Acetone

Toxicity to aquatic algae and cyanobacteria

Description of key information

Freshwater species:
Microcystis aeruginosa: 8 d LOEC=530 mg/L nominal
Saltwater species:
Prorocentrum minimum: 96 h NOEC=430 mg/L nominal

Key value for chemical safety assessment

EC10 or NOEC for freshwater algae:

530 mg/L

EC10 or NOEC for marine water algae:

430 mg/L

Additional information

There are a lot of studies dealing with the toxicity of acetone to freshwater and saltwater algae. Only the study with Microcystis aeruginosa, however, fulfills the validity critereria of current guidelines (in deviation from guideline light/dark cycles were employed in studies with freshwater and saltwater species).

Freshwater species:

For the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa a 8 d TT (NOEC) of 530 mg/L (nominal) was determined. It has to be noted that after 8 days exposure the algae might not longer be in the exponential growth phase which may have a negative influence on the test result. Therefore, the effect values found in this test, should be used with care.

The 48/96 h NOEC values reported in other studies ranged from 3400 mg/L (48 h) nominal for Chlorella pyrenoidosa to 7000 mg/L nominal for Selenastrum capricornutum (96 h). These data support the low toxicity of acetone to freshwater algae and cyanobacteria.

Saltwater species:

The NOEC values ranged from 430 mg/L nominal (96 h) for Prorocentrum minimum to 6000 mg/L nominal (120 h) for Skeletonema costatum. For Skeletonema costatum a 5 d EC50=11798 mg/L nominal was determined. However, these data are well within the range of typical species variability in sensitivity toward toxicants.