Reaction mass of 4-sulfophthalic acid and 3-sulfophthalic acid

Endpoint summary

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Effects on fertility

Description of key information

There are no oral repeated dose studies on the reaction mass of 4-sulphophthalic acid and 3-sulphophthalic acid (read across target substance). However, an oral reproductive toxicity screening study is available for the reaction mass of trisodium 4-sulphonophthalate, trisodium 3-sulphonatophthalate, disodium phthalate, and sulphate (read across source substance) and it was used for read-across purposes.

In this reproductive toxicity screening, the test item was administered in Milli-Qwater as vehicle at dosages of 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg body weight/day, and controls received the vehicle only. The test item was administered to male rats for at least 28 days and to female rats for 14 days prior to pairing, through the pairing and gestation periods until the F1 generation reached day 4 post partum. Neither clinical signs nor adverse effects on mean food consumption, mean body weight, reproduction and breeding or pup development were noted. No test item-related findings were noted during the histological examination. Based on these results the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for general and reproductive toxicity was >1000 mg/kg body weight/day.

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Endpoint:

screening for reproductive / developmental toxicity

Type of information:

read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

28 Jun 2012 to 21 Mar 2013

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study

Justification for type of information:

REPORTING FORMAT FOR THE CATEGORY APPROACH
1. HYPOTHESIS FOR THE ANALOGUE APPROACH
The read across follows Scenario 5 - Qualitatively and quantitatively similar effects are caused by a common compound, which is formed from all category members (as described in the 2017 Read-Across Assessment Framework document).
2. SOURCE AND TARGET CHEMICAL(S) (INCLUDING INFORMATION ON PURITY AND IMPURITIES)
TARGET: Reaction Mass of 4-sulphophthalic acid and 3-sulphophthalic acid (ratio 3:1)
SOURCE: Sulfophthalic acid sodium salts
3. CATEGORY APPROACH JUSTIFICATION
Sulphophthalic acid sodium and ammonium salts are different organic salts of a common acid, sulphophthalic acid. The salts dissociate rapidly in the medium (water) to the common sulphophthalic acid anion and to their different counter ions. The counter ions ammonium and sodium do not influence the solubility and the toxicity of the category members.
4. DATA MATRIX
See Read Across document attached to CSR

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 422 (Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction / Developmental Toxicity Screening Test)

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Limit test:

no

Justification for study design:

Based on the results of a 14-day range-finding study (D52723, BASF project identification 01R0629/11X455) the dose levels of 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg bw per day were selected for the present study.

Species:

rat

Strain:

Wistar

Details on species / strain selection:

Rat, RccHanTM : WIST(SPF)

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

- Breeder: Harlan Laboratories, B.V. Kreuzelweg 53, 5961 NM Horst / Netherlands
- Age (at Start of Treatment): 12 weeks
- Body Weight Range (at Start of Treatment): Males: 287 to 348 g; Females: 188 to 222 g
- Identification: Cage card and individual animal number (ear tattoo). Pups: On day 1 post partum, pups were individually tattooed with Indian ink.
- Randomization: Performed on the fifth day of acclimatization using a computer-generated random algorithm. Body weights (recorded on the day of allocation) were taken into consideration in order to ensure similar mean body weights in all groups.
- Acclimatization: Eight days under test conditions after health examination. Only animals without any visible signs of illness were used for the study
- Husbandry: Standard laboratory conditions. Air-conditioned with 10 - 15 air changes per hour, continuously monitored environmental conditions (temp. range: 22 ± 3 °C; relative humidity range: 30 - 70%). Values outside the range occasionally occurred for relative humidity. These transient variations were considered not to have any influence on the study. These data are not reported but retained at Harlan Laboratories Ltd. There was 12-hour fluorescent light / 12-hour dark cycle with music during the light period.
- Diet: Pelleted standard Harlan Teklad 2018C (batch nos. 80/11 and 43/12) rodent maintenance diet (Provimi Kliba SA, 4303 Kaiseraugst/Switzerland) was available ad libitum.
- Water: Community tap-water from Füllinsdorf was available ad libitum in water bottles. R

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

water

Remarks:

Milli-Q-Water

Details on exposure:

- Dose Volume: 10 mL/kg body weight
- Duration of Acclimatization Period: 8 days

Details on mating procedure:

During the pairing period, females were housed with sexually mature males from the same dose group (1:1) until evidence of copulation was observed. The females were removed and housed individually when:
- the daily vaginal smear was sperm positive, or
- a copulation plug was observed.

The day on which a positive mating was determined (copulation plug or sperm) was designated day 0 post coitum. All dams were allowed to give birth and rear their litters (F1 pups) up to day 4 post partum. Day 0 was designated as the day on which a female had delivered all her pups.

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

On the first treatment day samples from the control group (middle only) as well as three samples (top, middle and bottom) of about 0.5 g of each concentration were taken prior to dosing for analysis of concentration and homogeneity. Samples of about 0.5 g of each concentration were taken from the middle to confirm the stability (8 days at room temperature (20 ± 5 °C)). Towards the end of treatment (24-Aug-2012), samples were taken from the middle to confirm the
concentration. The aliquots for analysis of dose formulations were frozen (-20 ± 5 °C) and delivered on dry ice to Dr. B. Ludwig (Harlan Laboratories Ltd., Zelgliweg 1, 4452 Itingen /Switzerland) and stored there at -20 ± 5 °C until analysis. The samples were analyzed by HPLC coupled to an UV detector following an analytical procedure provided by the Sponsor and adapted at Harlan Laboratories. The test item was used as the analytical standard. Analyzed samples were discarded after approval of the data by the sponsor.

Duration of treatment / exposure:

Males: Minimum 4 weeks; Females: Approximately 6 weeks

Frequency of treatment:

Once daily (within four hours)

Dose / conc.:

100 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Dose / conc.:

300 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Dose / conc.:

1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

No. of animals per sex per dose:

44 males: 11 per group
44 females: 11 per group

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale: Based on the results of a 14-day range-finding study (D52723 non GLP, BASF project number 01R0629/11X455)

Positive control:

No

Parental animals: Observations and examinations:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: Twice daily

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS: Yes
Once prior to the first administration of the test item (day 6 of acclimatization) and weekly thereafter (in the gestation period on day 0, 6, 13 and 20 post coitum), detailed clinical observations were performed outside the home cage in a standard arena. Animals were observed for the following: changes in skin, fur, eyes, mucous membranes, occurrence of secretions and excretions, and autonomic activity (e.g. lacrimation, piloerection, pupil size, unusual respiratory pattern). Changes in gait, posture and response to handling as well as the presence of clonic or tonic movements, stereotypies or bizarre behavior were also reported

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: Recorded daily from treatment start to day of necropsy

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if feeding study):
Males: Pre-pairing period days 1 - 4, 4 - 8, 8 - 11 and 11 – 14
Females: Pre-pairing period days 1 - 4, 4 - 8, 8 - 11 and 11 - 14; gestation days 0 – 7, 7 - 14 and 14 – 21 and days 1 - 4 of the lactation.
No food consumption was recorded during the pairing period.

WATER CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if drinking water study): No data

Oestrous cyclicity (parental animals):

Ovaries, oviduct, vagina and uterus from all animals of the control and high-dose group were examined. Histological examination of ovaries was carried out on the females that did not give birth

Sperm parameters (parental animals):

Testes, epididymides, prostate, and seminal vesicles from all animals of the control and high-dose group were examined. Special emphasis was made on the stages of spermatogenesis and histopathology of interstitial cell structure.

Postmortem examinations (parental animals):

From all males and females the following tissues were preserved in neutral phosphate buffered 4% formaldehyde solution:
Gross lesions
Brain
Spinal chord (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
Small and large intestines (incl. Peyer’s patches)
Stomach (forestomach and glandular stomach)
Liver
Kidneys
Adrenals
Lymph nodes (axillary and mesenteric)
Urinary bladder
Aorta
Heart
Thymus
Thyroids and parathyroids
Trachea and lungs (preserved by inflation
with fixative and then immersion)
Pituitary gland
Spleen
Peripheral nerve (sciatic)
Bone marrow (femur)
Femur with knee joint
Mammary gland (male and female)
Pancreas
Eyes with optic nerve and harderian gland
Lacrimal gland
Larynx
Nasal cavity
Esophagus
Salivary glands – mandibular, sublingual
Skeletal muscle
Sternum with bone marrow
Pharynx

Statistics:

The following statistical methods were used to analyze food consumption, body and organ weights, clinical laboratory and reproduction data, locomotor activity and macroscopical findings:
• Means and standard deviations of various data were calculated.
• The Dunnett-test (many to one t-test) based on a pooled variance estimate was applied if the variables could be assumed to follow a normal distribution for the comparison of the treated groups and the control groups for each sex.
• The Steel-test (many-one rank test) was applied instead of the Dunnett-test when the data could not be assumed to follow a normal distribution.
• Fisher's exact-test was applied if the variables could be dichotomized without loss of information.

Reproductive indices:

- Number of females paired
- Number of females mated
- Number of pregnant females
- Number of females which reared their pups until day 4 post partum

Offspring viability indices:

Litter size
Sex ratios
Posnatal loss Days 0-4 Post partum

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- No clinical signs were noted in males and females at any dose level
- No findings at detailed weekly clinical observation were noted in males and females at any dose level.

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Description (incidence):

There were no test item-related deaths. All animals survived until scheduled necropsy

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- There were no effects on mean body weight gain and mean body weights of male and female rats at any dose level and in any study phase.
- The overall differences in mean body weight gain at the dose levels of 0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day were: +15%, +14%, +13% and +14% during the pre-pairing period and +5%, +5%, +5% and +6% during the pairing period (percentages refer to the body weight gain within the period).
- At a dose level of 1000 mg/kg bw/day, statistically significantly higher mean body weights were noted (+6% compared to the control group) at the end of the study. Higher (but not statistically significantly different) mean body weight gain was already noted during the pre-pairing period. This increase was accompanied by higher mean food consumption during the gestation and lactation period. However, in the absence of any other compound-related effect, this minor difference is considered to be rather fortuitous than compound-related.
- The overall differences in mean body weight gain at the dose levels of 0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day were: +8%, +8%, +7% and +9% during the pre-pairing period, +55%, +49%, +54% and +58% during the gestation period and +7%, +6%, +9% and +5% during the lactation period (percentages refer to the body weight gain within the period).

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- There were no effects on mean food consumption at any dose level and in any study phase.
- At 1000 mg/kg bw /day, during the gestation and lactation period, mean food consumption was slightly higher (+10% and +15%, respectively) compared to the control group. Also in the prepairing period a trend was observed. Differences in mean food consumption were not statistically significant.

Food efficiency:

not specified

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not specified

Haematological findings:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- The assessment of the hematology data did not reveal any test item-related effects in males and females at any dose level.
- Higher reticulocyte counts were observed in females at 300 mg/kg bw/day, and a lower number of large unstained cells occurred at 100 mg/kg bw/day. In the absence of dose-dependency a compound-related effect can be excluded.

Clinical biochemistry findings:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- The assessment of the clinical biochemistry data did not reveal any test item-related effects in males and females at any dose level.
- Slightly higher urea levels at 300 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day, as well as slightly higher potassium levels at a dose level of 1000 mg/kg bw/day in females were in the range of the historical control data.

Behaviour (functional findings):

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

No findings were noted during the functional observational battery in males or females at any dose level. Mean body temperatures of males at 1000 mg/kg bw/day were slightly, but statistically significantly higher than in the control rats. Since the value of 38.2°C was in the range of the historical control data (37.5-38.6°C) this finding was considered to be incidental. Locomotor activity was not affected by the treatment with the test item in males or females at any dose level.

Immunological findings:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Under the conditions of this experiment, the test item did not induce any test item-related findings in reproductive organs or other organs examined.
- The qualitative sperm staging did not reveal any relevant differences in stages of spermatogenesis between control males and males at 1000 mg/kg bw/day. All the findings in reproductive organs were considered to be within the range of normal background lesions which may be recorded in animals of this strain and age.

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

no effects observed

Other effects:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Mean number of corpora lutea per dam (determined at necropsy) was similar in all groups (15.3, 13.2, 16.0 and 15.1 in order of ascending dose level) and gave no indication of a test item-related effect.
- The mean duration of gestation was unaffected by exposure to the test item. Mean duration of gestation was 21.4, 21.5, 21.4 and 21.5 days, in order of ascending dose level.
- No effects on implantation rate or post-implantation loss were observed at any dose level. The mean number of implantations per dam was 12.9, 11.0, 13.6 and 13.0 in order of ascending dose levels. The mean incidence of post-implantation loss as a percentage of total implantations was 6.0%, 9.1%, 7.4% and 7.7%, in order of ascending dose level.
- No effects on litter size were observed at any dose level.
- Mean litter size at first litter check was 12.1, 10.0, 12.6 and 12.1 pups in order of ascending dose levels. No dead pups at first litter check were recorded in any group.
- No effects on postnatal loss were observed at any dose level.

Reproductive performance:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- No effects on mating performance and fertility were observed at any dose level.
- Two females (one control animals and one treated at 100 mg/kg bw/day) were mated within the second pairing period. All other females were mated within the first pairing period. For female no 47 in the control group, mating was neither detected during the first nor the second pairing period. However, mating during the first pairing period proved to have been successful.
- The median and mean precoital times were unaffected by treatment with the test item. Mean precoital times were 2.6, 2.4, 3.6 and 3.1 days in with ascending dose levels. The median precoital time was 3 days in controls and at 300 and 1000 mg/kg bw/day, and 2 days at 100 mg/kg bw/day.
- Two females each from the control group and at 300 mg/kg bw/day, and one female treated at 100 mg/kg bw/day were not pregnant. As a result the fertility index in controls and at 300 mg/kg bw/day was 81.8%, at 100 mg/kg bw/day it was 90.9% and at 1000 mg/kg bw/day it was 100.0%.

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

> 1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

clinical signs

mortality

body weight and weight gain

food consumption and compound intake

haematology

clinical biochemistry

organ weights and organ / body weight ratios

gross pathology

histopathology: non-neoplastic

reproductive performance

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Clinical signs:

not examined

Mortality / viability:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Mean pup weights on day 0 and day 1 post partum were unaffected by treatment with the test item.
- On day 1 post partum mean pup weights were 5.9, 5.9, 6.0 and 6.4 g in order of ascending dose level. Also mean body weight gain was similar in all groups on day 4 post partum and no effects on mean body weights were recorded.

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

not examined

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

not examined

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Sexual maturation:

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- No abnormal findings were noted at first litter check or during the first 4 days post partum.
- No test item-related findings were noted at macroscopic examination of F1 pups

Histopathological findings:

not examined

Other effects:

no effects observed

Description (incidence and severity):

- Sex ratios at first litter check and on day 4 post partum were unaffected by exposure to the test item.
- The proportion of males at first litter check was 49, 52, 47 and 43%, in order of ascending dose level

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Generation:

F1

Effect level:

> 1 000 mg/kg bw/day (actual dose received)

Based on:

test mat. (total fraction)

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

viability

mortality

body weight and weight gain

gross pathology

Key result

Critical effects observed:

no

Key result

Reproductive effects observed:

no

Conclusions:

Based on these results, the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for general and reproductive toxicity was considered to be >1000 mg/kg body weight/day

Executive summary:

This reproductive toxicity screening study is a valid investigation of the toxicological effects resulting from repeated oral-gavage administration of the test item reaction mass of sulphophthalic acid sodium salt (read across source substance) to rats. The test item was administered in Milli-Qwater as vehicle at dosages of 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg body weight/day, and controls received the vehicle only. The test item was administered to male rats for at least 28 days and to female rats for 14 days prior to pairing, through the pairing and gestation periods until the F1 generation reached day 4 post partum. Neither clinical signs nor adverse effects on mean food consumption, mean body weight, reproduction and breeding or pup development were noted. No test item-related findings were noted during the histological examination. Based on these results the NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for general and reproductive toxicity was considered to be >1000 mg/kg body weight/day.

Effect on fertility: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

1 000 mg/kg bw/day

Study duration:

subacute

Species:

rat

Quality of whole database:

Study scientifically reliable (Klimisch Score 1) on read across source substance (sulphophthalic acid sodium salt reaction mass) conducted under OECD 422 – Combined Repeated Dose Toxicity Study with the Reproduction / Developmental Toxicity Screening Test, and following Good Laboratory Principles (GLP).

Effect on fertility: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Effect on fertility: via dermal route

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Justification for classification or non-classification

No reproductive/developmental studies are available for the reaction mass of 4-sulphophthalic acid and 3-sulphophthalic acid (read across target substance). However, a reproductive toxicity screening study is available on the sulphophthalic acid sodium salt reaction mass (read across source substance), which was used for read-across. Based on lack of parental fertility and one-generation toxicity effects, no classification is warranted for the reaction mass of 4-sulphophthalic acid and 3-sulphophthalic acid.