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Toxicity to terrestrial arthropods

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Description of key information

Reported LC50 values for various terrestrial arthrpod species were in the range 0.1 to 6.5 mg/l acrylonitrile.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Additional information

The EU RAR reviews several studies conducted to assess the toxic effects of acrylonitrile when applied as a fumigant (in air) to various arthropod species known to infest food products.

The 8 hour LC50 for Sitophilus granarius, Tribolium confusum, Tenebrioides mauritanicus was 0.7 - 2.8 mg/l.

The 2 hour LC50 was 2 - 6.5 mg/l, and the 6 hour LC50 was 0.8 - 2.0 mg/l in Sitophilus oryza, Zabrotes pectoralis, Stegobium paniceum, Acanthoscelides obtectus, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Rhyzopertha dominica.

The pupae of Callosobruchus chinensis were found to be more resistant to acrylonitrile than the eggs, larvae or adults, with a 24 hour LC50 of 1.26 mg/l compared to approximately 0.1 mg/l, respectively.

An LC50 of 0.8 - 1.1 mg/l was reported for adults and larvae of Tribolium castaneum and larvae of Trogoderma granarium. The LC50 concentrations of acrylonitrile significantly inhibited the enzymes trehalase and phosphorylase in both species. Sub-lethal concentrations had similar effects on Tribolium castaneum adults but had less effect on these enzymes at the larval stages in either soecies, and had no effect on acetylcholinesterase.