Propiononitrile

Short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Administrative data

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to aquatic invertebrates

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1993

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with generally accepted scientific standards and described in sufficient detail

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Acute toxicity of organic solvents on Artemia salina

Author:

Barahona-Gomariz, M. V.
Sanz-Barrera, F.
Sánchez-Fortún, S.

Year:

1994

Bibliographic source:

Barahona-Gomariz, M. V., Sanz-Barrera, F. & Sánchez-Fortún, S., 1994. Acute toxicity of organic solvents on Artemia salina. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 52(5), pp.766–771.

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Determine the short-term toxic effects of acetonitrile on three ages of Artemia salina

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Acetonitrile

EC Number:

200-835-2

EC Name:

Acetonitrile

Cas Number:

75-05-8

Molecular formula:

C2H3N

IUPAC Name:

acetonitrile

Specific details on test material used for the study:

obtained from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, USA)

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

Artemia salina

Details on test organisms:

- Common name: Brine shrimp
- Source: San Francisco Bay Brand, Inc. (Division of Metaframe Co., Menlo Park, CA, USA)
- Age at study initiation (mean and range, SD): nauplius larvae of Artemia salina aged 24, 48 and 72 h.
- Method of breeding: The method of Persoone et al. (1989) was applied and modified. The Artemia Salina were obtained from 100mg eggs and were hydrated in distilled water at 4°C for 12 hr. Washing separated the sinkers from floaters. The cysts that sank were collected on a Buchner funnel and washed with cold distilled water, followed by synthetic seawater prepared by mixing 35 %0 of Synthetica seasalt (Waterlife Research Ltd., England), with distilled and deionized (Milli-Q) water, stirring for 24 hr, with suitable aeration and successive filtration with thick cellulose filters. They were then incubated in a graduated glass cylinder for about 24 hr at 25°C, with continuous side illumination (15-W fluorescent lamp), in 100 mL of synthetic seawater, at pH 8.6, and with a slight aeration maintained by a small tube in contact with the bottom of the cylinder. The nauplii produced were aspired with Pasteur pippettes and transferred to a glass flask containing 200 mL of the synthetic seawater.

Study design

Test type:

static

Water media type:

saltwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

24 h

Test conditions

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM: 1 mL of synthetic seawater
- Test vessel: plastic 16 -mm petri dishes
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10 larvae
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): 3 - 5
- No. of vessels per control (replicates): 5

REPLICATES
All experiments were repeated five times.

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Light intensity: dark
- Temperature: 25°C

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED : Mortality. Larvae were considered dead if they did not exhibit any internal or external movement during 10 sec of observation.

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Remarks:

24h larvae

Effect conc.:

641 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

not specified

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Remarks:

48-h larvae

Effect conc.:

521 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

not specified

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Effect concentrations 3

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Remarks:

72-h larvae

Effect conc.:

400 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

not specified

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality

Details on results:

Artemia salina 24, 48 and 72 h old demonstrated that there is an increase in toxicity of acetonitrile following longer development of Artemia salina. Artemia salina 72 h old individuals were more sensitive towards acetonitrile than Artemia salina 24 h old indiviudals. There is no statistically significant difference between the toxicity of acetonitrile to Artemia salina 24 h and 48 h old, however, there is a statistically significant difference between the toxicity of acetonitrile to Artemia salina 24 h and 72 h old.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

The toxicity of acetonitrile to three ages of Artemia salina was determined. 72-h old Artemia saliva (LC50 = 400 mg/L) were more sensitive than 48 h (LC50 = 521 mg/L) and 24 h old Artemia (LC50 = 641 mg/L).