Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

significant methodological deficiencies

Remarks:

Non-standard exposure duration.

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

7-days fish toxicity test

GLP compliance:

no

Specific details on test material used for the study:

TEST MATERIAL
- Name (as cited): 2, 2'-Dichlorodiethylether
- Purity: not specified

Analytical monitoring:

not specified

Vehicle:

yes

Remarks:

Unclear if acetone or propanol-2 was used as a vehicle

Details on test solutions:

Acetone or propanol-2 stock solutions were used to prepare the desired concentration of the solute. To each litre of standard water 100µL
of stock solution was added, or as much of the undiluted solute as necessary, if this amount exceeded 100 µL. The concentrations increased in geometrical progression with a ratio of 3.2.

Test organisms (species):

Poecilia reticulata

Details on test organisms:

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
- Age at study initiation: 2-3-month-old

ACCLIMATION: not specified

FEEDING DURING TEST: not specified

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

no

Total exposure duration:

7 d

Post exposure observation period:

Not specified

Hardness:

25 mg/L CaCO3

Test temperature:

22 +/- 1°C

pH:

Not specified

Dissolved oxygen:

> mg/L

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: 1.5-1itre vessels
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: fill volume of 1L
- Aeration: not specified
- Renewal rate of test solution: daily
- No. of organisms per vessel: not specified
- No. of vessels per concentration (replicates): not specified

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: standard water prepared according to Alabaster and Abram (Adv. Water Poll. Res., vol1, 1964

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED: mortality

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: 3.2

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Key result

Duration:

7 d

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

54.37 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

not specified

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Conclusions:

The LC50 was determined at 54.37 mg/L in Poecilia reticulatafollowing a 7-days exposure period.

Executive summary:

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of 72 industrial pollutants on Poecilia reticulata and to use these experimental data to develop a QSAR relating fish toxicity to hydrophobicity of the selected chemicals. The fishes were exposed over a 7-days period to a range of concentrations spaced by a factor of 3.2. The study was performed according to a semi-static procedure, with the test solution being renewed daily. The fish LC50 was determined to be 54.37 mg/L. No analytical monitoring data are reported in the original publication.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

disregarded due to major methodological deficiencies

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

significant methodological deficiencies

Remarks:

Traces of undissolved substance were observed despite the hightest tested concentration is lower than the solubility limit of the test substance

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians (U.S. EPA 1975)

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

pre-GLP

Specific details on test material used for the study:

TES MATERIAL:
- Names (as cited): bis(2-chloroethyl)ether
- Purity: > 80% for all tested chemmicals. The purity of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether is not specified.

Vehicle:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF TEST SOLUTION (especially for difficult test substances)
- Evidence of undissolved material: Traces of undissolved substance were observed despite the hightest tested concentration is lower than the solubility limit of the test substance

Test organisms (species):

Lepomis macrochirus

Details on test organisms:

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus):
- Origin: commercial fish suppliers within the continetal United State
- Wet weight: 0.32-1.2 g

TEST ORGANISM
- Common name: Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
- Source: commercial fish suppliers within the continetal United State
- Age at study initiation: < 1 year
- Weight at study initiation: 0.32-1.2 g

ACCLIMATION
- Acclimation period: yes (48h)
- Acclimation conditions: same as test
- Type and amount of food during acclimation: fed ad libitum daily with dry, pelleted food and once weekly with raw ground beef liver
- Feeding frequency during acclimation: daily
- Health during acclimation: < 3% mortality during the acclimation period

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Total exposure duration:

14 d

Hardness:

32-48 mg/L CaCO3

Test temperature:

22 +/- 1°C

pH:

6.7-7.8

Dissolved oxygen:

7.0-8.8 mg/L

Conductivity:

93-190 umhos/cm.

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Test vessel: 19.6-L widemouthed glass jars
- Type (delete if not applicable): closed (capped)
- Material, size, headspace, fill volume: 15 L of test solution
- Aeration: not psecified
- No. of organisms per vessel: 10
- No. of replicates: not specified
- Control: yes
- Solvent control: yes

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS
- Source/preparation of dilution water: deionized water reconstituted according to recommended procedures (U.S. EPA 1975)
- pH: 6.7-7.8
- Conductance: 93-190 umhos/cm.
- Alkalinity: 28-34 mg/L CaC03
- Ca/mg ratio: 32-48 mg/L CaCO3
- Intervals of water quality measurement: 0 and 96h

EFFECT PARAMETERS MEASURED: mortality

Reference substance (positive control):

no

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 600 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

600 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

act. ingr.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

< 220 mg/L

Details on results:

- Any observations (e.g. precipitation) that might cause a difference between measured and nominal values: Traces of undissolved substance were observed despite the hightest tested concentration is lower than the solubility limit of the test substance

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The LC50 for Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether was determined at 600 mg/L following a 96h exposure period.

Executive summary:

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of 64 chemical compounds on Lepomis macrochirus based on the "Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians" (U.S. EPA 1975). Ten fish were randomly selected from a test population for each test concentrations and exposed over a 96h period. Fish mortality, behavioral and physiological responses, and solution appearance were observed and recorded at time 0 and every 24 h during exposure. Under the conditions of this test, the LC50 for Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether was determined at 600 mg/L following a 96h exposure period.

This study reports the fact that undissolved test substance was observed over the course of the experiment. This questions the methodlogy used by the authors and the results obtained considering that the highest test concentration (0.6 g/L) was well below the solubility limit of the chemical (c.a. 10 g/L). Accordingly, this study was disregarded to assess the toxicity of the substance towards aquatic organsims.

Reference 3

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

guideline study without detailed documentation

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 203 (Fish, Acute Toxicity Test)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Not details provided

Analytical monitoring:

yes

Details on sampling:

Frequency of sampling: at the start of exposure and before renewal of test solution

Vehicle:

not specified

Test organisms (species):

Oryzias latipes

Details on test organisms:

No details provided

Test type:

semi-static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Post exposure observation period:

Not specified

Hardness:

Not specified

Test temperature:

24 +/- 1°C

pH:

Not specified

Dissolved oxygen:

Not specified

Salinity:

Not specified

Conductivity:

Not specified

Nominal and measured concentrations:

10 mg/L (nominal)

Details on test conditions:

TEST SYSTEM
- Fill volume: 2.5 L per vessel
- Aeration: no
- Renewal rate of test solution: every 24 hours
- No. of organisms per vessel: 5
- No. of vessels per concentration: 2

TEST MEDIUM / WATER PARAMETERS: not specified

TEST CONCENTRATIONS
- Spacing factor for test concentrations: not applicable (limit test)
- Test concentrations: 100 mg/L

OTHER TEST CONDITIONS
- Photoperiod: 6 hours light / 8 hours dark

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

> 100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

100 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

mortality (fish)

Details on results:

No mortalities observed at 100 mg/L

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

In this limit test, no fish mortalities were observed at 100 mg/L.

Executive summary:

This study was conducted on behalf of the Japanese Ministry of Environment (MOE). The methodology was based on OECD Technical Guideline N°203 under GLP. 2 replicate vessels containing 5 fishes each were used to evaluate the toxicity of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether to Oryzias latipes. At the limit concentration of 100 mg/L, no fish mortalities was observed.

As no detailed information was available, a reliability factor of 2 was assigned to this guideline study.

Description of key information

The study selected as key information was conducted on behalf of the Japanese Ministry of Environment (MOE). The methodology was based on OECD Technical Guideline N°203 under GLP. 2 replicate vessels containing 5 fishes each were used to evaluate the toxicity of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether to Oryzias latipes. At the limit concentration of 100 mg/L, no fish mortalities was observed. As no detailed information was available, a reliability factor of 2 was assigned to this guideline study. Based on this result the substance does not meet the GHS-UN classification criteria.

Additional information

This assessment is based on three published studies, only one study was conducted according to a recommended guideline.

The study selected as key information was conducted on behalf of the Japanese Ministry of Environment (MOE). The methodology was based on OECD Technical Guideline N°203 under GLP. 2 replicate vessels containing 5 fishes each were used to evaluate the toxicity of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether to Oryzias latipes. At the limit concentration of 100 mg/L, no fish mortalities was observed. As no detailed information was available, a reliability factor of 2 was assigned to this guideline study.

The study of Könemann (Toxicology, 1981, 19:209-21) aimed at determining the acute toxicity of 72 industrial pollutants on Poecilia reticulata and to use these experimental data to develop a QSAR relating fish toxicity to hydrophobicity of the selected chemicals. The fishes were exposed over a 7-days period to a range of concentrations spaced by a factor of 3.2. The study was performed according to a semi-static procedure, with the test solution being renewed daily. The fish LC50 was determined to be 54.36 mg/L. No analytical monitoring data are reported in the original publication. The duration of the experiment (7 days) was longer than the recommended exposure period (96 hours). It is considered as unreliable for this assessment considering the non-standard exposure period.

The study of Boccafusco et al. (Bull. Environm. Contam. Toxicol., 26:446-52) performed in collaboration with Allied Chemical Corporation adn U.S. EPA, aimed at determining the acute toxicity of 64 chemical compounds on Lepomis macrochirus based on the "Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians" (U.S. EPA 1975). Ten fish were randomly selected from a test population for each test concentrations and exposed over a 96h period. Fish mortality, behavioral and physiological responses, and solution appearance were observed and recorded at time 0 and every 24 h during exposure. Under the conditions of this test, the LC50 for Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether was determined at 600 mg/L following a 96h exposure period. This study reports the fact that undissolved test substance was observed over the course of the experiment. This questions the methodlogy used by the authors and the results obtained considering that the highest test concentration (0.6 g/L) was well below the solubility limit of the chemical (c.a. 10 g/L). Accordingly, this study was disregarded to assess the toxicity of the substance towards aquatic organisms.

Conclusion: A single study reports reliable data obtained according to a standard method under GLPon the acute toxicity of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether to fish. Accordingly, the results from the study sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Environment was selected as key study. Based on this study, the fish LC50 of Bis(2-chloroethyl) ether is > 100 mg/L.