Solubility and toxicity of eight phthalate esters to four aquatic organisms

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6005439

DeFoe, D L; Holcombe, G W; Hammermeister, D E; Biesinger, K E

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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BIOASSAY
BRANCHIOPODS
CRUSTACEANS
DAPHNIA
ESTERS
FATHEAD MINNOW
FISHES
INVERTEBRATES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS
POLLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SOLUBILITY
TOXICITY
TROUT
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION