ASTM E1242-23

Standard Practice for Using Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient to Estimate Median Lethal Concentrations for Fish Due to Narcosis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This procedure can be used to limit the need for screening tests prior to performing a test for estimating the LC50 of a non-reactive and non-electrolytic chemical to the fathead minnow. By eliminating the screening test, fewer fish need be tested. The time used for preparing and performing the screening test can also be saved. The value obtained in this procedure can be used as the preliminary estimate of the LC50 in a full-scale test.  
5.2 Estimates can be used to set testing priority of groups of non-reactive and non-electrolytic chemicals.  
5.3 If the estimated value is more than 0.3 times the experimental value, the mechanism of action is probably narcosis. If less, the effect concentration is considered to reflect a different mechanism of action.  
5.4 This practice estimates a maximum LC50, that is, non-reactive and non-electrolytic chemicals are at least as toxic as the practice predicts, but may have a lower LC50 if acting by a more specific mechanism. Data on a chemical indicating a lower toxicity than predicted should be considered suspect or an artifact because of limited solubility of the test material.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for estimating the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) 96-h LC50 of nonreactive (that is, covalently bonded without unsaturated residues) and nonelectrolytic (that is, require vigorous reagents to facilitate substitution, addition, replacement reactions and are non-ionic, non-dissociating in aqueous solutions) organic chemicals acting solely by narcosis, also referred to as Meyer-Overton toxicity relationship.2  
1.2 This procedure is accurate for organic chemicals that are toxic due to narcosis and are non-reactive and non-electrolytic. Examples of appropriate chemicals are: alcohols, ketones, ethers, simple halogenated aliphatics, aromatics, and aliphatic substituted aromatics. It is not appropriate for chemicals whose structures include a potential toxiphore (that structural component of a chemical molecule that has been identified to show mammalian toxicity, for example CN is known to be reponsible for inactivation of enzymes, NO2 for decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, both leading to mammalian toxicity). Examples of chemicals inappropriate for this practice are: carbamates, organophosphates, phenols, beta-gamma unsaturated alcohols, electrophiles, and quaternary ammonium salts.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2022
• ICS: 07.080 - Biology. Botany. Zoology
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.47 - Biological Effects and Environmental Fate

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1242 − 23
Standard Practice for
Using Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient to Estimate
1
Median Lethal Concentrations for Fish Due to Narcosis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1242; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for estimating the
E729 Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Test
fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) 96-h LC50 of nonre-
Materials with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphib-
active (that is, covalently bonded without unsaturated residues)
ians
and nonelectrolytic (that is, require vigorous reagents to
E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Envi-
facilitate substitution, addition, replacement reactions and are
4
ronmental Fate (Withdrawn 2023)
non-ionic, non-dissociating in aqueous solutions) organic
E1023 Guide for Assessing the Hazard of a Material to
chemicals acting solely by narcosis, also referred to as Meyer-
2
Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses
Overton toxicity relationship.
E1147 Test Method for Partition Coefficient (N-Octanol/
1.2 This procedure is accurate for organic chemicals that are
Water) Estimation by Liquid Chromatography (With-
4
toxic due to narcosis and are non-reactive and non-electrolytic.
drawn 2013)
Examples of appropriate chemicals are: alcohols, ketones,
ethers, simple halogenated aliphatics, aromatics, and aliphatic
3. Terminology
substituted aromatics. It is not appropriate for chemicals whose
3.1 Definitions:
structures include a potential toxiphore (that structural compo-
3.1.1 acute toxicity—where an adverse effect such as mor-
nent of a chemical molecule that has been identified to show
tality is measured after organisms exposed to a compound for
mammalian toxicity, for example CN is known to be reponsible
a relatively short period, usually not constituting a substantial
for inactivation of enzymes, NO for decoupling of oxidative
2
portion of their life span.
phosphorylation, both leading to mammalian toxicity). Ex-
3.1.2 narcosis, n—a reversible state of stupor,
amples of chemicals inappropriate for this practice are:
unconsciousness, or arrested activity produced by the influence
carbamates, organophosphates, phenols, beta-gamma unsatu-
of chemicals on critical sites within membranes or by disrupt-
rated alcohols, electrophiles, and quaternary ammonium salts.
ing the normal functioning of certain proteins by means of
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
nonspecific binding of organic chemical(s) to hydrophobic
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
sites. Death results if exposure is not terminated after a length
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
of time which varies with concentration.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.3 octanol-water partition coeffıcient (K ), n—referred
ow
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
to as P in some literature.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.4 toxiphore, n—a chemical structure substituent group
that when present gives rise to an adverse effect in exposed
organisms.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environ-
mental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct
responsibility of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental
Fate.
3
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E1242 – 97(2014). contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
DOI: 10.1520/E1242-23. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
2
Lipnick, Robert L., “Validation and Extension of Fish Toxicity QSARs and the ASTM website.
4
Interspecies Comparisons for Certain Classes of Organic Chemicals,” QSAR in The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.ast-
Toxicology and Xenobiochemistry, Elsevier, 1985. m.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1242 − 23
4. Summary of Practice 6.2 Obtain the octanol-water partition coefficient (K ), by
ow
measurement (see Test Method E1
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1242 − 97 (Reapproved 2014) E1242 − 23
Standard Practice for
Using Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient to Estimate
1
Median Lethal Concentrations for Fish Due to Narcosis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1242; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for estimating the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) 96-h LC50 of nonreactive (that
is, covalently bonded without unsaturated residues) and nonelectrolytic (that is, require vigorous reagents to facilitate substitution,
addition, replacement reactions and are non-ionic, non-dissociating in aqueous solutions) organic chemicals acting solely by
2
narcosis, also referred to as Meyer-Overton toxicity relationship.
1.2 This procedure is accurate for organic chemicals that are toxic due to narcosis and are non-reactive and non-electrolytic.
Examples of appropriate chemicals are: alcohols, ketones, ethers, simple halogenated aliphatics, aromatics, and aliphatic
substituted aromatics. It is not appropriate for chemicals whose structures include a potential toxiphore (that structural component
of a chemical molecule that has been identified to show mammalian toxicity, for example CN is known to be reponsible for
inactivation of enzymes, NO for decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, both leading to mammalian toxicity). Examples of
2
inappropriate chemicals chemicals inappropriate for this practice are: carbamates, organophosphates, phenols, beta-gamma
unsaturated alcohols, electrophiles, and quaternary ammonium salts.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E729 Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Test Materials with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians
4
E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Environmental Fate (Withdrawn 2023)
E1023 Guide for Assessing the Hazard of a Material to Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses
4
E1147 Test Method for Partition Coefficient (N-Octanol/Water) Estimation by Liquid Chromatography (Withdrawn 2013)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2023. Published December 2014February 2023. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 20082014
as E1242 – 97(2008). DOI: 10.1520/E1242-97R14.(2014). DOI: 10.1520/E1242-23.
2
Lipnick, Robert L., “Validation and Extension of Fish Toxicity QSARs and Interspecies Comparisons for Certain Classes of Organic Chemicals,” QSAR in Toxicology
and Xenobiochemistry, Elsevier, 1985.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
4
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E1242 − 23
3.1.1 acute toxicity—where an adverse effect such as mortality is measured after organisms exposed to a compound for a relatively
short period, usually not constituting a substantial portion of their life span.
3.1.2 narcosis—narcosis, n—a reversible state of stupor, unconsciousness, or arrested activity produced by the influence of
chemicals on critical sites within membranes or by disrupting the normal functioning of certain proteins by means of nonspecific
binding of organic chemical(s) to hydrophobic sites. Death results if exposure is not terminated after a length of time which varies
with concentration.
3.1.3 octanol-water partition coeffıcient (K )),—n—referred to as P in some literature.
ow
3.1.4 toxiphore—toxiphore, n—a
...