Alcohols, C16-18 and C18-unsatd., propoxylated

Sediment toxicity

Administrative data

Endpoint:

sediment toxicity: short-term

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: see 'Remark'

Remarks:

GLP guideline study with acceptable restrictions: The salinity for 100mg/L, third replicate, rose above guideline criterion at day 5 by 1‰ and day 10 by 2‰. As there were no mortalities in this replicate, this is not thought to have affected the result. 22 organisms was recovered from beaker 320c mg/kg, this is a greater number than should have been added at test initiation (20) therefore the replicate was excluded from the analysis.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2014

Report date:

2014

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: OSPARCOM guidelines (2006) Part A. A sediment bioassay using an amphipod Corophium sp.

Deviations:

yes

Remarks:

The salinity for 100mg/l, third replicate, rose above guideline criterion at day 5 by 1‰ and day 10 by 2‰.

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Alcohols, C16-18 (even numbered) and C18 unsaturated, propoxylated, < 2.5 PO

EC Number:

939-600-0

Cas Number:

1471316-27-4

Molecular formula:

not applicable, UVCB

IUPAC Name:

Alcohols, C16-18 (even numbered) and C18 unsaturated, propoxylated, < 2.5 PO

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Tallow alkyl polyglycol ether, CAS 70955-07-8
- Physical state: yellowish liquid
- Analytical purity: 99.7%
- Lot/batch No.: 0008563697
- Expiration date of the lot/batch: 2 July 2014

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Test substrate

Vehicle:

no

Details on sediment and application:

Test sediment: Sediment for use in toxicity testing was collected from a point adjacent to the site of Corophium collection. On return to the laboratory, the sediment was wet-sieved through 0.6 mm mesh to remove larger infaunal organisms and Corophium within the test size range, and allowed to settle in tall polyethylene containers. After settling, the supernatant water was decanted and the sediment stored at approximately 4 +- 2 °C, until required for testing.
Particle size analysis characterised the sediment as well-sorted, fine sand with a silt/clay content of 31.6% by weight. Median particle diameter was 100 µm. The organic material content was estimated from weight loss on ignition to be 2%. Immediately before the initiation of the test, the sediment was thoroughly homogenised and a representative sample taken for wet and dry weight determination. The ratio of wet weight to dry weight was subsequently used to convert nominal exposure concentrations on a wet weight basis to nominal exposure concentrations on a dry weight basis.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Corophium volutator

Details on test organisms:

The test population of Corophium volutator was collected from an uncontaminated site in Orkney. The site location at Bay of Suckquoy, Toab, Orkney was chosen because of its high natural densities of Corophium. Initial parameters of the holding water were recorded upon arrival at the Opus laboratory. Specimens were gently sieved from their native sediment and held in plastic containers (approximately 5 L capacity) containing some ambient water, with a small amount of detritus, until transfer to the laboratory. On return to the laboratory, the Corophium were transferred in ambient water to polythene tanks of approximately 200 L capacity, gentle aeration was supplied. The tanks were held at approximately 15±2 °C.
The stock animals were gradually acclimated from the ambient salinity of less than 5‰ to that of undiluted seawater (approximately 35‰) in increments of approximately 10‰ per day. Once acclimation is complete, the stock tanks were maintained under semi-static conditions until the initiation of the test. The holding period in the laboratory is between 3 and 14 days. Sufficient detrital material is retained in each tank to provide food and some bottom cover, but not of a density that prevents daily observation of mortality and morbidity. Dead or impaired animals are removed when
observed. Specimens of approximately 5 mm in body length (excluding rostrum) were used in the toxicity tests.

Study design

Study type:

laboratory study

Test type:

static

Water media type:

saltwater

Type of sediment:

natural sediment

Limit test:

no

Exposure duration

Duration:

10 d

Exposure phase:

total exposure duration

Test conditions

Test temperature:

14.1 °C

pH:

7.97 - 8.08

Dissolved oxygen:

> 85% saturation

Salinity:

36 - 40 ‰

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Nominal: 10, 100, 320, 1000 and 10000 mg/kg

Details on test conditions:

Tests were conducted in 1 litre capacity glass beakers each containing 2 cm depth (approximately 150 ml) of amended sediment and 850 ml of overlying seawater (1 μm filtered ultra violet treated seawater). Test beakers were maintained in a controlled temperature room for a test period of 10
days. Three replicates were prepared for each test concentration; controls are replicated five times. The beakers were assigned positions within the test area, arranged in rows of three to five and spaced to maintain effective separation of different treatments. Each row was covered with a rectangular sheet of perspex perforated with a small hole above the centre of each beaker. Aeration was provided and a stream of air bubbles was released at a depth of approximately 6 cm. Twenty animals were added to receiving vessels in two groups of ten and then dispensed into a test vessel. Sixty organisms were exposed in total per concentration and one hundred in five vessels for controls. The final level of water in each test vessel was marked with a permanent marker.
Salinity is maintained at ±4 ppt from the initial 0h figure during the test. A 5 mm drop in water level is equivalent to ~2 ppt increase in salinity. Any visible signs of animals on the sediment surface whether alive or dead were recorded. At the end of the test period, the contents of each beaker were gently sieved through a 0.6 mm mesh, and all surviving animals separated and counted. Missing animals were counted as dead; early mortalities will either have been consumed by survivors or have decomposed during the test period.

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Duration:

10 d

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

7 227.57 mg/kg sediment dw

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes