Reactive Blue F08-0170

Toxicity to microorganisms

Administrative data

Endpoint:

activated sludge respiration inhibition testing

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

15 February 2011

Reliability:

1 (reliable without restriction)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Study conducted to EU, OECD & US EPA test standards in compliance with GLP and reported with a valid GLP certificate.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

2011

Report date:

2011

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Test guideline 1

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 209 (Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test

Deviations:

no

Test guideline 2

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EU Method C.11 (Biodegradation: Activated Sludge Respiration Inhibition Test)

Deviations:

no

Test guideline 3

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

EPA OPPTS 850.6800 (Modified Activated Sludge, Respiration Inhibition Test for Sparingly Soluble Chemicals)

Deviations:

no

GLP compliance:

yes (incl. QA statement)

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Details on test material:

Name: Reactive Blue F08-0170

Specific details on test material used for the study:

Details on properties of test surrogate or analogue material (migrated information):
Not applicable

Sampling and analysis

Analytical monitoring:

no

Details on sampling:

Sampling was not performed.

Test solutions

Vehicle:

yes

Details on test solutions:

FORMULATION
Just before the start of the test a concentrated stock solution (2500 mg/L) was prepared by dissolving test item in deionised water.
The test solutions used in the test were freshly prepared by dilution of the stock solution by mechanical dispersion at the beginning of the experiment, in the testing laboratory.

CONTROLS
Untreated Control (C1 and C2)
Two controls (deionised water, synthetic sewage and inoculum, but without addition of the test item) were tested in parallel.

Reference Control (R1 – R3)
In parallel to the study with the test item, the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol was tested (the nominal test concentrations of 5, 16 and 32 mg/L) under otherwise identical test conditions.
A stock solution of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was prepared according to the OECD Guideline No. 209: 0.25 g of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was dissolved in 5 mL 1 mol/L NaOH and diluted to about 15 mL with deionised water. Excess of NaOH was neutralised with approximately 4 mL of 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 to the point of incipient precipitation. Thereafter, the mixture was made up to 0.5 litre with deionised water. The final pH was measured to be 7.61 and the final concentration amounted 500 mg/L.

Preparations of the test flasks
One test solution with a final volume of 330 mL was tested per treatment in a glass flask. 10.56 mL synthetic sewage and an adequate amount of the test item stock solution or an adequate volume of the stock solution of the reference item was filled up with deionised water to 198 mL before the start of the test. At the start of the test 132 mL activated sludge inoculum with a sludge concentration of 4 g/L (dry weight) was added, first to first control (C1), then in time intervals of 15 minutes (an arbitrary but convenient interval) to the test solutions of the reference item and the test item and finally to a second control (C2). Time interval between the last test solution flask and the second control was more than 15 minutes. See Table 1 for composition of test media.

Test organisms

Test organisms (species):

activated sludge of a predominantly domestic sewage

Details on inoculum:

The activated sludge was supplied from the sewage plant for domestic sewage in Veszprém, Hungary
Conditioning: The activated sludge used for this study was washed and centrifuged and the supernatant liquid phase was decanted. The solid material was re-suspended in isotonic saline solution and again centrifuged. This procedure was repeated twice.
An aliquot of the final sludge suspension was weighed, dried and the ratio of wet sludge to dry weight determined.
Based on this ratio, calculated amounts of wet sludge were suspended in isotonic saline solution to yield a concentration equivalent to 4 g per litre (on dry weight basis). The pH of the activated sludge inoculum was determined to be pH 7.62. The activated sludge was used directly after conditioning.

Synthetic Sewage Feed (ratio of composition of culture media referring to 1000 mL)
Peptone 16.0 g
Meat extract 11.0 g
Urea 3.0 g
NaCl 0.7 g
CaCl2 x 2H2O 0.4 g
MgSO4 x 7H2O 0.2 g
K2HPO4 2.8 g
Deionised water add 1000.0 mL

Study design

Test type:

static

Water media type:

freshwater

Limit test:

yes

Total exposure duration:

3 h

Post exposure observation period:

Not applicable

Test conditions

Hardness:

No data

Test temperature:

19.2 – 20.7 degrees C (during the incubation) and
19.3 – 20.3 degrees C (during oxygen measurement)

pH:

7.25 to 7.65

Dissolved oxygen:

7.6 to 8.3 mg O2/L

Salinity:

Not applicable.

Nominal and measured concentrations:

The test concentrations (10, 31, 100, 313 and 1000 mg/L) were chosen to permit the determination of the EC50. Concentrations in excess of nominal 1000 mg test item/L were not tested.

Details on test conditions:

Test units

Type and size: Erlenmeyer bottles of approximately 350 mL volume,
and BOD bottles with special neck of 300 mL volume.
Identification: Each test flask was uniquely identified with at least study code, treatment and replicate codes (in case of controls).

Test conditions

Surrounding type: Climate chamber (during the incubation) and controlled environment room (during the formulation and oxygen measuring)
Temperature: 19.2 – 20.7 degreesC (during the incubation) and 19.3 – 20.3 degreesC (during oxygen measurement)
Aeration: With compressed air (1 litre per minute)
Recording: Test conditions were measured with suitable instruments and documented in the raw data.

Measurement of Respiration Rate

For the measurement of the respiration rate a well-mixed sample of each treatment was poured into a BOD flask after exactly 3 hours incubation time, and was not further aerated. The oxygen concentration was measured with a stirring O2 electrode and was recorded for about ten minutes. The oxygen consumption (in mg O2 L-1 minute-1) was determined from the most linear part of the respiration curve.

Measurement of pH, Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature

The pH and the oxygen concentrations were determined at the start and at the end of the incubation period in all treatments. The temperature was measured in the climate chamber with a min/max thermometer during the incubation period. The water temperature was recorded during the oxygen measurement in all BOD bottles.

Reference substance (positive control):

yes

Remarks:

3,5-Dichlorophenol

Results and discussion

Effect concentrations

Effect concentrations 1

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

EC50

Effect conc.:

> 1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Effect concentrations 2

Duration:

3 h

Dose descriptor:

NOEC

Effect conc.:

1 000 mg/L

Nominal / measured:

nominal

Conc. based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect:

inhibition of total respiration

Remarks:

respiration rate

Details on results:

In comparison to the inoculum controls the respiration rate of the activated sludge was not inhibited in the concentration range of 10-31 mg and at the concentration of 313 mg Reactive Blue F08-0170/L. Slight stimulation of respiration rate (-1.9%) was observed at the concentration range of 10-31 mg/L. The respiration rate was inhibited 1.9% and 3.8% in the examined nominal test concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg/L. Concentrations exceeding 1000 mg/L nominal were not tested.
Based on measured inhibition rates it can be stated that the 3-hour EC20, EC50 and EC80 were higher than 1000 mg/L.

The NOEC was determined to be 1000 mg/L.
The NOEC for respiration rates was not based on the results of a statistical analysis, but it is biologically justified. The respiration rates were not inhibited and influenced dose dependently in the whole concentration range, and the observed slight inhibition (3.8%) at the concentration level of 1000 mg/L was evaluated as reflecting the biological variability in the test. The calculated respiration rate, 0.510 (at 1000 mg/L) was below the historical control data range (0.519 +/- 0.071), but the deviation from the control was within +/- 15%, it can be considered as a biological variability of the test system.

Results with reference substance (positive control):

At the nominal concentrations of 16 and 32 mg/L, the respiration rate was inhibited by 60.4% and 83.0%, respectively.

The 3-hour EC50 of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was calculated to be 9.52 mg/L with 95% confidence limits of 7.57 to 11.99 mg/L.

Reported statistics and error estimates:

None

Any other information on results incl. tables

Table 1.     Influence of test item on oxygen consumption of activated sludge

 

Flask No.	ID	Test group	Concentration (mg/L)	Oxygen consumption (mg O2/L/min)	Inhibition (%)	pH-values		Oxygen Concentration (mg O2/L)
						start *	end *	start *	end *
1	C1	Control	–	0.520	–	7.65	7.67	7.8	7.3
15	C2	Control	–	0.540	–	7.46	7.50	8.3	7.4
	Mean		–	0.530	–	–	–	–	–
	Deviation (%)		–	3.75	–	–	–	–	–
5	T1	Test item	10	0.540	-1.9	7.41	7.59	7.6	7.8
6	T2	Test item	31	0.540	-1.9	7.52	7.56	7.6	7.9
7	T3	Test item	100	0.520	1.9	7.41	7.49	7.9	7.8
8	T4	Test item	313	0.530	0.0	7.39	7.53	7.6	7.9
9	T5	Test item	1000	0.510	3.8	7.25	7.52	7.7	7.6

*      start and end of 3-hour aeration

ID:        Code of each group

Table 2.     Influence of reference item on oxygen consumption of activated sludge

Flask No.	ID	Test group	Concentration (mg/L)	Oxygen consumption (mg O2/L/min)	Inhibition (%)	pH-values		Oxygen Concentration (mg O2/L)
						start *	end *	start *	end *
1	C1	Control	–	0.520	–	7.65	7.67	7.8	7.3
15	C2	Control	–	0.540	–	7.46	7.50	8.3	7.4
	Mean		–	0.530	–	–	–	–	–
	Deviation (%)		–	3.75	–	–	–	–	–
2	R1	Ref. item	5	0.350	34.0	7.43	7.50	7.6	7.3
3	R2	Ref. item	16	0.210	60.4	7.51	7.63	7.6	8.1
4	R3	Ref. item	32	0.090	83.0	7.39	7.53	8.0	8.3

*      start and end of 3-hour aeration

ID:  Code of each group

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Validity criteria fulfilled:

yes

Conclusions:

A laboratory test was carried out with Reactive Blue F08-0170 to evaluate the effect of the test item on microorganisms by measuring the respiration rate. The test concentrations (10, 31, 100, 313 and 1000 mg/L) were chosen to permit the determination of the EC50.

In comparison to the inoculum controls the respiration rate of the activated sludge was not inhibited in the concentration range of 10-31 mg and at the concentration of 313 mg Reactive Blue F08-0170/L. Slight stimulation of respiration rate (-1.9%) was observed at the concentration range of 10-31 mg/L. The respiration rate was inhibited 1.9% and 3.8% in the examined nominal test concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg/L, which was considered to reflect the biological variability of the test system and not to be a toxic effect on bacteria. Concentrations exceeding 1000 mg/L nominal were not tested.

In parallel to the study with the test item, the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol was tested (the nominal test concentrations of 5, 16 and 32 mg/L) under otherwise identical test conditions.

The 3-hour EC50 of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was calculated to be 9.52 mg/L with 95% confidence limits of 7.57 to 11.99 mg/L.


Based on measured inhibition rates it can be stated that the 3-hour EC20, EC50 and EC80 were higher than 1000 mg/L.

The NOEC was determined to be 1000 mg/L.
The NOEC for respiration rates was not based on the results of a statistical analysis, but it is biologically justified. The respiration rates were not inhibited and influenced dose dependently in the whole concentration range, and the observed slight inhibition (3.8%) at the concentration level of 1000 mg/L was evaluated as reflecting the biological variability in the test. The calculated respiration rate, 0.510 (at 1000 mg/L) was below in the historical control data range (0.519 +/- 0.071), but the deviation from the control was within +/- 15%, it can be considered as a biological variability of the test system.

Executive summary:

A laboratory test was carried out with Reactive Blue F08-0170 to evaluate the effect of the test item on microorganisms by measuring the respiration rate. The test concentrations (10, 31, 100, 313 and 1000 mg/L) were chosen to permit the determination of the EC₅₀.

In comparison to the inoculum controls the respiration rate of the activated sludge was not inhibited in the concentration range of 10-31 mg and at the concentration of 313 mg Reactive Blue F08-0170/L. Slight stimulation of respiration rate (-1.9%) was observed at the concentration range of 10-31 mg/L. The respiration rate was inhibited 1.9% and 3.8% in the examined nominal test concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg/L, which was considered to reflect the biological variability of the test system and not to be a toxic effect on bacteria. Concentrations exceeding 1000 mg/L nominal were not tested.

 

In parallel to the study with the test item, the reference item 3,5-Dichlorophenol was tested (the nominal test concentrations of 5, 16 and 32 mg/L) under otherwise identical test conditions.

 

The 3-hour EC₅₀ of 3,5-Dichlorophenol was calculated to be 9.52 mg/L with 95% confidence limits of 7.57 to 11.99 mg/L.

Based on measured inhibition rates it can be stated that the 3-hour EC₂₀, EC₅₀ and EC₈₀ were higher than 1000 mg/L.

The NOEC was determined to be 1000 mg/L.

The NOEC for respiration rates was not based on the results of a statistical analysis, but it is biologically justified. The respiration rates were not inhibited and influenced dose dependently in the whole concentration range, and the observed slight inhibition (3.8%) at the concentration level of 1000 mg/L was evaluated as reflecting the biological variability in the test. The calculated respiration rate, 0.510 (at 1000 mg/L) was below in the historical control data range (0.519±0.071), but the deviation from the control was within +/- 15%, it can be considered as a biological variability of the test system.