Biological and toxicological effects of solvent extraction chemicals: Range finding acute toxicity in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii Rich.) and in the rat (Rattus norwegicus L.)

The acute toxicity of twelve solvent extraction chemicals was studied in the albino rat after intraperitoneal injection of the chemicals, and in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii Rich.) after exposure to the chemicals in the aquaria water. The tested chemicals included the following technical products: one primary aliphatic amine (Primene JM-T), two secondary aliphatic amines (Amberlite LA-1 and Adogen 283), two tertiary aliphatic amines (Adogen 383 and Alamine 336), one quaternary amine (Aliquat 336), two organophosphorus compounds (TBP, tributyl phosphate and HDEHP, di-(2-ethyl)-hexylphosphoric acid), one synthetic carboxylic acid (Versatic 10), one naphthalene-sulphonic acid (NA-SUL AS-50), one substituted oxime (LIX 64N) and one aliphatic alcohol (2-ethylhexanol). The intraperitoneal 96 hours LD 50 in the rat for the tested chemicals varied between less than 50 mg/kg b.w. to more than 5000 mg/kg b.w. Ninety six hours LC 50 in the rainbow trout was not possible to determine for three of the twelve tested chemicals due to their low water solubility. When determined, the LC 50 at 15°C was in the range 0.11–56 mg/l based on the amounts added.The present study discusses the acute toxicity of the chemicals mentioned above, gross pathological changes in the rat and behavioural changes in the fish.