the stock solution. Five test concentrations in a geometric series with a factor of 2 plus one control were used to determine the effect of MEA on marine algae. After 72 h of exposure an EC50 of 24.7 mg/L and a NOEC of < 6 mg/L were determined.

In addition, Eide-Haugmo et al. (2012/2009) performed a guideline study according to ISO 10253 with the marine algae Skeletonema costatum. After 72 hours an ErC50 of 198 mg/L was determined.

For algae exposed to monoethanolamine for 7-8 days, the toxicity threshold is approximately 0.8 mg/l. Neutralization had no significant effect on the 8-day toxicity threshold of monoethanolamine in Scenedesmus quadricauda (Bringmann & Kuehn, 1977 -1980). This value should not be used for risk assessment since this study was not performed according to a guideline and a valid guideline study with analytical monitoring is available.

In conclusion, 2 -aminoethanol is acutely toxic to algae.