Solubility and toxicity of eight phthalate esters to four aquatic organisms
Solubility values for eight phthalate esters investigated ranged from 0.020 to 121 mg/L. Acute toxicity tests were conducted with fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and all eight phthalate esters. Acute and chronic tests were conducted with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) using di-2-ethylhexylphthalate. In addition, the chronic toxicity of the three di-n-butylphthalates and a mixture of these three phthalates was examined using daphnids (Daphnia magna). Di-n-octyl-ortho-phthalate, di-n-octyl-iso-phthalate and di-n-octyl-tere-phthalate were not acutely toxic to fathead minnows at concentrations that exceeded the water solubility estimates for each phthalate. Di-2-ethylhexylphthalate was not acutely toxic to any tested species at the highest tested concentrations. No significant adverse effects were observed on hatchability, survival or growth of rainbow trout exposed to a mean di-2-ethylhexylphthalate concentration of 0.502 mg/L (the highest concentration tested) in a 90-d embryo-larval test. However, exposure to a mean di-2-ethylhexylphthalate concentration of 0.554 mg/L significantly reduced the growth of Japanese medaka during a 168-d larval test. Significant adverse effects on reproduction occurred in 21-d chronic tests with D. magna at concentrations of 1.91, 0.20 and 0.64 mg/L for di-n-butyl-ortho-phthalate, di-n-butyl-iso-phthalate and di-n-butyl-tere-phthalate, respectively. A daphnid mixture test with these three phthalates showed complete additivity, which suggests a similar mode of toxic action.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6005439
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-144907/XAB; EPA-600/J-90/256
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Pub. in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 9, 623-636(1990)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DAPHNIA
SENSITIVITY
FISHES
PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS
TOXICITY
BIOASSAY
FATHEAD MINNOW
SOLUBILITY
TROUT
WATER POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BRANCHIOPODS
CRUSTACEANS
ESTERS
INVERTEBRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology