p-cymene

Short-term toxicity to fish

Link to relevant study record(s)

Reference

Endpoint:

short-term toxicity to fish

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1981

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 850.1075 (Freshwater and Saltwater Fish Acute Toxicity Test)

Version / remarks:

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

GLP compliance:

not specified

Details on test solutions:

Tests were conducted in either 4L glass jars that contained 3L of test solution or 19L glass jars that contained 15L.

Test organisms (species):

Cyprinodon variegatus

Details on test organisms:

Juvenile sheepshead minnows tested were 8-15 mm standard length (14-28 days old posthatch) and were hatched and reared at BMRL or obtained from the EPA's
Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, FL. Fish were maintained in the laboratory in flowing, filtered (10-pm) seawater of ambient salinity from 10-31o/oo and temperature from 25-31 °C Fish were fed 24-h Artemia salina nauplii (San Francisco Bay Brand) daily until they were used as test animals. Fish mortality during the 48-h period immediately before each test was less than 3% and all fish tested appeared to be in good condition.

Test type:

static

Water media type:

saltwater

Total exposure duration:

96 h

Test temperature:

25-31 °C

pH:

pH was measured in the control and the low and high test concentrations at the initiation and after 96 h of testing, however results of this were not included in the report.

Salinity:

10-31 o/00

Nominal and measured concentrations:

Concentrations for definitive tests were based on the results of range-finding tests and were prepared either by direct addition of weighed amounts of test material to seawater in the test containers or by pipetting appropriate volumes of weighed amounts of the test material mixed with a solvent/carrier (reagent grade acetone, purified triethylene glycol, or deionized water). In tests where solvent/carriers were used, the control containers received a volume of the solvent/carrier equivalent to the highest volume added to any test concentration.

Details on test conditions:

All dilution water was filtered (5-pm), natural seawater of ambient salinity. Ten fish were tested per container. There was no aeration.

Reference substance (positive control):

not specified

Duration:

24 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

56 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Duration:

48 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

50 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Duration:

72 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

48 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Key result

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect conc.:

48 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Duration:

96 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

10 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

Based on the results of the tests, 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h LC50's and their 95% confidence limits were calculated when possible. Calculations were performed with a Hewlett- Packard Model 9815A calculator programmed (STEPHAN 1977 and 1978 personal communication) to scan the data base and to select the most appropriate of three statistical methods in the following order: moving average angle analysis, probit analysis, or binomial probability. The method selected was determined by the characteristics of
the data, that is, the presence or absence of 0% and 100% mortality and the number of concentrations in which >0%<100% mortality occurred. The computer scanned the data, identified the most suited method, and performed the analyses. No correction was made for control mortality.

Sublethal observations / clinical signs:

Table 1. p-Cymene LC50 95% confidence intervals, ppm

24h	48h	72h	96h
32 -100	38 -68	36 -64	36 -64

Validity criteria fulfilled:

not specified

Conclusions:

The 96h LC50 for sheepshead minnow was determined to be 48 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval of 36-64 mg/L

Executive summary:

The acute toxicity to fish was determined following the EPA OPPTS 850.1075 (Freshwater and Saltwater Fish Acute Toxicity Test). The 96h LC50 for sheepshead minnow was determined to be 48 mg/L with a 95% confidence interval of 36-64 mg/L

Description of key information

LC50 (96 h) = 48 mg/L (Cyprinodon variegatus; EPA OPPTS 850.107)

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Marine water fish

Marine water fish

Effect concentration:

48 mg/L