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Ecotoxicological information

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

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Reference
Endpoint:
toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
28-08-2018 to 31-08-2018
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Guideline study performed under GLP. All relevant validity criteria were met.
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 201 (Alga, Growth Inhibition Test)
Deviations:
no
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
EU Method C.3 (Algal Inhibition test)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
yes (incl. QA statement)
Remarks:
inspected: June 2016 ; signature: January 2017
Analytical monitoring:
yes
Details on sampling:
- Concentrations: All relevant concentration levels and the control were analytically verified via GC-MS at the start (0 hours), 48 hours and at the end of the exposure (72 hours).
- Sampling method: Analytical evaluation of the concentrations of the test item were carried out via GC-MS from freshly prepared media after 0 hours (with algae), and old test media after 48 hours (with algae) and 72 hours (with algae) of exposure. Three replicates per concentration and six for the control (without test item) were prepared. Separate replicates for each measuring time were prepared. The method was validated prior to this study according to SANCO 3029/99 rev.4 (2000).
- Sample storage conditions before analysis: All samples were stored at 6 ± 2°C until the start of the analysis, if necessary. Prepared samples were stored at room temperature on autosampler until analysis.
Vehicle:
no
Test organisms (species):
Raphidocelis subcapitata (previous names: Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Selenastrum capricornutum)
Details on test organisms:
TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata
- Strain: HINDAK CCAP 278/4
- Source (laboratory, culture collection): Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP), SAMS Research Services Ltd, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Dunbeg, OBAN; Argyll PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK
- Method of cultivation: Fresh stocks are prepared every month on Z-Agar. Light intensity amounted to 2567 – 5130 lux for 24 hours per day.

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: No. However, a three days old preculture, prepared in dilution water, was used as inoculum.
- Culturing media and conditions (same as test or not): No. Culture Medium: Nutrient medium Z according to LÜTTGE et al. (1994) Botanica Acta, Journal of the German Botanical Society, No. 3 Volume 107 page 111-186 (June 1994), THIEME-VERLAG.
Dilution water – OECD TG 201 medium
- Any deformed or abnormal cells observed: None reported.
Test type:
static
Water media type:
freshwater
Limit test:
yes
Total exposure duration:
72 h
Test temperature:
Nominal range: 21 - 24 °C, controlled at ± 2°C - measured room temperature values were min: 22.0 ; max 24.0 and mean 23.0°C
pH:
0 hours: pH 8.1 ± 0.2 (and 8.21 in control); 72 hours: pH 8.09-8.86 (definitive test concentrations) and pH 8.69 (controls). pH did not vary more than 1.5 units.
Nominal and measured concentrations:
- Preliminary test: 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 and 100 mg/L nominal test item concentration (non-GLP range finding test)
- Final test: 0 (control), 0.367, 1.10, 3.30, 9.90, 29.7, 89.1 mg/L analytically confirmed nominal test item concentrations
The measured concentrations of the test item in fresh media were in the range of 96 to 114% of the nominal values at the start of the exposure (0 hours), between 92 to 104% after 48 hours and 97 to 112% after 72 hours. As the concentrations were between 80-120 % of nominal, effects were based on nominal test concentrations in accordance with the guideline (OECD TG 201).
Details on test conditions:
TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: Glass.
- Type: Closed - Static. Sterile headspace flasks
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: , volume: 59 mL, with aluminium tops with PFTE seals. Minimum headspace.
- Aeration: Vessel shaken continuously. Test containers were placed on a rotary shaker and oscillated at approximately 70 rpm.
- Initial cells density: nominal: 5 x 10^3 - 10^4 and current: 6442 cells/ml
- Control end cells density: Mean (of replicates after 72 hours) 228243 cells/ml (or ca. x35 increase in cell density)
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3 replicates of each test concentration
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 6 replicates of the control
- No. of vessels per vehicle control (replicates): Not applicable.

GROWTH MEDIUM
- Standard medium used: Yes. OECD TG 201 medium. Additionally, compounds were added to enable sufficient growth under conditions without headspace. In accordance to OECD Guidance Document No. 23.

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: Prepared according to guidelines (see 'Details on test organisms' field for more details on composition).
- Culture medium different from test medium: Yes. (see 'Details on test organisms' field)
- Intervals of water quality measurement: Start and end of the test period.

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Sterile test conditions: No.
- Adjustment of pH: No.
- Photoperiod: 24 hours ; continuous
- Light intensity and quality: 60 - 120 µE/m2/s ; within ± 15 % over incubation area
- Salinity (for marine algae): Not applicable.

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED (with observation intervals if applicable) :
- Determination of cell concentrations: The cell density was measured daily via Chlorophyll a-fluorescence, excitation at 436 nm, emission at 685 nm. Dilution water was used as background signal. No self-fluorescence was found at the highest preliminary test concentration level of 100 mg/L nominal test item.
- Other: Initial cell density: Microscopic evaluation of the cells was carried out at the start and end of the exposure. The cells were checked for any unusual cell shapes, colour differences, differences in chloroplast morphology, flocculation and adherence of algae to test containers or aggregation of algae cells.

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 3.0. In definitive test justified from the results of the range finding study.
- Justification for using less concentrations than requested by guideline: Not applicable.
- Range finding study: Yes.
- Test concentrations: Two replicates per concentration were exposed to dilutions representing: 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 and 100 mg/L nominal test item concentration
- Results used to determine the conditions for the definitive study: Yes.
Reference substance (positive control):
yes
Remarks:
potassium dichromate
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
10 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
growth rate
Remarks on result:
other: 95% C.I.: 3.86 - 25.7 mg/L ; based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
EC10
Effect conc.:
9.04 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
growth rate
Remarks on result:
other: 95% C.I.: 3.60 - 24.8 mg/L ; based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
3.3 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
growth rate
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
EC50
Effect conc.:
9.06 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
other: yield
Remarks on result:
other: 95% C.I.: 3.63 - 21.7 mg/L ; based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
EC10
Effect conc.:
8.35 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
other: yield
Remarks on result:
other: 95% C.I.: 3.48 - 20.8 mg/L ; based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations
Duration:
72 h
Dose descriptor:
NOEC
Effect conc.:
3.3 mg/L
Nominal / measured:
nominal
Conc. based on:
test mat.
Basis for effect:
other: yield
Details on results:
- Exponential growth in the control (for algal test): Yes.
- Observation of abnormalities (for algal test): Microscopic evaluation of the cells at the start of the incubation period and at test end revealed no morphological abnormalities in the test item concentration or control.
- Unusual cell shape: No.
- Colour differences: None.
- Flocculation: Not reported.
- Adherence to test vessels:
- Aggregation of algal cells: No.
- Other:
- Any stimulation of growth found in any treatment: Low dose stimulation was observed in the definitive test at 0.367, 1.10 and 3.30 mg/L nominal concentrations only.
- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: None.
- Effect concentrations exceeding solubility of substance in test medium: No.
Results with reference substance (positive control):
- Results with reference substance valid?: Yes.
- EC50: The EC50 for growth rate reduction (ERC50: 0-72h) was 1.09 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.842 to 1.31 mg/L with headspace and 0.244 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.175 to 0.350 mg/L without headspace. The EC50 for yield inhibition (EYC50: 0-72h) was 0.548 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.439 to 0.660 mg/L with headspace and 0.236 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.175 to 0.350 mg/L
The results with headspace and without headspace were within the test facility SOPs (historic values).
- Other: The sensitivity of the test system was in agreement with the historical data.
Reported statistics and error estimates:
EC10-, EC20- and EC50-values with confidence intervals of growth rate and yield inhibition after 72 hours were calculated by sigmoidal dose-response regression. The NOEC / LOEC was determined by calculation of statistically significant differences of growth rate and yield. The program states a significant difference for the nominal test item concentrations of 1.10 to 9.90 mg/L, compared to the control. However, the statistically significance for the nominal test item concentrations of 1.10 and 3.30 mg/L is caused by growth stimulation not inhibition. Therefore, the NOEC is 3.30 mg/L.

Table 1. Results of the Preliminary Range Finding Test (non GLP, 0 - 72 hours)

Nominal test item concentration [mg/L]

Growth Rate Inhibition [%]

Yield Inhibition [%]

100

100

100

10.0

62

93

1.0

7

27

0.1

5

19

 

Table 2. Percentage reduction in growth rate and inhibition of yield in the definitive test (at 72 hours)

Nominal test item concentration

Replicate

Growth rate

Growth rate inhibition

Yield

Yield

Inhibition

[mg/L]

No.

[d-1]

[%]

[d-1]

[%]

89.1

1

n.a.

100

n.a.

100

2

n.a.

100

n.a.

100

3

n.a.

100

n.a.

100

Mean

(+)

n.a.

100

(+)

n.a.

100

29.7

1

-0.27

100

-3565

100

2

n.a.

100

n.a.

100

3

n.a.

100

n.a.

100

Mean

(+)

n.a.

100

(+)

n.a.

100

 9.90

1

0.73

39

51045

77

2

0.63

47

36344

84

3

0.60

50

32218

85

Mean

(+)

0.65

45

(-)

39869

82

 3.30

1

1.34

-13

349794

-58

2

 

1.34

-13

355156

-60

3

 

1.29

-8

300219

-35

Mean

(+)*

1.32

-11

(+)*

335056

-51

 1.10

1

1.23

-4

253970

-15

2

1.31

-10

318837

-44

3

1.28

-8

295303

-33

Mean

(+)*

1.27

-7

(+)*

289370

-30

 0.367

1

1.17

2

207944

6

2

1.27

-7

283412

-28

3

1.28

-8

292523

-32

Mean

(-)

1.24

-4

(-)

261293

-18

Control

1

 

1.19

 

 

219339

 

2

 

1.17

 

 

211643

 

3

 

1.19

 

 

218991

 

4

 

1.18

 

 

212810

 

5

 

1.24

 

 

256328

 

6

 

1.17

 

 

211693

 

Mean

 

1.19

 

 

221801

 

Negative inhibition = increase of growth

n.a. = not available

* = statistically significance is caused by growth stimulation

Validity criteria fulfilled:
yes
Conclusions:
The test item 72h-EC50 (growth rate reduction) was 10.0 (C.I. 3.86 – 25.7) mg/L based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations. The corresponding EC10 was 9.04 (C.I. 3.60 – 24.8) mg/L and the NOEC was 3.3 mg/L.
Executive summary:

The algal growth inhibition to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, was carried out according to OECD TG 201 Freshwater Alga and Cyanobacteria, Growth Inhibition Test and EU Method C.3 guidelines under GLP. The aim of the study was to assess the effects on growth rate and yield over a period of 72 hours. The study was conducted under static conditions with an initial cell density of 6442 cells/mL. A stock solution with a nominal test item concentration of 100 mg/L was freshly prepared with dilution water prior to the start of exposure. The stock solution was stirred for 30 minutes (1100 rpm, room temperature). Glass flasks without headspace were used to reduce losses of the test item. No presence of undissolved test item during preparation and during the test was detected. Six concentrations were tested in a geometrical series with a dilution factor of 3.0 (nominal): 0 (control), 0.367, 1.10, 3.30, 9.90, 29.7, 89.1 mg/L nominal test item concentrations. Three replicates were tested for each test item concentration and six replicates for the control. The environmental conditions were within the acceptable limits. The measured concentrations of the test item in fresh media were in the range of 96 - 114% of the nominal values at the start of the exposure (0 hours), between 92- 104% of the nominal values after 48 hours and 97-112% after 72 hours at the end of exposure. All effect values were based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations. The validity criteria of the test guideline were fulfilled. The test item 72h-EC50 (growth rate reduction) was 10.0 (C.I. 3.86 – 25.7) mg/L based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations. The corresponding EC10 was 9.04 (C.I. 3.60 – 24.8) mg/L and the NOEC was 3.3 mg/L.

Description of key information

ErC50 (algae; growth rate) = 0.811 (C.I. 0.774 – 0.893) mg/L TWA concentration, 72-hour, freshwater, OECD TG 201, 2018

ErC50 (algae; growth rate) = 0.453 (C.I. 0.300 – 0.557) mg/L TWA concentration, 72-hour, freshwater, OECD TG 201, 2018

NOEC (algae; growth rate) = 0.264 mg/L TWA concentration, 72-hour, freshwater, OECD TG 201, 2018

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC50 for freshwater algae:
10 mg/L
EC10 or NOEC for freshwater algae:
3.3 mg/L

Additional information

Key study: OECD TG 202, 2018 : The algal growth inhibition to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, was carried out according to OECD TG 201 Freshwater Alga and Cyanobacteria, Growth Inhibition Test and EU Method C.3 guidelines under GLP. The aim of the study was to assess the effects on growth rate and yield over a period of 72 hours. The study was conducted under static conditions with an initial cell density of 6442 cells/mL. A stock solution with a nominal test item concentration of 100 mg/L was freshly prepared with dilution water prior to the start of exposure. The stock solution was stirred for 30 minutes (1100 rpm, room temperature). Glass flasks without headspace were used to reduce losses of the test item. No presence of undissolved test item during preparation and during the test was detected. Six concentrations were tested in a geometrical series with a dilution factor of 3.0 (nominal): 0 (control), 0.367, 1.10, 3.30, 9.90, 29.7, 89.1 mg/L nominal test item concentrations. Three replicates were tested for each test item concentration and six replicates for the control. The environmental conditions were within the acceptable limits. The measured concentrations of the test item in fresh media were in the range of 96 - 114% of the nominal values at the start of the exposure (0 hours), between 92- 104% of the nominal values after 48 hours and 97-112% after 72 hours at the end of exposure. All effect values were based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations. The validity criteria of the test guideline were fulfilled. The test item 72h-EC50 (growth rate reduction) was 10.0 (C.I. 3.86 – 25.7) mg/L based on analytically confirmed nominal concentrations. The corresponding EC10 was 9.04 (C.I. 3.60 – 24.8) mg/L and the NOEC was 3.3 mg/L.