A suite
of aquaria designed to meet quarantine, husbandry and study needs are installed
within AgroChemex Environmental’s ecotoxicology facility. The facility is
compliant with GLP and is designated by the UK Home Office for the conduct of
regulated procedures.
Flexible
bespoke designed systems allow studies to be conducted in line with the
requirements of a wide range of regulatory studies. Systems can be run in a
static, semi-static or flow-through format with tank sizes ranging from small
beakers to large 50 litre vessels.
The
natural water source on site provides water of the required quality to each of
the aquaria. The controlled environment rooms housing the systems are able to
be tuned to meet the environmental conditions for the study in terms of temperature,
lighting and photoperiod.
Acute
Toxicity Tests
OECD 203:
Fish, Acute Toxicity Test
OCSPP
850.1075 (Draft): Fish Acute Toxicity Test, Freshwater and Marine
Studies
can be conducted to assess the acute toxic effect a chemical has on fish. Fish
are exposed to range of concentrations of the test substance for 96 hours.
The test
can be conducted using a variety of fish species including, but not limited to:
- Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
- Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
- Bluegill (Lepomis
macrochirus)
- Fathead minnow (Pimphales
promelas)
Fish are
held in the laboratory to acclimatise and ensure good health for a period prior
to the test. They are held in water of the quality to be used in the test for
at least seven days immediately before use.
The fish
then move from the acclimation tanks to the exposure tanks and are exposed to
the test item for 96 hours. Measurements of dissolved oxygen, pH and
temperature are conducted periodically throughout the study.
Mortalities
and observations are recorded throughout the study. Any unusual behaviour,
signs of disease or stress, such as abnormal swimming behaviour, altered
pigmentation or respiratory dysfunction are also noted. From these assessments
the LC50 can be determined using a regression model.
Prolonged
Toxicity Tests
A range
of studies can be designed in accordance with OECD and EPA guidance to assess
the chronic effect a chemical has on fish.
Early
life stage and juvenile growth studies can be conducted to gain information
regarding the growth and development effects. These involve exposing either
newly fertilised embryos or young fry to the chemical in water continuously.
Reproductive
characteristics can be assessed by exposing sexually mature male and female
fish together, to a chemical. Alternatively newly fertilised embryos are
exposed continuously to the point of sexual maturation.
At the
end of the exposure period, biomarker endpoints are measured in males and
females, as indicators of endocrine activity of the test chemical; e.g.
vitellogenin and secondary sexual characteristics.
A fish,
full life cycle test can be designed in accordance with current regulatory
advice and position papers to meet the customers’ requirements. This is a
bespoke designed higher tier study, evaluating the effect on both the
development and growth, alongside the sexual characteristics and reproductive
capacity of the chosen fish species.
|
Fish,
early life stage toxicity |
OECD
210/OCSPP 850.1400 |
|
Fish,
short-term toxicity test on embryo and sac-fry stages |
OECD
212 |
|
Fish,
Juvenile growth test |
OECD
215 |
|
Fish
short term reproduction assay |
OECD
229 |
|
Fish
full life cycle test |
|