Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2003-0067-0003
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-11-17T05:00Z

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William
C.
Herz
Director
of
Scientific
Programs
M
E
M
O
R
A
N
D
U
M
TO:
Product
Testing
Recipient
FROM:
William
C.
Herz,
Director
of
Scientific
Programs
SUBJECT:
Ammonia
Product
Testing
Dossier
DATE:
March
15,
2003
It
is
with
great
pleasure
that
The
Fertilizer
Institute
(
TFI)
announces
the
completion
and
distribution
of
the
final
product
testing
dossier
for
ammonia
(
CAS
#
7664­
41­
7).

As
you
are
aware,
TFI
sponsored
this
four­
year
program
to
develop
and
summarize
screeninglevel
hazard
information
for
high
production
volume
(
HPV)
chemicals.
The
data
elements
generated
represent
a
broad
overview
of
human
health
and
ecological
parameters,
including
physical­
chemical
characterization,
environmental
fate,
mammalian
toxicity
and
ecotoxicity.
A
health
and
environmental
safety
data
summary
dossier
was
prepared
for
each
of
the
23
materials,
which
summarizes
the
available
literature
data,
new
testing
data,
category
description
and
read
across
data,
as
well
as
provides
a
conclusion
regarding
the
inherent
hazards
of
the
material.

Please
note
that
upon
receipt
of
this
data
a
90­
calendar­
day
regulatory
trigger
starts
within
which
you
must
update
your
material
safety
data
sheets
(
MS­
DS).
Upon
first
product
shipment
you
must
also
notify
your
distributors
and
employers
once
the
MS­
DS
has
been
updated.
These
regulatory
requirements
are
detailed
in
29
CFR
1910.1200(
g)(
5)
and
29
CFR
1910.1200(
g)(
6)(
i).
The
requirements
are
found
in
the
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
Administration
"
Hazard
Communication
Standard"
(
29
CFR
1910.1200).

Please
contact
me
by
telephone
at
(
202)
515­
2706
or
via
e­
mail
at
wcherz@
tfi.
org
should
you
have
questions
or
concerns
regarding
our
product
testing
initiative.
PAGE
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ii
HEALTH
&
ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFETY
DATA
SUMMARY
DOCUMENT
AMMONIA
CAS
NO.
7664­
41­
7
Prepared
for:

THE
FERTILIZER
INSTITUTE
January
27,
2003
THE
WEINBERG
GROUP
INC.
1220
Nineteenth
St,
NW,
Suite
300
Washington,
DC
20036­
2400
e­
mail
science@
weinberggroup.
com
WASHINGTON
NEW
YORK
SAN
FRANCISCO
BRUSSELS
PARIS
PAGE
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LEFT
BLANK
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE
OVERVIEW...............................................................................................................
i
SIDS
PROFILE..................................................................................................................................
1
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARY.................................................................................................................
2
1.
GENERAL
INFORMATION...............................................................................................
5
2.
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA.........................................................................................
14
3.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
AND
PATHWAYS................................................................
23
4.
ECOTOXICITY....................................................................................................................
34
5.
TOXICITY............................................................................................................................
85
6.
REFERENCES
.....................................................................................................................
108
LIST
OF
APPENDICES
APPENDIX
A
SIDS
Data
Availability
Summary
APPENDIX
B
Comprehensive
Bibliography
ACRONYMS
AND
ABBREVIATIONS
BCF
Bioconcentration
Factor
bw
Body
Weight
DAP
Diammonium
Phosphate
DOT
Department
of
Transportation
FDA
U.
S.
Food
and
Drug
Administration
g/
L
Grams
per
Liter
GLP
Good
Laboratory
Practices
GTSP
Granular
Triple
Super
Phosphate
g/
mL
Grams
per
Milliliter
HSDB
Hazardous
Substance
Data
Bank
IPCS
International
Programme
for
Chemical
Safety
KNO3
Potassium
Nitrate
Koc
Organic
Carbon
Partition
Coefficient
Kow
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
LC50
Median
Lethal
Concentration
LD50
Median
Lethal
Dose
LOAEL
Lowest
Observable
Adverse
Effect
Level
LOEC
Lowest
Observable
Effect
Concentration
LOEL
Lowest
Observable
Effect
Level
M
Molar
MAP
Monoammonium
Phosphate
mg/
kg
Milligrams
per
Kilogram
mg/
kg/
day
Milligrams
per
Kilogram
per
Day
mg/
L
Milligrams
per
Liter
MHb
Methyl
Hemoglobin
mm
Hg
Millimeters
of
Mercury
mmol/
L
Millimoles
per
Liter
NaNo3
Sodium
Nitrate
NFPA
National
Fire
Prevention
Association
(
NH4)
2NO3
Ammonium
Nitrate
NIOSH
National
Institute
for
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
NO3
Nitrate
NOAEL
No
Observable
Adverse
Effect
Level
NOEC
No
Observable
Effect
Concentration
NOEL
No
Observable
Effect
Level
OECD
Organisation
for
Economic
Co­
operation
and
Development
Pa
Pascal
ppm
Parts
per
Million
SCAS
Semi
Continuous
Activated
Sludge
SIDS
Screening
Information
Data
Set
SSP
Single
Super
Phosphate
TLm
Median
Toxicity
Level
TLV
Threshold
Limit
Value
TFI
The
Fertilizer
Institute
UAN
Urea
Ammonia
Nitrogen
i
EXECUTIVE
OVERVIEW
I.
Introduction
The
Fertilizer
Institute,
on
behalf
of
its
member
companies,
initiated
a
Product
Testing
Project
to
collect,
review,
summarize,
and
where
necessary
develop
additional
health
and
environmental
safety
data
for
23
of
its
high
production
volume
inorganic
fertilizer
materials.
These
data
and
summaries
provide
valuable
information
that
can
be
used
to
update
Material
Safety
Data
Sheets,
answer
customers'
questions,
and
support
product
stewardship
efforts.
The
chemical
industry
is
also
participating
in
a
voluntary
program
of
comparable
scope
for
high
production
volume
organic
chemicals.
1
The
23
fertilizer
materials
were
divided
into
five
categories
(
i.
e.,
ammonia
compounds,
nitrate
compounds,
phosphate
compounds,
salts
and
acids)
based
on
their
primary
constituents
as
shown
in
Table
1.
The
use
of
categories
is
a
recognized
and
accepted
method
that
allows
health
and
environmental
safety
data
from
one
chemical
in
the
category
to
be
used
to
represent
one
or
more
other
related
chemicals
in
the
category
(
USEPA
1999).
The
key
is
to
find
similar,
or
at
least
predictable,
patterns
and
trends
among
the
chemicals
in
a
category.
In
this
way,
data
can
be
pooled,
resources
are
optimized,
and
fewer
animals
are
used
in
testing,
all
without
losing
the
ability
to
evaluate
the
hazards
and
safety
of
the
individual
chemicals.
Note
that
some
of
the
materials
fall
into
more
than
one
category
(
e.
g.,
diammonium
phosphate
[
DAP]
is
in
both
the
phosphate
and
ammonia
categories).

Searches
were
conducted
using
on­
line
databases,
standard
scientific
data
compendia,
and
other
published
sources
for
toxicity,
ecotoxicity,
environmental
fate,
and
physical­
chemical
properties.
The
collected
data
were
reviewed
for
quality
and
acceptability
and
then
summarized
according
to
the
Organization
for
Economic
Cooperation
and
Development
(
OECD)
Screening
Information
Data
Set
(
SIDS)
dossier
format
(
OECD
1997).
The
OECD
countries
(
including
the
United
States)
have
agreed
on
a
set
of
tests
and
on
types
of
data
that
are
generally
necessary
to
characterize
the
chemical
behavior
and
potential
hazards
of
chemicals
released
into
the
environment.
The
OECD
SIDS
dossier
was
chosen
as
a
standard
format
for
the
TFI
Product
Testing
Project
in
order
that
it
would
be
scientifically
defensive,
broadly
applicable
and
easily
understandable
to
a
wide
range
of
stakeholders.

The
following
sections
of
this
Executive
Overview
provide:
the
rationale
for
development
of
the
Ammonia
Compounds
category
(
Section
II);
a
synopsis
of
the
available
data
related
to
the
physical­
chemical
properties,
environmental
fate,
ecotoxicity
and
toxicity
of
anhydrous
ammonia
(
Section
III);
and
a
conclusion
regarding
the
need
for
additional
testing
(
Section
IV).

The
data
for
anhydrous
ammonia
are
summarized
in
the
Chemical
Profile
and
Data
Summary
tables.
It
should
be
noted
that
while
anhydrous
ammonia
plays
an
important
role
in
providing
data
for
other
chemicals
in
the
ammonia
category,
its
data
are
essentially
complete
and
it
does
not
rely
on
data
from
other
chemicals
in
the
category.
Therefore,
the
current
health
and
environmental
safety
data
summary
document
focuses
primarily
on
anhydrous
ammonia.
The
1
HPV
Chemical
Challenge
Program;
USEPA
1999
(
http://
www.
epa.
gov/
opptintr/
chemrtk/
volchall.
htm)
ii
remaining
chemicals
in
the
ammonia
category
are
discussed
in
their
respective
summary
documents.
The
individual
studies
for
anhydrous
ammonia
are
described
and
the
references
are
presented
in
subsequent
pages
of
this
document.
iii
II.
Rationale
for
the
Ammonia
Compounds
Category
The
ammonia
compounds
category
for
fertilizer
materials
includes
anhydrous
ammonia,
aqua
ammonia,
nitrogen
solutions,
several
ammonium
salts,
di­
and
monoammonium
phosphates,
and
urea.
These
compounds
are
grouped
primarily
based
on
their
predictable
pattern
of
toxicity
to
aquatic
organisms.
The
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
aquatic
organisms
is
highly
dependent
on
physicochemical
factors,
most
notably
pH
because
of
its
importance
in
chemical
speciation
(
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990).
The
acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
is
also
influenced
to
a
lesser
degree
by
temperature,
carbon
dioxide,
dissolved
oxygen,
and
salinity.
In
aqueous
solution,
ammonia
exists
primarily
in
two
forms,
un­
ionized
ammonia
(
NH3)
and
the
ammonium
ion
(
NH4
+),
which
are
in
equilibrium
with
each
other
according
to
the
following
established
relationship:

NH3(
aq)
+
H2O
 
NH4
+
+
OH­

In
general,
as
pH
increases,
the
fraction
of
the
total
ammonia
which
is
un­
ionized
increases.
It
is
this
unionized
ammonia
which
is
generally
considered
to
be
the
primary
cause
of
toxicity
in
aquatic
systems
(
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990).
Un­
ionized
ammonia
is
more
toxic
to
aquatic
organisms
than
the
ammonium
ion
because
the
un­
ionized
form
is
readily
soluble
in
the
lipid
of
the
cell
membrane
and
is
rapidly
absorbed
by
the
gill.
In
contrast,
the
charged
ion
is
not
easily
passed
through
the
charged­
line
hydrophobic
space
in
the
membrane.
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA)
studies
indicate
that
un­
ionized
ammonia
is
190
times
more
toxic
to
guppies
than
ammonium
ion
(
USEPA
1985;
1998).

Multiple
EPA
studies
in
aquatic
systems
have
shown
that
over
the
pH
range
of
6.5­
9.0,
the
toxicity
of
unionized
ammonia
increases
as
the
pH
decreases
(
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990).
At
lower
pH
values,
this
can
be
attributed
to
either
the
increased
hydrogen
ion
concentration
increasing
the
toxicity
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
or
that
the
ammonium
ion
is
exerting
some
level
of
toxicity
at
the
lower
pH
(
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990).
However,
it
would
be
an
oversimplification
to
attribute
the
toxic
action
to
only
the
ammonium
ion
at
low
pH
and
to
only
un­
ionized
ammonium
at
high
pH
because
most
likely
both
forms
participate
when
total
ammonia
concentration
is
high
enough
to
cause
toxicity
symptoms
(
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990).
To
incorporate
this,
a
joint
toxicity
model
has
been
proposed,
with
ammonium
causing
most
toxicity
at
high
pH
values
and
ammonium
ion
also
contributing
to
toxicity
at
lower
pH
values
(
Erickson
1985;
Ankley
1995).
This
is
supported
through
studies
demonstrating
that
at
low
pH
a
new
inward
flux
of
ammonium
ion
can
occur
across
the
gills
of
aquatic
species
(
Evans
and
Cameron
1986;
Ankley
1995).
Still,
under
most
environmental
conditions,
the
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentration
is
the
primary
driver
of
toxicity.

In
mammalian
systems,
the
un­
ionized
ammonia
again
is
the
primary
toxic
agent,
based
on
the
pH­
dependency
of
its
distribution
(
i.
e.,
NH3
diffuses
more
easily
than
NH4+).
It
should
be
noted
that
due
to
the
pH
of
most
biological
systems,
ammonia
typically
exists
in
the
ionized
form
in
the
body.
Nitrate
(
NO2,
a
microbial
degradate
of
NH3)
however,
can
play
a
more
important
role
in
toxicity
in
mammalian
systems
than
in
aquatic
systems.

III.
Summary
of
Data
Available
for
the
Ammonia
Compounds
Category
Detailed
data
summaries
for
ammonia
are
included
in
subsequent
sections
of
this
Health
and
Environmental
Safety
Data
Summary
Document
for
Ammonia.
These
data
are
briefly
summarized
here.
It
is
important
to
understand
that
while
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7
represents
anhydrous
ammonia
(
a
gas),
much
of
the
aquatic
testing
must,
by
necessity,
be
conducted
on
ammonia
in
the
form
of
a
liquid
(
e.
g.,
NH4Cl
is
commonly
used
in
aquatic
testing).
Gaseous
iv
ammonia
was
used
for
inhalation
testing
of
mammals,
with
ammonia
salts
(
e.
g.
NH4OCOCH3)
used
for
testing
by
other
routes.
v
Physical­
Chemical
Data
The
density
of
gaseous
ammonia
is
0.696
g/
L
at
20
º
C
and
therefore
is
lighter
than
air.
Liquid
ammonia
is
lighter
than
water,
with
a
density
of
682
g/
L
as
reported
in
Constable
et
al.
(
1999).
With
solubility
values
around
510­
530
g/
L,
ammonia
is
considered
to
be
readily
soluble
in
water,
where
it
ionizes
to
form
NH4
+
under
most
environmental
conditions.
Anhydrous
and
aqueous
ammonia
are
volatile,
as
shown
by
their
high
vapor
pressures
(
2,159
and
7,600
mm
Hg
at
25
°
C,
respectively).

Environmental
Fate
and
Pathway
Because
of
its
high
volatility,
anhydrous
ammonia
is
more
likely
to
be
present
in
the
atmosphere.
Of
the
fraction
not
taken
up
by
row
crops,
most
of
the
ammonia
released
from
fertilizer
goes
to
the
air
rather
than
to
surface
or
ground
water.
The
high
solubility
of
these
compounds
suggests
that
at
the
pH
of
most
biological
systems
ammonia
exists
predominantly
in
the
ionized
form
(
NH4
+).
The
fate
of
ammonia
is
driven
by
its
important
role
in
the
nitrogen
cycle,
including
relatively
rapid
assimilation
and
degradation
by
living
organisms.
The
nitrogen
cycle
is
well
known
(
e.
g.,
see
www.
geog.
ouc.
bc.
ca/
physgeog/
contents/
9s.
html).

Ecotoxicity
The
acute
96­
hour
LC50
for
fish
ranged
from
0.09­
3.51
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
21.4­
279
mg
total
NH3/
L).
1
Numerous
differences
between
studies
easily
account
for
the
variability
in
this
parameter,
among
them
test
species,
age
of
test
subjects,
test
type
(
static
or
flow­
through),
temperature,
and
most
notably,
pH.
The
single
acute
study
conducted
on
Daphnia
reported
a
48­
hour
LC50
of
2.94
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L.
A
series
of
acute
studies
for
other
aquatic
invertebrates
report
a
range
of
LC50s
from
0.2­
22.84
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
Much
of
this
variability
may
be
explained
by
the
broad
array
of
test
species
and
differences
in
test
temperatures.
Algae
can
tolerate
relatively
high
(
ppm)
concentrations
of
ammonia;
algae
assimilate
the
nitrogen.
The
chronic
toxicity
no
effect
level
(
NOEC)
for
fish
and
aquatic
invertebrates
ranged
from
0.025­
1.2
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
and
from
0.163­
0.42
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L,
respectively.
Based
on
the
standard
Federal
Insecticide
Fungicide
and
Rodenticide
Act
(
FIFRA)
acute
toxicity
ratings
for
fish
and
Daphnia
(
below),
ammonia
may
be
moderately
to
very
highly
toxic
to
aquatic
organisms.

EC/
LC50
(
mg/
L)
Toxicity
Description
<
0.1
Very
Highly
Toxic
0.1­
1
Highly
Toxic
1­
10
Moderately
Toxic
10­
100
Slightly
Toxic
>
100
Practically
Non­
Toxic
In
addition,
high
concentrations
of
ammonia
affects
photosynthetic
and
respiratory
pathways
in
terrestrial
plants
and
may
result
in
foliar
necrosis.

1
Ammonia
toxicity
values
may
be
reported
as
"
un­
ionized
NH3/
L"
(
i.
e.,
concentration
based
on
the
molecular
weight
of
the
compound),
as
"
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L"
(
i.
e.,
concentration
based
on
the
molecular
weight
of
only
the
nitrogen
portion
of
the
compound),
or
as
"
total
NH3/
L"
(
i.
e.,
concentration
based
on
the
molecular
weight
of
both
the
un­
ionized
and
ionized
compounds).
vi
Toxicity
The
oral
route
is
not
an
applicable
route
of
exposure
for
anhydrous
ammonia
(
a
gas).
However,
the
reported
acute
oral
LD50
values
for
other
(
non­
gas)
ammonium
compounds
ranged
from
350­
4,250
mg/
kg
body
weight
(
bw),
primarily
in
rats
and
mice,
with
ammonium
sulfate
having
the
most
variability.
Inhalation
is
the
primary
route
of
exposure
for
anhydrous
ammonia.
The
range
of
1­
hr
LC50
values
is
2960­
11,590
mg/
m3
for
rats
and
mice,
with
the
lower
LC50s
observed
at
longer
exposure
durations.
Dermal
studies
were
extremely
limited,
again
because
this
is
not
a
significant
route
of
exposure
to
anhydrous
ammonia.
For
comparison,
a
study
using
liquid
ammonium
sulfate
reported
an
acute
dermal
LD50
of
>
2,000
mg/
kg
bw.
Based
on
the
standard
FIFRA
acute
toxicity
ratings
for
mammals
(
below),
the
compounds
in
this
category
are
considered
to
be
of
moderate
to
very
low
toxicity
(
40
CFR
156.62).

Toxicity
Category
I
II
III
IV
Toxicity
Rating
High
Moderate
Low
Very
Low
Oral
LD50
 
50
mg/
kg
>
50­
500
mg/
kg
>
500­
5000
mg/
kg
>
5000
mg/
kg
Dermal
LC50
 
200
mg/
kg
>
200­
2000
mg/
kg
>
2000­
20,000
mg/
kg
>
20,000
mg/
kg
Inhalation
LC50
 
0.2
mg/
L
>
0.2­
2
mg/
L
>
2­
20
mg/
L
>
20
mg/
L
No
mortality
was
observed
in
repeat
dose
inhalation
studies
up
to
770
mg
total
NH3/
m3,
although
reported
sublethal
effects
included
nasal,
eye
and
skin
irritation
and
inflammation.
A
one­
generation
reproduction
study
in
which
pigs
were
exposed
to
ammonia
from
manure
pits
resulted
in
no
significant
effects
on
onset
of
puberty
or
litter
size.

Anhydrous
ammonia
tested
negative
for
mutagenicity
using
standard
in­
vitro
bacterial
studies
(
Ames
Test)
at
concentrations
up
to
25,000
ppm.
No
evidence
of
mutagenicity
was
observed
in
an
in
vivo
Drosophila
test.
There
are
no
data
showing
that
ammonia
is
mutagenic
in
mammals
nor
is
it
carcinogenic.

Occupational
exposure
of
soda
ash
plant
workers
to
anhydrous
ammonia
in
the
air
indicated
no
significant
effects
at
an
average
concentration
of
9.2
ppm.
The
8
hr
TWA­
TLV
for
ammonia
is
35
mg/
m3
and
the
15
min
STEL­
TLV
is
27
mg/
m3.
Inhalation
exposure
of
ammonia
by
human
volunteers
were
tolerated
easily
up
to
100
ppm,
although
some
eye,
nose
and
throat
irritation
was
observed
(
Ferguson
et
al.
1977;
Holness
et
al.
1989).
vii
IV.
Conclusion
for
the
Ammonia
Compounds
Category
Ammonia
has
been
extensively
studied
and
several
reviews
have
been
published
(
e.
g.,
ATSDR
1990;
Constable
et
al.
1999;
Clement
1990;
Ecological
Analysts
1981;
NRC
1979;
USEPA
1985
and
1998;
and
WHO
1986).
Sufficient
data
are
available
to
characterize
the
physical­
chemical
properties,
environmental
fate,
ecotoxicity
and
toxicity
of
anhydrous
ammonia.
Therefore,
additional
testing
is
not
needed
to
assess
the
hazards
of
this
chemical.
viii
TABLE
1:
CATEGORIES
FOR
PRODUCT
TESTING
PROJECT
CATEGORY
COMPOUND
CAS
NUMBER
Ammonia
Compounds
Anhydrous
ammonia
Aqua
ammonia
Ammonium
nitrate
Ammonium
sulfate
Ammonium
thiosulfate
Nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
Ammonium
phosphate
sulfate
Diammonium
phosphate
(
DAP)
Monoammonium
phosphate
(
MAP)
Urea
7664­
41­
7
1336­
21­
6
6484­
52­
2
7783­
20­
2
7783­
18­
8
15978­
77­
5
12593­
60­
1
7783­
28­
0
7722­
76­
1
57­
13­
6
Nitrate
Compounds
Sodium
nitrate
Ammonium
nitrate
Potassium
nitrate
Potassium
sodium
nitrate
Nitrogen
solutions
(
UAN)
Urea
7631­
99­
4
6484­
52­
2
7757­
79­
1
7757­
79­
1/
7631­
99­
4
15978­
77­
5
57­
13­
6
Phosphate
Compounds
Diammonium
phosphate
(
DAP)
Monoammonium
phosphate
(
MAP)
Liquid
polyphosphate
Single
superphosphate**
Granular
triple
superphosphate**
7783­
28­
0
7722­
76­
1
­­
8011­
76­
5
65996­
95­
4
Salts
Potassium
chloride
Potassium
magnesium
sulfate
Potassium
nitrate
Potassium
sodium
nitrate
Potassium
sulfate
Calcium
sulfate
7447­
40­
7
14168­
73­
1
7757­
79­
1
7757­
79­
1/
7631­
99­
4
7778­
80­
5
7778­
18­
9
Acids
Phosphoric
acid
Nitric
acid
Sulfuric
acid
7664­
38­
2
7697­
37­
2
7664­
93­
9
*
=
Nitrogen
solutions
are
represented
largely
by
Urea­
Ammonia­
Nitrogen
(
UAN;
15978­
77­
5)
**
=
Single
superphosphate
and
granular
triple
superphosphate
are
combined
into
a
single
dossier.
­­
=
No
CAS
number
readily
available
ix
V.
REFERENCES
CITED
40
CFR
156.62.
Toxicity
Category.

Agency
for
Toxic
Substances
and
Disease
Registry
(
ATSDR).
1990.
Toxicological
Profile
for
Ammonia.

Ankley,
G.
T.,
Schubauer­
Berigan,
and
Monson,
P.
D.
1995.
Influence
of
pH
and
hardness
on
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
the
amphipod
Hyalella
azteca.
Can.
J.
Fish.
Aquat.
Sci.
52:
2078­
2083.

BIBRA.
1995.
Toxicological
Profile:
Ammonia.
BIBRA
International.

Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Prepared
for
The
Fertilizer
Institute,
Washington,
D.
C.

Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig,
G.,
and
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.

Ecological
Analysts,
Inc.
1981.
The
Sources,
Chemistry,
Fate,
and
Effects
of
Ammonia
in
Aquatic
Environments.
Washington,
D.
C.
American
Petroleum
Institute.

Erickson,
R.
J.
1985.
An
evaluation
of
mathematical
models
for
the
effects
of
pH
and
temperature
on
ammonia
toxicity
to
aquatic
organisms.
Water
Res.
19:
1047­
1058.

Evans,
D.
E.
and
Cameron,
J.
N.
1986.
Gill
ammonia
transport.
J.
Exp.
Zool.
239:
17­
23.

Ferguson,
W.
S.,
Koch,
W.
C.,
Webster,
L.
B.,
and
Gould,
J.
R.
1977.
Human
physiological
response
and
adaptation
to
ammonia.
J.
Occup.
Med.
19:
319­
326.

Holness,
D.
L.,
Prudham,
J.
T.,
and
Nethercott,
J.
R.
1989.
Acute
and
chronic
respiratory
effects
of
occupational
exposure
to
ammonia.
Am.
Iond.
Hyg.
Assoc.
J.
50(
12):
646­
650.

National
Research
Council
(
NRC).
1979.
Ammonia.
Subcommittee
on
Ammonia.
Committee
on
Medical
and
Biologic
Effects
of
Environmental
Pollutants.
Division
of
Medical
Sciences,
Assembly
of
Life
Sciences.
National
Research
Council.
Baltimore:
University
Park
Press.
NTIS
No.
PB
278­
027.

OECD.
1997.
SIDS
Manual.
OECD
Secretariat,
3rd
Revision,
July
1997.

U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1985.
Ambient
Water
Quality
Criteria
for
Ammonia
 
1984.
Office
of
Water
Regulations
and
Standards,
Criteria
and
Standards
Division.
Washington,
D.
C.
EPA­
504/
5­
85­
006.

U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998.
1998
Update
of
Ambient
Water
Quality
Criteria
for
Ammonia.
Office
of
Water,
Washington,
D.
C.
EPA
822­
R­
98­
008.

World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva"
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.
x
USEPA.
1999.
Development
of
Chemical
Categories
in
the
HPV
Challenge
Program.
www.
epa.
gov/
chemrtk/
catdoc29.
pdf.
1
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
SIDS
PROFILE
DATE:
January
27,
2003
1.01
A.
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7
1.01
C.
CHEMICAL
NAME
(
OECD
Name)
Ammonia,
anhydrous
1.01
D.
CAS
DESCRIPTOR
Ammonia,
anhydrous
1.01
G.
STRUCTURAL
FORMULA
NH3
OTHER
CHEMICAL
IDENTITY
INFORMATION
NA
1.5
QUANTITY
More
than
1
million
tonnes
per
annum.
Over
18
million
ton
produced
in
US
in
2001.

1.7
USE
PATTERN
Most
of
the
ammonia
produced
in
the
USA
is
consumed
as
fertilizers
(
80%),
fibers
and
plastics
(
10%),
and
explosives
(
5%).
Ammonia
also
has
been
used
in
the
production
of
animal
feed
(
1.5%),
pulp
and
paper
(
0.6%)
and
rubber
(
0.5%).
It
is
also
used
in
cleaning
fluids,
scale­
removing
agents,
and
in
foods.

1.9
SOURCES
AND
LEVELS
OF
EXPOSURE
Manufactured
in
a
closed
system.
Can
be
released
from
urban,
agricultural,
and
industrial
sources
during
use.

Issues
for
discussion
(
identify,
if
any)
No
additional
testing
required.
2
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
SIDS
DATA
SUMMARY
Date:
January
27,
2003
CAS
NO.
7664­
41­
7
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
2.1
Melting
Point
Decomposition
­
78oC
2.2
Boiling
Point
­
33
°
C
at
1
atm
2.3
Density
0.696
g/
L
at
20oC
2.4
Vapour
Pressure
7,600
mm
Hg
at
25
°
C
2.5
Octanol/
Water
Partition
Coefficient
OECD
Guideline
107,
GLP
­
1.14
at
25
°
C
2.6A
Water
Solubility
510­
530
g/
L
at
20
°
C
2.6B
pH
and
pKa
values
pH:
10.6
in
0.01%
aqueous
solution
at
25oC
pKa:
9.25
at
25oC
2.8
Auto
Flammability
DIN
51
794
651oC
at
1
atm
2.9
Flammability
Non­
flammable
2.12
Oxidation:
Reduction
Potential
1.275
V
2.13A
Soil
Sorption
Reaction
cylinder
Sorbed
similar
to
first
order
reaction
2.13B
Henry's
Law
Constant
1.61
x
10­
5
atm*
m3/
mol
2.13B
Specific
Gravity
0.6818
at
­
33.35oC
and
1
atm
2.13B
Viscosity
0.00982
cP
at
20oC
2.13B
Critical
Temperature
132­
133oC
2.13B
Critical
Pressure
111
atm
2.13B
Critical
Density
0.2362
g/
ml
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
and
PATHWAY
3.1.1
Photodegradation
Undergoes
photolytic
degradation
3.1.2
Stability
in
Water
Field
study
in
Lake
St.
George,
Canada
Ke
=
25.6­
47.3
cm/
h
at
15.2­
25.0oC
Removed
from
aquatic
systems
3.1.3
Stability
in
Soil
Laboratory
soil
columns
Mean
sorptions:
sand:
19%
loam:
28%
clay,
clay
loam,
and
silt
loam:
38%
3.32
Distribution
Calculated,
Fugacity
Level
I
99.98%
to
air,
<.
1%
each
to
water,
soil,
biota,
and
sediment
3.5
Biodegradation
Rapidly
biodegraded
3.7
Bioaccumulation
Rapidly
assimilated
by
animals
and
plants
ECOTOXICITY
4.1
Acute
Toxicity
to
Fish
Many
species
Mostly
96­
hr
LC50
=
0.09
­
3.51
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
4.2
Acute
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
Daphnia
magna
48­
hr,
based
on
ASTM
E
729­
80
LC50
=
2.94
mg
unionized
NH3
­
N/
L
3
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
CAS
NO.
7664­
41­
7
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
4.3
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Plants
(
Algae)
Benthic
diatoms
Chlorella
vulgaris
Up
to
25
days,
monitored
for
growth
and
photosynthetic
rate
or
inhibition
21days,
monitored
for
growth
rate
and
photosynthesis
LOEC
=
0.5
 
1.0
mg
N/
L
LOEC
=
500
mg
N/
L
4.4
Toxicity
to
Bacteria
Photobacteriuim
phosphoreum
5­
min,
tested
for
bioluminescence
EC50
=
1.49
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
4.5.1
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Fish
Many
species
Varied
(
12
d­
5
yrs)
NOEC
=
0.025­
1.2
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
4.5.2
Chronic
Toxicity
to
Aquatic
Invertebrates
D.
magna
&
others
21
d­
76
weeks
NOEC
=
0.163
­
0.42
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
4.6.2
Toxicity
to
Terrestrial
Plants
Many
species
Varied
(
4
mins­
16
hrs)
LOEC
=
3­
250
ppm
4.6.3
Toxicity
to
Other
Non­
Mammalian
Terrestrial
Species
G.
domesticus
1
hr
injections
LD50
=
2.72
mM
TOXICITY
5.1.2
Acute
Inhalation
Toxicity
Rat,
mouse
1
hr.
LC50
=
4,230­
19,960
total
NH3/
m3
5.1.4
Acute
Toxicity,
Other
Routes
Rat,
mouse
1
hr.
intravenous
LC50
=
45.5
 
195.1
mg
total
NH3/
kg
bw
5.2.1
Skin
Irritation/
Corrosion
Corrosive
to
skin
5.2.2
Eye
Irritation
Corrosion
Subacute
and
chronic
exposure
to
200­
1,000
ppm
produced
eye
damage.
100­
200
ppm
produced
moderate
to
severe
eye
irritation.
5.4
Repeated
Dose
Toxicity
Rats,
guinea
pigs,
rabbits,
monkeys,
beagle
dogs
Inhalation,
up
to
770
mg/
m3
No
mortality
5.5
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vitro
.
Gene
mutation
Salmonella
typhimurium,
Saccharomyces,
E.
coli
Bacterial
gene
mutation
assay
Negative
.
Chromosomal
aberration
Chick
fibroblasts
Cytogenetic
assay
Induced
chromosomal
clumping,
polyploidy,
and
arrested
spindle
formation.
No
data
showing
that
ammonia
is
mutagenic
in
mammals.
5.6
Genetic
Toxicity
in
vivo
Drosophila
melanogaster
Drosophila
mutagenicity
test
No
evidence
for
mutagenicity
5.7
Carcinogenicity
All
No
carcinogenic
effects
5.8
Toxicity
to
Reproduction
Pig
One
generation
study
Temporarily
depressed
mean
daily
gain
(
MDG)
at
35
mg/
kg
in
gilts
5.11
Human
Experience
Inhalation;
human
volunteers
Nasal
and
pulmonary
irritation
at
concentrations
of
about
100
ppm
and
higher
4
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
CAS
NO.
7664­
41­
7
SPECIES
PROTOCOL
RESULTS
1.8
Occupational
Exposure
Limits
8
hr
TWA­
TLV
15
min
STEL­
TLV
50
ppm
(
35
mg/
m3)
35
ppm
(
27
mg/
m3)
5
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
1.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
1.01
SUBSTANCE
INFORMATION
*
A.
CAS
number
7664­
41­
7
B.
Name
(
IUPAC
name)
Ammonia,
anhydrous
*
C.
Name
(
OECD
name)
Ammonia,
anhydrous
*
D.
CAS
Descriptor
Ammonia,
anhydrous
(
where
applicable
for
complex
chemicals)

E.
EINECS­
Number
231­
635­
3
F.
Molecular
Formula
NH3
*
G.
Structural
Formula
NH3
H.
Substance
Group
Not
applicable
(
if
possible,
only
for
petroleum
products,
see
HEDSET
explanatory
note)

I.
Substance
Remark
Not
applicable
(
Indicate
the
substance
remark
as
prescribed
in
the
EINECS
Inventory,
if
possible)

J.
Molecular
Weight
17.030
1.02
OECD
INFORMATION
A.
Sponsor
Country:
Not
applicable
(
would
be
US)

B.
Lead
Organization:
Not
applicable
(
would
be
EPA)

C.
Name
of
responder
(
Information
on
a
responder
should
be
provided
when
companies
respond
to
Lead
Organisation
or
SIDS
Contact
Points.)

Name:
Mr.
James
Skillen,
Director,
Environmental
Programs
Address/
Phones:
The
Fertilizer
Institute
501
Second
Street,
N.
E.
Washington,
D.
C.
20002
USA
Tel:
(
202)
675­
8250
Fax:
(
202)
544­
8123
6
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
1.1
GENERAL
SUBSTANCE
INFORMATION
A.
Type
of
Substance
element
[
];
inorganic
[
X
];
natural
substance
[
];
organic
[
];
organometallic
[
];
petroleum
product
[
]

B.
Physical
State
(
at
20
°
C
and
1.013
hPa)

gaseous
[
X
];
liquid
[
];
solid
[
]
for
pure
substance
C.
Purity
(
indicate
the
percentage
by
weight/
weight)
100%

1.2
SYNONYMS
Ammonia
Anhydrous
ammonia
1.3
IMPURITIES
[
Indicate
CAS
No.,
chemical
name
(
IUPAC
name
is
preferable),
percentage,
if
possible
EINECS
number.]

CAS
No:
EINECS
No:
Name:
Value:
Remarks:
No
information
available
1.4
ADDITIVES
[
e.
g.
stabilising
agents,
inhibitors
etc.
Indicate
CAS
No.,
chemical
name
(
IUPAC
name
is
preferable),
percentage,
if
possible
EINECS
number),
the
component
of
the
UVCB
(
substance
with
no
defined
composition)
should
be
indicated
here.]

CAS
No:
EINECS
No:
Name:
Value:
None
Remarks:
No
additives
*
1.5
QUANTITY
[
Information
on
production
or
import
levels
should
be
provided
in
figures
or
ranges
(
e.
g.
1,000­
5,000,
5,000­
10,000
tonnes,
etc.)
per
responder
or
country
and
the
date
for
which
those
ranges
apply
should
be
given.
For
EU
Member
states,
only
indicate
the
EU
import
figure.
Give
an
7
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
estimation
of
the
global
production
quantity
in
the
remarks
field.
Information
on
the
number
of
producers
in
the
country
and
the
source
of
information
should
also
be
given
in
the
remarks
field.]

Remarks:
(
If
possible,
indicate
if
the
substance
was
produced
and/
or
imported
during
the
12
months
following
adoption
of
the
EU
regulation
on
existing
chemicals.)
(
1)
More
than
1
million
tonnes
per
annum.
(
2)
Over
18
million
tonnes
produced
in
the
US
in
2001.
Reference:
(
1)
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
(
2)
IFDC.
2002.
North
America
Fertilizer
Capacity.

*
1.6
QUANTITY
LABELING
AND
CLASSIFICATION
[
If
possible,
enter
information
on
labeling
and
classification,
such
as
labeling
and
classification
system,
existence
of
specific
limit,
symbols,
nota,
R­
Phrases
and
S­
Phrases
of
EC
Directive
67/
548/
EEC.
See
HEDSET
Explanatory
Note.]

Labeling
Type:
As
in
Directive
67/
548/
EEC
Specific
limits:
No
Symbols:
(
T)
Toxic
R­
phrases:
10
Flammable;
23
Toxic
by
inhalation.
S­
phrases:
1/
2
Keep
locked
up
and
out
of
reach
of
children.
7/
9
Keep
container
tightly
closed
and
in
a
well­
ventilated
place.
16
Keep
away
from
sources
of
ignition
­
No
smoking.
38
In
case
of
insufficient
ventilation,
wear
suitable
respiratory
equipment.
45
In
case
of
accident
or
if
you
feel
unwell,
seek
medical
advice
immediately
(
show
the
label
where
possible).
Remarks:
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

Classification
Type:
As
in
Directive
67/
548/
EEC.
Category
of
danger:
Toxic
R­
phrases:
10
Flammable;
23
Toxic
by
inhalation.
Remarks:
Dire
Directive
92/
32
of
April
30,
1992.
1992.
Official
Journal
of
the
European
Communities,
No.
L154
of
June
5,
1992.
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Landfair,
S.
W.,
Brown,
E.
L.,
Israel,
R.
J.,
and
Kreis,
P.
B.
1993.
The
EC's
seventh
amendment:
Fundamental
changes
in
the
regulation
of
chemical
substances
manufactured
and
imported
into
the
European
community.
International
Environmental
Reporter
0149­
8738/
93:
785­
790.

DOT
Labeling
8
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Hazard
Class:
2.2
Reportable
Quantity:
100
lbs.
Labels
Required:
Non­
flammable
gas
Placard:
Non­
flammable
gas
References:
J.
R.
Simplot
Company.
1999.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet:
Anhydrous
Ammonia.
M11004.
May,
1999.

NFPA
Rating
Health:
3
(
serious
hazard)
Fire:
1
(
slight
hazard)
Reactivity:
0
(
no
hazard)
Specific:
Not
applicable
References:
J.
R.
Simplot
Company.
1999.
Material
Safety
Data
Sheet:
Anhydrous
Ammonia.
M11004.
May,
1999.

*
1.7
USE
PATTERN
A.
General
[
Data
on
use
pattern
have
to
be
given
by
assigning
main
types
according
to
their
exposure
relevance
(
i.
e.
non­
dispersive
use,
use
in
closed
systems,
use
resulting
in
inclusion
into
or
onto
matrix
and
wide
dispersive
use),
industrial
categories
(
e.
g.
basic
chemical
industry,
chemical
industry,
agricultural
industry,
personal
and
domestic
use)
and
use
categories
such
as
colouring
agents,
intermediates,
solvents,
adhesives,
cleaning/
washing
agents,
fertilisers,
impregnation
agents,
surface­
active,
etc.
If
available,
give
an
estimation
of
different
uses
in
percentage
terms.]

Type
of
Use:
Category:

(
a)
main
Wide
dispersive
use
industrial
Agricultural
use
Fertilizers
(
b)
main
Non
dispersive
use
industrial
Chemical
use
See
remarks
Remarks:
Most
of
the
ammonia
produced
in
the
USA
is
consumed
as
fertilizers
(
80%),
fibers
and
plastics
(
10%),
and
explosives
(
5%).
Ammonia
also
has
been
used
in
the
production
of
animal
feed
(
1.5%),
pulp
and
paper
(
0.6%)
and
rubber
(
0.5%).
It
is
also
used
as
cleaning
fluids,
scale­
removing
agents,
and
in
food.
Reference:
Keyes,
W.
F.
1975.
Nitrogen.
In
Mineral
facts
and
problems.
Washington
DC:
US
Department
of
the
Interior.
Pp.
749­
760.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.
9
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
B.
Uses
in
Consumer
Products
[
If
the
chemical
is
present
in
consumer
products
as
marketed,
give
details
of
products'
function
(
e.
g.
detergent,
etc.),
and
percentage
in
product
and
physical
state
of
product
as
marketed
(
e.
g.
aerosol,
powder
or
liquid)]
Function
Amount
present
Physical
state
Household
cleaner
10%
Liquid
1.8
OCCUPATIONAL
EXPOSURE
LIMIT
VALUE
(
Indicate
the
type
of
occupational
exposure
limit
value
including
short­
term
exposure
limit
value.
If
a
value
does
not
exist,
give
the
hygiene
standard
of
the
producer
company
if
available.
See
also
5.11.)

Exposure
limit
value
Type:
8
hour
Time
Weighted
Average
Value:
50
ppm
(
35
mg/
m3)
Remarks:
OSHA
TWA­
TLV
Reference:
29
CFR
1910.1000.
June
1,
1998.
(
cited
in
HSDB
1999)

Short
term
exposure
limit
value
Value:
35
ppm
(
27
mg/
m3)
Length
of
exposure
period:
15
min.
Frequency:
44
times
Remarks:
ACGIH
TLV
Reference:
National
Institute
for
Occupational
Safety
and
Health
(
NIOSH).
1997.
NIOSH
Pocket
Guide
Chem.
Haz.
P.
359.
In
Hazardous
substances
Database
(
HSDB)
1999.
Ammonia.
National
Library
of
Medicine,
Bethesda,
MD.

*
1.9
SOURCES
OF
EXPOSURE
Describe
sources
of
potential
human
[
other
than
concentration
of
chemicals
in
the
workplace
and
indoor
environment
(
see
5.11)],
or
environmental
exposure,
including
emission
data
(
e.
g.
quantities
per
media
with
information
such
as
time
dimensions
of
release,
indication
of
type
of
release
(
e.
g.
point
source
or
diffuse),
type
of
estimating
(
e.
g.
average
or
worst
case),
uncertainties
in
estimation),
for
all
phases
of
the
life
cycle
of
the
chemical,
if
available,
including
manufacturing
and
user
areas.

For
environmental
exposure,
indicate
the
production
process
briefly,
number
of
sites
of
manufacture
and,
the
basis
for
concluding
that
the
process
is
"
closed"
if
applicable.

Also
an
indication
of
measured
exposure
levels
(
expressed
in
an
appropriate
form,
e.
g.
geometric
mean
and
standard
deviation)
can
be
mentioned
here.
Any
information
that
will
help
to
focus
the
assessment
of
exposure
(
either
quantitative
or
quantitative
in
nature)
can
be
mentioned,
if
available.)

(
a)
10
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
In
1996,
45,950
tons
of
ammonia
in
nitrogenous
fertilizers
were
reported
to
be
released
from
facilities
in
the
U.
S.
Each
year,
5.7
million
tons
of
ammonia
are
applied
in
the
United
States.
Depending
on
the
study,
the
emission
factor
varies
between
0.41
to
12
pounds
of
ammonia
per
ton
of
nitrogen
applied.
11
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Reference:
Baker,
J.
H.
et
al.
1959.
Determination
of
application
losses
of
anhydrous
ammonia.
Agronomy
Journal
51:
361­
362.
In
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998b.
Emission
Factor
Documentation
for
AP­
42
Section
9.2.1.
Draft.
Research
Triangle
Park:
Office
of
Air
Quality
Planning
and
Standards.
Denmead,
O.
T.
et
al.
1982.
Atmospheric
dispersion
of
ammonia
during
application
of
anhydrous
ammonia
fertilizer.
J.
Environ.
Qual.
11(
4):
568­
572.
In
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998a.
AP­
42.
Draft.
Vol.
1.
5th
ed.
Research
Triangle
Park:
Office
of
Air
Quality
Planning
and
Standards.
Denmead,
O.
T.
et
al.
1977.
A
direct
field
measurement
of
ammonia
emission
after
injection
of
anhydrous
ammonia.
Soil
Sci.
Amer.
J.
41:
1001­
1004.
In
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998a.
AP­
42.
Draft.
Vol.
1.
5th
ed.
Research
Triangle
Park:
Office
of
Air
Quality
Planning
and
Standards.
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998a.
AP­
42.
Draft.
Vol.
1.
5th
ed.
Research
Triangle
Park:
Office
of
Air
Quality
Planning
and
Standards.
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998b.
Emission
Factor
Documentation
for
AP­
42
Section
9.2.1.
Draft.
Research
(
b)
Remarks:
Ammonia
is
manufactured
by
catalytically
reacting
desulfurized
natural
gas
with
steam
to
form
a
hydrogen
rich
gas.
Nitrogen
is
then
added
in
the
form
of
air.
The
gas
is
purified
by
removing
carbon
oxides
and
water.
It
is
converted
into
ammonia
in
a
synthesis
reactor
at
high
pressure.
The
production
of
ammonia
is
a
closed
process.
The
process
is
classified
as
closed
because
in
a
welldesigned
operated,
and
maintained
plant
the
probability
of
an
ammonia
leak
of
hazardous
proportions
is
extremely
small.
Ammonia
is
released
into
the
atmosphere
through
agricultural,
waste­
disposal,
and
industrial
activities.
It
is
estimated
that
3.4
million
tonnes
of
ammonia
emitted
in
the
U.
S.
are
from
animal
manure,
285,000
tonnes
from
fertilizer
volatilization,
111,000
tonnes
from
industrial
activities,
and
800
tonnes
from
other
sources.
Canada
estimates
131,000
tonnes
of
ammonia
were
released
in
1995
from
fertilizer
application.

The
major
point
sources
discharging
ammonia
into
surface
waters
include
sewage
treatment
plants,
plants
producing
fertilizers,
steel,
petroleum,
leather,
inorganic
chemicals,
non­
ferrous
metals,
and
ferroalloys,
and
meat
processing
12
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
plants.
Together,
these
industries
are
estimated
to
discharge
5.6
x
105
tonnes
of
ammonia
annually
in
the
U.
S.
This
is
less
than
5%
of
the
total
ammonia
discharged
into
surface
waters.
Greater
than
95%
of
releases
to
surface
water
come
from
publicly
owned
sewage
treatment
plants.
The
fertilizer
industry
releases
about
6000
tonnes
of
NH3
­
N
per
year
in
the
U.
S.
Non­
point
sources
of
ammonia
in
surface
waters
include
runoff
from
urban,
agricultural,
silvicultural,
or
mined
lands.

Reference:
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1981.
Multimedia
Health
Assessment
Document
on
Ammonia.
Cincinnati,
OH:
Environmental
Criteria
and
Assessment
Office.
ECAO/
82­
D010.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
­
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.
Canadian
Fertilizer
Institute
(
CFI).
1996.
1995
Emissions
inventory,
update.
Ottawa.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore
D.
1996.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Fenn,
L.
and
Hossner,
L.
1985.
Ammonia
volatilization
from
ammonia
or
ammonium
forming
nitrogen
fertilizers.
In
Advances
in
Soil
Science.
Vol.
I.
New
York:
Springer
Verlag.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act.,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Vezina,
C.
1997.
National
Ammonia
Inventory.
Draft.
Ottawa:
Environment
Canada,
Pollution
Data
Branch.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
13
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
1.10
ADDITIONAL
REMARKS
A.
Options
for
disposal
[
Mode
of
disposal
(
e.
g.
incineration,
release
to
sewage
system,
etc.)
for
each
category
and
type
of
use,
if
appropriate;
recycling
possibility]

Remarks:
Waste
must
be
disposed
of
in
accordance
with
federal,
state,
and
local
environmental
control
regulations.

B.
Other
remarks
Remarks:
None
14
Ammonia
(
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No.
7664­
41­
7)
2.
PHYSICAL­
CHEMICAL
DATA
*
2.1
MELTING
POINT
Value:
­
77.7
°
C;
­
78
°
C
Decomposition:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
Ambiguous
[
]
Sublimation:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
Ambiguous
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94).
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

*
2.2
BOILING
POINT
Value:
­
33.4
°
C,
­
33.3oC
Pressure:
1
atm
Decomposition:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
Ambiguous
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94).
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
1990.
Handbook
of
Compressed
Gases.
3rd
ed.
Pp.
259­
260.
In
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
1999.
American
National
Standard
Safety
Requirements
for
the
Storage
and
Handling
of
Anhydrous
Ammonia.
5th
ed.
Arlington:
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
*
2.3
DENSITY
(
a)
Type:
Bulk
density
[
X];
Density
[
];
Relative
Density
[
]
Value:
0.771
g/
mL;
0.617
g/
mL;
0.683
g/
mL;
0.628
g/
mL
Temperature:
0
°
C;
15.6
°
C;
­
33.3
°
C;
­
33.3
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
15
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94).
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

(
b)
Type:
Bulk
density
[
];
Density
[
X];
Relative
Density
[
]
Value:
0.696
g/
L
Temperature:
20
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
Lide,
D.
R.
(
ed.).
1999.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
80th
Edition.
Boston:
CRC
Press.

*
2.4
VAPOUR
PRESSURE
Value:
8.5
atm
(
6460
mm
Hg);
10
atm
(
7600
mm
Hg);
786.7
kPa
(
5900
mm
Hg)
Temperature:
20
°
C;
25
°
C;
­
33.3oC
Method:
Calculated
[
];
Measured
[
]
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
Anhydrous
ammonia
is
a
gas.
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94).
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Clement
Associates
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
DC:
The
Fertilizer
Institute.
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
1990.
Handbook
of
Compressed
Gases.
3rd
ed.
Pp.
259­
260.
In
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
1999.
American
National
Standard
Safety
Requirements
for
the
Storage
and
Handling
of
Anhydrous
Ammonia.
5th
ed.
Arlington:
Compressed
Gas
Association,
Inc.
16
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
*
2.5
OCTANOL
WATER
PARTITION
COEFFICIENT
log
10Pow
(
a)
Log
Pow:
­
1.14
Temperature:
25
°
C
Method:
OECD
Guideline
107
"
Partition
Coefficient
(
noctanol
water),
Flask­
shaking
Method"
GLP:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Reference:
BASF
AG,
Abteilung
Analytik;
unveroeffentlichte
Untersuchung
(
BRU
92.004).
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

*
2.6
WATER
SOLUBILITY
A.
Solubility
(
a)
Value:
89.5
g/
100
g
water
(
895
g/
L);
89.9
g/
100
g
water
(
899
g/
L);
53.1
g/
100
g
water
(
531
g/
L);
51
g/
100
g
water
(
510
g/
L);
44.4
g/
100
g
water
(
444
g/
L);
7.4
g/
100
g
water
(
74
g/
L)
Temperature:
0
°
C;
0
°
C;
20
°
C;
20
°
C;
28
°
C;
100
°
C
Description:
Miscible
[
];
Of
very
high
solubility
[
];
Of
high
solubility
[
X];
Soluble
[
];
Slightly
soluble
[
];
Of
low
solubility
[
];
Of
very
low
solubility
[
];
Not
soluble
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94)
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
Verschueren,
K.
1996.
Handbook
of
Environmental
Data
and
Organic
Chemicals.
New
York:
John
Wiley
&
Sons,
Inc.
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

(
b)
Value:
See
remarks
Temperature:
3.6
 
23.6oC
Method:
The
technique
consisted
of
monitoring
ammonia
concentrations
in
a
gas
stream
that
was
equilibrated
with
ammonia
by
intimate
contact
with
an
aqueous
solution
of
known
concentration.
The
contacting
device
used
for
this
purpose
was
a
specifically
fabricated
Pyrex
solubility
cell.
The
cell
was
designed
to
accommodate
a
gas­
flow
rate
of
approximately
400
mL/
min.
To
17
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
remove
contaminating
carbon
dioxide,
the
deionized
water
was
boiled.
Solutions
were
prepared
using
reagent
grade
ammonium
hydroxide.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
This
paper
examined
the
phenomenon
that
measured
concentrations
in
water
are
usually
orders
of
magnitude
lower
than
those
calculated
on
the
basis
of
solubility
theory.
These
results
demonstrate
that
existing
solubility
theory,
which
presumes
dissolution
to
occur
via
an
interphase
transport
step
plus
a
dissociation
of
aqueous­
phase
ammonia
to
form
ammonium
ion,
provides
an
adequate
description
of
the
true
behavior
at
environmental
concentrations
whenever
pure
water
or
pure
water
plus
strong
acid
is
utilized
as
a
solvent.
Reference:
Hales,
J.
M.
and
Drewes,
D.
R.
1979.
Solubility
of
ammonia
in
water
at
low
concentrations.
Atmos.
Environ.
13:
1133­
1147.

B.
pH
Value,
pKa
Value
(
a)
pH
Value:
10.6;
11.1;
11.6
pKa
Value:
9.25
Concentration:
0.01%;
0.1%;
1.0%
aqueous
solution
Temperature:
25
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
References:
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.
Lide,
D.
R.
(
ed.).
1999.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
80th
Edition.
Boston:
CRC
Press.

(
b)
Type:
Animal
[
X];
Aquatic
[
];
Plant
[
];
Terrestrial
[
];
Other
[
]
Results:
The
pK'
value
for
ammonia
in
distilled
water
was
9.505
at
15
°
C.
At
an
added
NaCl
concentration
of
500
mM,
the
pK'
rose
to
9.677.
Reference:
Cameron,
J.
N.
and
Heisler,
N.
1983.
Studies
of
ammonia
in
the
rainbow
trout:
physico­
chemical
parameters,
acid­
base
behaviour
and
respiratory
clearance.
J.
Exp.
Biol.
105:
107­
125.

2.7
FLASH
POINT
Value:
Not
applicable
18
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
19
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
2.8
AUTO
FLAMMABILITY
Value:
651
°
C
Pressure:
1
atm
Method:
DIN
51
794
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
BASF
AG,
Sicherheitsdatenblatt
Ammoniak
fluessig
(
27.04.94
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

2.9
FLAMMABILITY
Results:
Extremely
flammable
[
];
Extremely
flammable
 
liquified
gas
[
];
Highly
flammable
[
];
Flammable
[
];
Non­
flammable
[
X];
Spontaneously
flammable
in
air
[
];
Contact
with
water
liberates
highly
flammable
gases
[
];
Other
[
]
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.

2.10
EXPLOSIVE
PROPERTIES
Remarks:
No
data
available
2.11
OXIDIZING
PROPERTIES
Remarks:
No
known
oxidizing
properties
*
2.12
OXIDATION:
REDUCTION
POTENTIAL
Remarks:
Ammonium
is
a
strong
reducing
agent.
Reference:
Lide,
D.
R.
(
ed.).
1999.
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
80th
Edition.
Boston:
CRC
Press.

2.13
ADDITIONAL
DATA
A.
Sorption
through
soil
surface
boundaries
20
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Method:
Fifty
grams
of
air­
dried
soil
were
placed
in
the
reaction
cylinder
and
moistened
with
10
mL
of
water.
A
measured
increment
of
ammonia
(
1.3
 
1.9
mg
NH3­
N/
cm2
of
surface
area)
was
introduced
in
the
reaction
system
and
pressure
readings
were
taken
at
regular
intervals.
The
amount
of
NH3
sorbed
was
calculated
from
the
volume
of
the
apparatus
and
the
changes
in
pressure.
Samples
of
Lakeland
fine
sand,
Alamance
silt
loam,
Cecil
clay,
Cecil
fine
sandy
loam,
and
Invershiel
clay
loam
were
used.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Results:
Under
the
conditions
of
the
experiment,
the
data
indicate
that
ammonia
was
sorbed
by
the
various
soils
in
a
manner
similar
to
a
first
order
reaction.
Remarks:
The
tendency
for
the
sorption
isotherms
to
follow
patterns
of
first
order
reactions
suggested
that
diffusion
to
the
soil
surface
was
perhaps
the
chief
factor
in
limiting
sorption
and
that
the
soil
did
not
become
saturated
by
the
ammonia
introduced.
In
general,
clay
soils
sorb
more
efficiently
than
sandy
soils,
soils
with
low
pH
more
efficiently
than
those
with
high
pH,
and
soils
with
high
organic
matter
content
were
less
efficient
than
mineral
soils
with
similar
cationexchange
capacities.
Reference:
Coffee,
R.
C.
and
Bartholomew,
W.
V.
1964.
Some
aspects
of
ammonia
sorption
by
soil
surfaces.
Soil
Sci.
Soc.
Proc.
28:
485­
490.

B.
Other
Remarks
(
a)
Henry's
Law
constant
Value:
1.61E­
5
atm*
m3/
mol
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
Betterton,
E.
A.
1992.
Pp.
1­
50.
In
Nriagu,
J.
O.
(
ed.).
Gaseous
Pollutants:
Characterization
and
Cycling.
New
York:
John
Wiley
&
Sons,
Inc.
Pp.
1­
50.

(
b)
Specific
gravity
Value:
0.6818;
0.6386;
0.6175;
0.5875;
Temperature:
­
33.35
°
C;
0
°
C;
15
°
C;
35
°
C
Pressure:
1
atm;
4.238
atm;
7.188
atm;
13.321
atm
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
21
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
Values
are
density
of
aqueous
solutions.
References:
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.
22
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
c)
Viscosity
Value:
0.475
cP;
0.317
cP;
0.276
cP;
0.255
cP;
0.00982
cP
Temperature:
­
69
°
C;
­
50
°
C;
­
40
°
C;
­
33.5
°
C;
20
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
Lide,
D.
R.
(
ed.).
CRC
Handbook
of
Chemistry
and
Physics.
1990.
Boston:
CRC
Press.
Clement
Associates
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
DC:
The
Fertilizer
Institute.

(
d)
Critical
temperature
Value:
132.8
°
C;
132.4
°
C
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
Defined
as
the
temperature
above
which
a
particular
gas
cannot
be
converted
into
a
liquid
by
pressure
alone.
References:
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.
Clement
Associates
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
DC:
The
Fertilizer
Institute.

(
e)
Critical
pressure
Value:
111
atm
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Remarks:
Defined
as
the
minimum
pressure
necessary
to
liquify
a
gas
that
is
at
its
critical
temperature.
References:
Budavari,
S.
(
ed.).
1996.
Merck
Index.
12th
ed.
Whitehouse
Station:
Merck
Research
Laboratories.
Clement
Associates
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
DC:
The
Fertilizer
Institute.
(
f)
Critical
density
Value:
0.235
g/
mL
Method:
Not
specified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
References:
Clement
Associates
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
DC:
The
Fertilizer
Institute.
23
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
3.
ENVIRONMENTAL
FATE
AND
PATHWAYS
3.1
STABILITY
*
3.1.1
PHOTODEGRADATION
Type:
Air
[
X];
Water
[
];
Soil
[
];
Other
[
]
Remarks:
Ammonia
reacts
with
ozone,
hydroxyl
radical,
and
atomic
oxygen.
Oxidation
by
ozone
is
a
first
order
reaction
with
respect
to
the
concentration
of
ammonia
and
is
catalyzed
by
hydroxide
ion
over
the
pH
range
7­
9.
Ammonia
and
ozone
react
to
produce
ammonium
nitrate
aerosols.
Photolytic
degradation
and
reaction
with
photolytically
produced
hydroxyl
radicals
( 
OH)
in
the
troposphere
are
major
pathways
for
the
removal
of
atmospheric
ammonia.
Some
of
the
ammonium
in
the
atmosphere
is
oxidized
to
oxides
of
the
nitrogen
and
nitrate
ion,
which
represents
a
significant
contribution
to
the
total
acidity
of
rainfall.
Various
ammonium
surface
complexes
may
also
be
formed
by
the
heterogeneous
reaction
of
atmospheric
ammonia
with
nitric
oxide­
soot
surfaces
in
the
atmosphere.
There
are
two
primary
photochemical
reactions
that
destroy
ammonia
in
the
atmosphere.
Ammonia
may
be
photolytically
dissociated
at
wavelengths
<
2,200
Å
resulting
in
the
production
of
amino
and
ammonia
radicals.
The
second
is
a
thermal
anhydrous
reaction
between
ammonia
and
sulfur
dioxide
resulting
in
the
formation
of
ammonium
sulfate
aerosols.
References:
National
Research
Council
(
NRC).
1979.
Ammonia.
Subcommittee
on
Ammonia.
Committee
on
Medical
and
Biologic
Effects
of
Environmental
Pollutants.
Division
of
Medical
Sciences,
Assembly
of
Life
Sciences.
National
Research
Council.
Baltimore:
University
Park
Press.
NTIS
No.
PB
278­
027.
Verschueren,
K.
1996.
Handbook
of
Environmental
Data
and
Organic
Chemicals.
New
York:
John
Wiley
&
Sons,
Inc.
p.
195.
Environment
Canada.
1984.
Technical
Information
for
Problem
Spills:
Ammonia.
Ottawa,
Ontario:
Environmental
Protection
Services,
Technical
Services
Branch.
p.
93.
24
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
*
3.1.2
STABILITY
IN
WATER
(
a)
Type:
Abiotic
(
hydrolysis)
[
X]
Remarks:
Ammonia
levels
in
water
are
influenced
by
nitrification
and
denitrification,
among
other
processes.
Ammonia
is
also
assimilated
by
aquatic
algae
and
macrophytes
for
use
as
a
nitrogen
source.
Ammonia
in
water
may
be
transferred
to
sediments
by
adsorption
on
particulates,
or
to
the
atmosphere
by
volatilization
at
the
air­
water
interface.
Other
natural
processes
also
remove
ammonia
from
aquatic
systems.
Adsorption
of
ammonia
to
particles
of
suspended
matter,
which
subsequently
settle,
is
a
potential
mechanism
of
removal.
Under
acidic
conditions
(
pH
<
5),
nitrite
decomposes
to
form
oxides
of
nitrogen,
and
reacts
with
ammonia
to
produce
molecular
nitrogen.
References:
Ecological
Analysts.
1981.
The
Sources,
Chemistry,
Fate,
and
Effects
of
Ammonia
in
Aquatic
Environments.
Washington
DC:
American
Petroleum
Institute.
Hutchinson,
G.
L.
and
Viets,
F.
G.,
Jr.
1969.
Nitrogen
enrichment
of
surface
water
by
absorption
of
ammonia
volatilized
from
cattle
feedlots.
Science
166:
514­
515.
Keeney,
D.
R.
1972.
The
Fate
of
Nitrogen
in
Aquatic
Ecosystems.
Literature
Review
No.
3
Madison:
University
of
Wisconsin
Water
Resources
Center.

(
b)
Type:
Abiotic
(
loss
from
water
to
atmosphere)
Results:
Ke
was
found
to
be
a
linear
function
of
wind
speed
and
temperature.
Field
results
were
more
variable
than
the
wind
tunnel
studies.
Exchange:
47.3
cm/
h
at
24.2­
25.0
°
C;
25.6
cm/
h
at
22.1­
23.0
°
C;
49.0
cm/
h
at
17.5­
19.0
°
C;
37.2
cm/
h
at
15.2­
17.0
°
C
Method:
Field
experiments
were
done
in
Lake
St.
George
near
Maple,
Canada
in
a
minicorral
81
cm
in
diameter.
A
second
experimental
enclosure
was
a
rectangular
plastic
container
54x35x25
cm
deep.
The
experiments
were
run
using
borax
or
carbonate­
bicarbonate
buffer
solutions.
Sufficient
NH4Cl
was
added
to
the
buffer
solutions
at
the
start
of
each
run
to
bring
the
starting
concentration
within
the
range
of
800­
1,000
mg
N/
m3.
In
addition,
a
small
wind
tunnel
(
125
x
15
x
30.5
cm),
modified
to
sit
over
a
27.5
x
27.5
x
15.0
cm
deep
basin
of
water,
was
used
to
measure
loss
of
ammonia
from
water
to
the
atmosphere.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ambient
ammonia
concentrations
25
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
The
exchange
coefficient
(
Ke)
is
a
measure
of
the
total
resistance
to
ammonia
transfer
expressed
on
a
liquid
phase
basis.
It
is
likely
that
ammonia
transfer
from
water
to
air
is
controlled
by
gas
phase
resistance.
Reference:
Weiler,
R.
R.
1979.
Rate
of
loss
of
ammonia
from
water
to
the
atmosphere.
J.
Fish
Res.
Board
Can.
36:
685­
689.

3.1.3
STABILITY
IN
SOIL
(
a)
Type:
Field
trial
[
];
Laboratory
[
X
];
Other
[
]
Radiolabel:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Soil
classification:
DIN19863
[
];
NF
X31­
107
[
];
USDA
[
X];
Other
[
]
Method:
A
gas
metering
system
attached
to
a
reaction
chamber
was
used
to
measure
the
depths
to
which
ammonia
diffused
in
17
different
soils.
Sectional
columns
were
filled
with
soil,
which
was
brought
to
field
capacity
by
dripping
water
on
the
surface.
Each
soil
column
was
exposed
to
a
series
of
ammonia
pressure­
time
of
contact
combinations.
All
determinations
were
made
in
duplicate.
After
treatment,
the
soil
was
extracted
with
10%
NaCl
solution
adjusted
to
pH
3.0.
To
evaluate
the
relative
capacities
of
soil
surfaces
to
sorb
and
retain
ammonia,
the
retention
of
ammonia
by
a
number
of
soil
surfaces
was
compared
with
sulfuric
acid.
Two­
hundred
grams
of
soil
at
the
field
moisture
capacity
were
used
for
each
experiment.
In
each
case
100
mL
of
ammonia
was
used.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Remarks:
The
largest
quantity
of
sorbed
ammonia
was
always
found
in
the
surface
layer,
4
mm
thick.
The
amount
of
ammonia
sorbed
in
each
instance
was
related
to
the
amount
or
to
the
partial
pressure
of
ammonia
above
the
soil
surface.
The
depth
of
diffusion
of
ammonia
into
the
soil
was
a
function
of
both
the
period
of
exposure
and
the
quantity
of
ammonia
added.
Distribution
data
suggest
that
ammonia
probably
penetrated
to
depths
greater
than
12
mm
in
some
soil
exposed
for
24
hours.
Soils
retained
ammonia
from
additions
near
the
soil
more
than
from
additions
near
the
sorbing
pad.
Soils
with
light
textures
sorbed
and
retained
less
ammonia
than
others.
Sand
and
loam
had
mean
sorptions
of
19%
and
28%
of
the
NH3
added,
respectively.
Soils
in
the
categories
of
clay,
clay
loam,
and
silt
loam
sorbed
an
average
of
38%
of
the
NH3
added.
Reference:
Coffee,
R.
C.
and
Bartholomew,
W.
V.
1964.
Some
aspects
of
ammonia
sorption
by
soil
surfaces.
Soil
Sci.
Soc.
Proc.
28:
485­
490.
26
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
27
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
b)
Type:
Field
trial
[
];
Laboratory
[
];
Other
[
X]
Remarks:
Ammonia
levels
in
soil
are
influenced
by
mineralization.
The
mineralization
of
nitrogen
from
decomposing
material
begins
with
the
release
of
ammonium
by
heterotrophic
microbes.
Subsequently,
the
concentration
of
ammonium
is
affected
by
plant
uptake,
microbe
immobilization,
and
fixation
in
clay
minerals.
Ammonia
is
strongly
adsorbed
on
soil,
and
on
sediment
particles
and
colloids
in
water.
This
adsorption
results
in
high
concentrations
of
sorbed
ammonia
in
oxidized
sediments.
Under
anoxic
conditions,
the
adsorptive
capacity
of
sediments
is
less,
resulting
in
the
release
of
ammonia
to
either
the
water
column
or
an
oxidized
sediment
layer
above.
In
clay,
ammonium
tends
to
be
absorbed
on
the
negative
adsorption
sites
of
clay
colloids.
It
may
substitute
for
potassium
in
the
lattice
structure
of
a
clay
mineral.
Ammonia
may
be
lost
from
soils
by
volatilization.
However,
the
most
likely
fate
of
ammonium
ions
in
soils
is
conversion
to
nitrate
by
nitrification.
References:
Environment
Canada.
1984.
Technical
Information
for
Problem
Spills:
Ammonia.
Ottawa,
Ontario:
Environmental
Protection
Service,
Technical
Services
Branch.
p.
94.
Schlesinger,
W.
H.
1991.
Biogeochemistry:
An
Analysis
of
Global
Change.
New
York:
Academic
Press.
Wallingford,
G.
W.
1977.
Fate
of
nitrogen
from
fertilizer
practices.
In
Disposal
of
residues
on
land.
Rockville:
Information
Transfer,
Inc.
Pp.
152­
155.
Walsh,
L.
M.
1977.
Updating
the
nitrogen
cycle.
In
Disposal
of
residues
on
land.
Rockville:
Information
Transfer,
Inc.
Pp.
146­
151.

*
3.2
MONITORING
DATA
(
ENVIRONMENTAL)

(
a)
Media:
Air
Remarks:
Atmospheric
levels
of
ammonia
in
urban
areas
around
the
world
are
on
average
about
20
 g/
m3.
Non­
urban
sites
have
average
levels
of
4­
5
 g/
m3.
Areas
close
to
point
sources
(
e.
g.,
large
animal
feedlots
or
industrial
sites)
may
have
local
atmospheric
concentrations
exceeding
200
 g/
m3.
Reference:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
(
b)
Media:
Soil
28
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
Limited
data
are
available
on
the
concentrations
of
ammonia
in
soil.
In
general,
natural
levels
in
soil
are
low
(<
1
mg/
kg)
because
of
the
rapid
conversion
of
ammonia
to
nitrite
and
nitrate
by
Nitrosomonas
and
Nitrobacter,
respectively.
Several
studies
have
been
conducted
to
measure
conditions
in
the
injection
zone
following
the
field
application
of
anhydrous
ammonia
(
see
p.
104
of
cited
reference).
These
studies
commonly
show
in
excess
of
1000
mg/
L
of
ammonia
nitrogen
and
a
pH
more
than
9.0
in
the
center
of
the
injection
zone.
These
effects
rapidly
decrease
as
the
distance
from
the
injection
point
increases,
e.
g.,
at
7
cm
the
ammonium
concentration
and
pH
levels
are
not
usually
above
background.
Reference:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada
(
c)
Media:
Groundwater
Remarks:
Ammonia
contamination
of
groundwater
is
not
an
issue
as
it
is
readily
converted
to
positively
charged
ammonium
ions
that
bind
tightly
to
negatively
charged
cation
exchange
sites
in
the
soil.
Reference:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada
(
d)
Media:
Surface
water
Remarks:
Natural
waters
typically
contain
ammonia
and
ammonia
compounds
in
concentrations
below
0.1
mg/
L
(
as
nitrogen).
Environmental
concentrations
for
total
ammonia
in
Canadian
surface
waters
range
from
<
0.001
mg/
L
to
2.00
mg/
L.
Extensive
elaboration
of
these
data
is
found
in
the
cited
reference.
Reference:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLeron,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada
*
3.3
TRANSPORT
AND
DISTRIBUTION
BETWEEN
ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPARTMENTS
INCLUDING
ESTIMATED
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCENTRATIONS
AND
DISTRIBUTION
PATHWAYS
3.3.1
TRANSPORT
29
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
The
primary
methods
of
transport
in
the
atmosphere
are
via
vertical
and
horizontal
diffusion.
Some
of
the
variables
that
influence
the
range
of
diffusion
of
atmospheric
ammonia
are
wind
speed,
atmospheric
stability,
deposition
velocity,
and
transformation
rate.
Ammonia
concentrations
rapidly
decrease
with
increasing
height
and
distance
from
the
emission
source.
For
example,
200­
500
m
from
the
application
of
fertilizer
there
has
been
reported
a
50­
75%
reduction
in
ammonia
concentration.
In
agricultural
lands,
a
38%
reduction
in
ammonia
concentration
500
m
from
the
source
and
a
75­
100%
reduction
4000
m
from
the
source
has
been
reported.
In
addition,
percent
reduction
of
ammonia
concentration
may
vary
depending
on
the
season
and
the
time
of
day.
Ammonia
concentrations
in
the
atmosphere
decrease
quickly
with
increasing
distance
from
the
source
because
of
the
rapid
conversion
of
ammonia
to
ammonium
aerosols
and
the
high
dry
deposition
velocity
of
ammonia.
References:
Asman,
W.
A.
and
Janssen,
A.
J.
1987.
A
long­
range
transport
model
for
ammonia
and
ammonium
for
Europe.
Atmos.
Environ.
21(
10).
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Asman,
W.
A.,
Pinksterboer,
E.
F.,
Mass,
H.
F.,
Erisman,
J.
W.,
Waijers­
Ypelaan,
A.,
Slanina,
J.,
and
Horst,
T.
W.
1989.
Gradients
of
the
ammonia
concentration
in
a
nature
reserve:
Model
results
and
measurements.
Atmos.
Environ.
23(
10):
2259.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.,
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.,
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Denmead,
O.
T.
et
al.
1982.
Atmospheric
dispersion
of
ammonia
during
application
of
anhydrous
ammonia
fertilizer.
J.
Environ.
Qual.
11(
4):
568­
572.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
30
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.

3.3.2
THEORETICAL
DISTRIBUTION
(
FUGACITY
CALCULATION)

Media:
Air­
biota
[
];
Air­
biota­
sediment­
soil­
water
[
X];
Soil­
biota
[
];
Water­
air
[
];
Water­
biota
[
];
Water­
soil
[
];
Other
[
X]
Method:
Fugacity
level
I
[
X];
Fugacity
level
II
[
];
Fugacity
level
III
[
];
Fugacity
Level
IV
[
];
Other
(
calculation)
[
];
Other
(
measurement)
[
]
Mackay
Fugacity
Calculation
Results:
99.98%
to
Air
<
0.1%
each
to
water,
soil,
biota,
sediment
Remarks:
Input
values
for
the
environmental
parameters
were
as
follows:
water
solubility
520,000
g/
m3;
vapor
pressure
1,000,000
Pa;
log
Kow
0.23;
melting
point
­
78oC.
Reference:
Mackay,
D.,
Shiu,
W.
Y.,
and
Ma,
K.
C.
1994.
Level
I,
II
and
III
Fugacity
Calculations
for
The
Illustrated
Handbook
for
Physical­
chemical
Properties
and
Environmental
Fate
for
Organic
Chemicals.
New
York:
CRC
Press.

3.4
IDENTIFICATION
OF
MAIN
MODE
OF
DEGRADABILITY
IN
ACTUAL
USE
Remarks:
Ammonia
and
ammonium
compounds
are
used
primarily
as
fertilizers.
Ammonia
gas
is
injected
directly
into
the
soil.
Ammonium
nitrate,
carbonate,
phosphate
and
other
salts
or
combinations
may
be
applied
to
soils
in
liquid
solutions.
Ammonia
gas
used
as
a
fertilizer
is
not
likely
to
be
a
toxicologic
hazard
because
it
is
stored
in
tanks
and
injected
directly
into
the
soil,
from
which
little
escapes.
Ammonium
compounds
used
as
fertilizers
are
a
toxicologic
hazard
when
livestock
have
access
to
residues
or
pools
of
solution
on
a
pasture.
In
this
regard,
ammonium
nitrate
is
probably
the
greatest
cause
for
concern,
not
because
of
its
capability
of
producing
ammonia
toxicity,
but
because
it
can
easily
produce
nitrate
poisoning.
The
feeding
of
nonprotein
nitrogen
supplements
can
cause
a
form
of
ammonia
poisoning
in
ruminants
in
which
clinical
signs
relate
mainly
to
the
gastrointestinal
tract.
Toxic
concentrations
of
ammonia
can
be
liberated
from
decomposing
manure
that
is
confined
to
slurry
pit
or
chicken
house.
Animal
or
birds
confined
to
the
same
area
may
then
inhale
the
gas.
Reference:
Booth,
N.
H.
and
McDonald,
L.
E.
1982.
Veterinary
Pharmacology
and
Therapeutics.
5th
edition.
Pp.
938­
939.
31
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
*
3.5.
BIODEGRADATION
Type:
Aerobic
[
X];
Anaerobic
[
]
Remarks:
When
ammonia
appears
in
water
under
the
normal
conditions
(
aerobic),
it
is
rapidly
converted
to
nitrate
by
nitrification.
The
pH
in
water
is
increased
by
the
presence
of
ammonia
ion,
in
the
form
of
hydroxide
ions.
Bacteria
convert
the
ammonia
to
nitrate
creating
an
oxygen
demand
(
BOD)
several
days
after
the
introduction
of
ammonia.
The
bacteria
that
oxidize
ammonia
to
nitrate
are
largely
of
the
genus
Nitrosomonas.
Conversion
of
nitrite
to
nitrate
is
carried
out
primarily
by
the
genus
Nitrobacter.
Temperature,
oxygen
supply,
and
pH
of
the
water
are
factors
in
determining
the
rate
of
oxidation.
At
high
levels
of
total
ammonia
and
a
high
pH,
resulting
concentrations
of
free
ammonia
are
toxic
to
both
nitrifying
forms
of
bacteria,
but
especially
to
nitrobacters,
occasionally
leading
to
the
accumulation
of
nitrite.
As
a
result
of
aerobic
degradation
processes,
ammonia
is
the
first
inorganic
nitrogenous
compound
to
be
released
from
organic
matter
together
with
amines,
which
are
rapidly
converted
to
ammonia.
Biological
degradation
of
dead
organisms
or
their
nitrogenous
wastes
returns
ammonia
to
the
environment
through
ammonification.
This
ammonia
may
be
either
recycled
directly
through
subsequent
assimilation
or
biologically
oxidized
to
nitrite
and
nitrate
in
the
process
of
nitrification.
Ionization
in
the
atmosphere
provides
a
small
input
of
nitrogen
compounds
to
the
biologic
system,
but
most
comes
from
nitrogen
fixation.
Nitrogen
fixation
requires
strongly
reducing
conditions.
Organisms
such
as
the
genus
Azotobacter
have
a
high
metabolic
rate
and
reduce
the
availability
of
oxygen.
These
anaerobic
conditions
encourage
nitrogen
fixing
organisms.
Leguminous
crops
such
as
peas,
beans,
alfalfa,
clover,
and
soybeans
often
fix
nitrogen
at
over
100
kg/
ha
per
year.
Atmospheric
processes
are
estimated
to
account
for
8
percent
of
the
total
annual
global
nitrogen
fixation;
industrial
fixation
accounts
for
33
percent
and
biological
processes
the
remaining
59
percent.
Denitrification
is
the
ultimate
sink
for
nitrogen
of
the
biosphere
and
is
characteristic
of
anaerobic
conditions.
Therefore,
the
rate
of
denitrification
affects
the
amount
of
bioavailable
nitrogen
to
form
ammonium.
Under
anaerobic
32
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
conditions,
the
ammonia
released
from
the
decomposition
of
organic
matter
will
tend
to
accumulate.
References:
Anthonisen,
A.
C.,
Loehr,
R.
C.,
Prakasam,
T.
B.
S.,
and
Srinath,
E.
G.
1976.
Inhibition
of
nitrification
by
ammonia
and
nitrous
acid.
J.
Water
Poll.
Control
Fed.
48:
835­
852.
Ecological
Analysts.
1981.
The
Sources,
Chemistry,
Fate,
and
Effects
of
Ammonia
in
Aquatic
Environments.
Washington
DC:
American
Petroleum
Institute.
Austin,
E.
R.
and
Lee,
G.
F.
1973.
Nitrogen
release
from
lake
sediments.
J.
Water
Pollut.
Control
Fed.
45:
870­
879.
Environment
Canada.
1984.
Technical
Information
for
Problem
Spills:
Ammonia.
Ottawa,
Ontario:
Environmental
Protection
Service,
Technical
Services
Branch.
P.
92.
National
Research
Council
(
NRC).
1979.
Ammonia.
Subcommittee
on
Ammonia.
Committee
on
Medical
and
Biologic
Effects
of
Environmental
Pollutants.
Division
of
Medical
Sciences,
Assembly
of
Life
Sciences.
National
Research
Council.
Baltimore:
University
Park
Press.
NTIS
No.
PB
278­
027.
Powers,
W.
L.,
Terry,
R.
V.,
and
Murphy,
L.
S.
1977.
Fate
of
nitrogen
from
manure
disposal.
In
Proceedings
of
the
National
Conference
on
Disposal
of
Residues
on
Land.
Pp.
156­
160.

3.6
BOD5,
COD
OR
RATIO
BOD5/
COD
Remarks:
No
specific
studies
identified.

3.7
BIOACCUMULATION
Remarks:
Plants
have
a
high
affinity
for
gaseous
ammonia
when
leaf
stomata
are
open
in
daylight.
Reference:
Environment
Canada.
1984.
Technical
Information
for
Problem
Spills:
Ammonia.
Ottawa,
Ontario:
Environmental
Protection
Service,
Technical
Services
Branch.
P.
94.
33
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
3.8
ADDITIONAL
REMARKS
A.
Sewage
treatment
Remarks:
No
specific
studies
identified.

B.
Deposition
Remarks:
Annual
average
concentrations
in
wet
deposition
locations
in
21
European
countries
vary
from
0.12
to
1.74
mg
NH4
+­
N/
L.
In
the
Netherlands,
the
mean
annual
concentration
for
1978­
1982
was
2.4
mg
NH4
+­
N/
L,
corresponding
to
a
wet
deposition
of
12.2
kg/
ha
per
year.
The
wet
deposition
in
Norway
ranges
from
1.3
 
8.6
kg/
ha
per
year
and
in
the
United
Kingdom
from
3.2
to
6.0
kg/
ha
per
year.
Wet
deposition
accounts
for
only
1/
3
of
the
total
deposition
of
NH3
and
NH4
+.
On
average,
28.4
kg
NH3
+
NH4
+
is
deposited
per
ha
per
year.
References:
Fuhrer,
J.
1985.
Formation
of
secondary
air
pollutants
and
their
occurrence
in
Europe.
Experientia
(
Basel)
41:
286­
301.
Overrein,
L.
N.,
Seip,
H.
M.,
and
Tollan,
A.
Eds.
1980.
Acid
Precipitation:
Effects
on
Forest
and
Fish.
Final
Report.
Oslo.
SNSF
Project
1972­
1980.
Warren
Spring
Laboratory.
1982.
Acidity
of
rainfall
in
the
United
Kingdom.

C.
Other
Remarks:
Depressed
dissolved­
oxygen
levels
may
result
in
increased
releases
of
ammonia
from
sediments
in
storm
water
detention
ponds
in
the
summer
and
winter.
References:
Marsalek,
J.,
and
Ng,
H.
Y.
F.
1989.
Evaluation
of
pollution
loadings
from
urban
nonpoint
sources:
Methodology
and
applications.
J.
Great
Lakes
Res.
15(
3):
444­
451.
In
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
34
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
4.
ECOTOXICITY
Remarks:
The
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
aquatic
organisms
is
highly
dependent
on
physicochemical
factors,
most
notably
pH
because
of
its
importance
in
chemical
speciation.
The
acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
is
also
influenced
to
a
lesser
degree
by
temperature,
carbon
dioxide,
dissolved
oxygen,
and
salinity.
In
aqueous
solution,
ammonia
exists
primarily
in
two
forms,
un­
ionized
ammonia
(
NH3)
and
ammonium
ion
(
NH4
+),
which
are
in
equilibrium
with
each
other
according
to
the
following
established
relationship:

NH3(
aq)
+
H2O
 
NH4
+
+
OH­

As
pH
increases,
the
fraction
of
the
total
ammonia
which
is
unionized
increases.
It
is
this
un­
ionized
ammonia
which
is
generally
considered
to
be
the
primary
cause
of
toxicity
in
aquatic
systems.
References:
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Prepared
for
The
Fertilizer
Institute,
Washington,
D.
C.
U.
S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency
(
USEPA).
1998c.
1998
Update
of
Ambient
Water
Quality
Criteria
for
Ammonia.
Washington,
D.
C.:
Office
of
Water.
EPA
822­
R­
98­
008.

*
4.1
ACUTE/
PROLONGED
TOXICITY
TO
FISH
(
a)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
mean
range
=
0.163­
1.09
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
11­
48
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
total
of
86
acute
flow­
through
tests
were
conducted,
ranging
in
duration
from
96
hours
to
35
days.
Five
test
tanks
and
a
control
were
used
for
each
test.
Fish
were
acclimated
to
the
tanks
for
at
least
2
days,
except
for
5
tests
with
1­
day
acclimation
periods.
Fish
ages
ranged
from
1
day
old
fry
(<
1
g)
to
4
year
old
adults
(
2.6
g).
Tanks
with
smaller
fish
had
a
water
flow
rate
of
500
mL
every
2­
3
minutes;
replacement
time
was
about
5
hours,
and
full
concentration
was
reached
within
18
hours.
Tanks
with
larger
fish
had
a
water
flow
rate
of
0.5­
5
L/
minute
and
a
turnover
time
of
1.2­
12
hours.
The
mean
pH
ranged
from
a
7.85­
7.96.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
35
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
and
ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
Acute
toxicity
decreased
as
temperature
increased
over
the
range
12­
19
°
C.
Tests
showed
no
effect
of
different
toxicant
salts
on
mortality.
The
LC50
values
obtained
for
the
12
and
35
day
tests
were
not
appreciably
different
from
those
for
tests
of
shorter
time
periods.
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.
and
Russo,
R.
C.
1983.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
rainbow
trout.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
112:
696­
704.

(
b)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
and
Salmo
clarki
(
Cutthroat
trout)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
Fluctuating
Concentrations:
Mean
concentration
LC50
(
rainbow
trout)
=
0.099­
0.292
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
10.5­
22.3
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Mean
concentration
LC50
(
cutthroat
trout)
=
0.194­
0.217
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
17.3­
19.3
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Fixed
Concentrations:
LC50
(
rainbow
trout)
=
0.163­
0.500
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
21.6­
31.6
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
LC50
(
cutthroat
trout)
=
0.296­
0.327
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
26.3­
29.1
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Ten
bioassays
were
conducted
on
rainbow
trout
and
4
on
cutthroat
trout
to
examine
the
effects
of
fluctuating
ammonia
exposures.
Ten
fish
were
tested
in
each
tank,
except
for
four
tests
with
5
fish
each.
Five
test
tanks
and
one
control
tank
were
used
in
each
of
11
bioassays.
The
other
three
bioassays
had
4,
3,
or
1
test
tank.
The
concentrations
were
fluctuated
in
cycles
of
6­
h
on/
6­
h
off,
12­
on/
12­
off,
or
6­
on/
18­
off.
The
peak
concentration
for
each
tank
was
reached
between
6
and
7
hours
from
the
start
of
the
"
on"
phase.
Mean
concentration
for
the
fluctuating
tests
were
obtained
by
measuring
total
ammonia
in
each
tank
at
2
hour
intervals
over
at
least
one
complete
cycle.
The
mean
pH
ranged
from
7.62­
7.86.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Fish
were
more
tolerant
of
a
fixed
concentration
of
ammonia
over
96
hours
then
they
were
of
fluctuating
concentrations.
The
larger
rainbow
trout
(>
2
kg)
were
more
vulnerable
to
acutely
36
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
toxic
concentrations
of
ammonia
than
were
smaller
fish
(
20­
300
g).
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.,
Chakoumakos,
C.,
and
Russo,
R.
C.
1981.
Effect
of
fluctuating
exposures
on
the
acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
rainbow
trout
(
Salmo
gairdneri)
and
cutthroat
trout
(
S.
clarki).
Water
Res.
15:
911­
917.

(
c)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
Exposure
Period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
>
0.486
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
stages
from
egg
to
hatch)
LC50
=
0.160­
0.370
mg
u­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
fry
stages)
LC50
=
0.440
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
fingerling
stages)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Tests
were
carried
out
with
semicontinuous
flow
equipment.
Each
exposure
concentration
had
at
least
20
individuals.
Water
flow
through
the
30
L
tanks
was
40
L/
hr.
Ammonia
was
added
as
NH4Cl.
The
pH
of
the
water
was
7.4
and
the
temperature
was
14.5
°
C.
Eleven
different
stages
(
including
egg
eyed
eggs,
hatching,
alevins,
fry,
fingerlings)
were
exposed
independently
for
96
hours.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Reference:
Calamari,
D.,
Marchetti,
R.,
and
Vailati,
G.
1981.
Effects
of
long­
term
exposure
to
ammonia
on
the
developmental
stages
of
rainbow
trout
(
Salmo
gairdneri
Richardson).
Rapp.
P.­
V.
Reun.
Cons.
Int.
Explor.
Mer
178:
81­
86.

(
d)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
Exposure
period:
48­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
mean
pH
7.8
and
12
°
C)
=
35.0­
36.0
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N
/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
The
fish
were
acclimated
for
at
least
3
weeks
to
the
control
water
quality
and
stocking
conditions
before
use
in
experiments.
Test
solutions
were
renewed
every
24
hours.
Each
aquarium
contained
40
L
of
solution
and
10
or
15
fish.
Fish
were
transferred
at
1­
2
hour
intervals
between
concentrations
or
kept
in
a
constant
concentration.
The
pH
was
maintained
at
7.7­
7.8
for
the
fluctuating
tests
and
7.69­
7.83
for
the
constant
concentration
tests.
37
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
"
Analar"
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
In
the
fluctuating
tests,
fish
were
alternatively
exposed
to
acutely
lethal
(
1.0
x
expected
48­
h
LC50)
and
non­
lethal
(
0.5
x
expected
LC50)
concentrations
of
ammonia,
fluctuating
on
a
1
hour
or
2
hour
basis.
Reference:
Brown,
V.
M.,
Jordan,
D.
H.
M.,
and
Tiller,
B.
A.
1969.
The
acute
toxicity
to
rainbow
trout
of
fluctuating
concentrations
and
mixtures
of
ammonia,
phenol
and
zinc.
J.
Fish.
Biol.
1:
1­
9.

(
e)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
clarki
(
Cutthroat
trout)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours,
29­
days,
36­
days
Results:
LC50
mean
range
(
96­
h;
pH
7.72­
7.93;
11.7­
14.7
°
C)
=
0.52­
0.80
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
32.4­
43.6
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
LC50
mean
range
(
29­
d;
pH
7.72­
7.93;
11.7­
14.7
°
C)
=
0.34­
0.56
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
21.4­
32.2
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
LC50
mean
range
(
36­
d;
pH
7.72­
7.93;
11.7­
14.7
°
C)
=
0.56
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
30.8­
32.2
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Fish
were
acclimated
2­
4
days
prior
to
testing.
Toxicant
solutions
were
delivered
at
a
flow
rate
of
500
mL
every
3­
4
minutes
to
each
tank.
The
water
volume
in
the
tanks
was
62
L.
Mortality
observations
were
made
at
4­
8
hour
intervals
during
the
first
24
hours,
and
6­
12
hours
intervals
thereafter.
The
test
duration
for
3g
fish
was
29
days
and
for
1g
fish
was
36
days.
After
29
days
exposure,
10
fish
from
the
21.4
mg/
L
NH3­
N
tank
and
10
control
fish
were
preserved
for
histological
examination.
The
pH
ranged
from
7.78­
7.81.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
asymptotic
LC50
of
the
1g
and
3g
fish
were
0.56
mg/
L
unionized
NH3
and
0.36
mg/
L
un­
ionized
NH3.
The
highest
concentrations
below
which
no
mortalities
occurred
in
5
days
were
15.5
and
12.5
mg/
L
NH3­
N
for
1g
fish
and
24.6
and
21.4
mg/
L
NH3­
N
for
3g
fish.
There
is
a
negative
correlation
between
ammonia
concentration
and
average
weight
gain.
Fish
exposed
to
0.34
mg/
L
NH3
for
29
days
showed
degenerative
gills
and
kidneys.
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.,
Russo,
R.
C.,
and
Smith,
C.
E..
1978.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
and
nitrite
to
cutthroat
trout
fry.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
107(
2):
361­
368.

(
f)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Oncorhynchus
kisutch
(
Coho
salmon)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
38
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Results:
LC50
(
96
hr)
=
0.45
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N
/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Hatchery­
reared
fingerling
coho
salmon
(
average
weight
6
g)
were
acclimated
to
river
water
for
7
days.
Feeding
was
terminated
24
hours
before
testing
began.
Duplicate
groups
of
ten
fish
each
were
exposed
to
nine
concentrations
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
(
range
of
average
values
0.178­
0.910
mg/
L).
Every
four
hours
95%
of
the
test
solution
was
replaced.
Fish
were
observed
every
2­
3
hours
after
the
initial
12
hours.
pH
values
ranged
from
7.49­
9.10.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
96
hour
LC50s
were
also
determined
at
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
and
14
hours.
Most
of
the
toxicity
occurred
within
the
first
four
hours
of
exposure.
Reference:
Buckley,
J.
A.
1978.
Acute
toxicity
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
to
fingerling
coho
salmon.
Prog.
Fish­
Cult.
40(
1):
30­
32.

(
g)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha
(
Chinook
salmon)
Exposure
period:
24­
hours
Results:
Freshwater
LC50
(
pH
7.59­
7.90;
11.7
°
C)
=
0.36
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Ten
parr
were
placed
in
each
10­
L
tank
at
pH
7.0­
8.5.
Test
solution
was
buffered
with
sodium
bicarbonate.
A
series
of
tests
were
conducted
in
freshwater
and
at
salinities
of
5.2,
9.6,
16.9,
and
27.6
ppt.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
More
then
90%
of
recorded
mortalities
occurred
during
the
first
4
hours
and
almost
none
occurred
after
12
hours,
thus
indicating
that
24
hours
is
sufficient
to
test
ammonia
toxicity.
The
LC50
initially
increased
with
salinity,
reaching
a
maximum
of
2.2
mg/
L
at
9.6
ppt
(
approx.
isosmotic
with
fish
blood),
then
decreased
at
higher
salinities.
Reference:
Harader,
R.
R.
and
Allen,
G.
H.
1983.
Ammonia
toxicity
to
chinook
salmon
parr:
reduction
in
saline
water.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
112:
834­
837.

(
h)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
salar
(
Atlantic
salmon)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
mean
pH
6.05
and
mean
12.5­
17.1
°
C)
=
0.091­
0.111
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N
/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
39
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Method:
The
fish
were
acclimated
for
at
least
2
weeks
to
the
control
water
quality
and
stocking
conditions
before
being
used
in
experiments.
Each
aquarium
had
10
fish.
The
tests
were
conducted
in
twelve
40
L
glass
aquaria
filled
with
30
L
of
test
solution.
The
fish
were
not
fed
during
temperature
acclimation
(
24
hours)
and
the
96
hour
test
period.
The
pH
was
adjusted
using
NaOH
or
H2SO4.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
The
behavior
of
intoxicated
fish
consisted
of:
coughing,
hyperventilation
followed
by
sporadic
ventilation,
twisting,
loss
of
equilibrium
and
spiral
swimming,
convulsions
and
death
following
a
coma­
like
state.
96
hr
LC50s
were
determined
for
various
pH
(
6.00­
6.45)
and
temperatures
(
1.8­
17.8
°
C).
Mean
LC50
increased
from
0.031
to
0.111
mg
NH3­
N/
L
at
mean
pH
6.0
as
temperature
increased
from
2.1
°
C
to
17.1
°
C.
Similarly,
at
mean
pH
6.45,
mean
LC50
increased
from
0.030
to
0.146
mg
NH3­
N/
L
as
temperature
increased
from
1.8
°
C
to
12.5
°
C.
Reference:
Knoph,
M.
B.
1992.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
Atlantic
Salmon
(
Salmo
salar)
parr.
Comp.
Biochem.
Physiol.
101C(
2):
275­
282.

(
i)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Oncorhynchus
gorbuscha
(
Pink
salmon)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
and
other
(
see
methods)
Results:
TLm
=
83
ppb
un­
ionized
NH3.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Three
types
of
tests
were
conducted:
(
1)
Eyed
eggs,
alevins,
and
fry
were
exposed
in
separate
tests
to
short­
term,
high
concentrations
of
ammonia
(>
50
ppb)
in
static
systems
to
determine
the
sensitivity
of
each
early
life
stage.
(
2)
Alevins
were
exposed
at
different
developmental
stages
to
low
concentrations
of
ammonia
(<
3
ppb)
in
flow­
through
systems
for
up
to
61
days
to
determine
the
effect
of
long­
term
exposures
on
size
of
emerging
fry.
(
3)
Alevins
were
exposed
to
high
concentrations
of
ammonia
(
30­
150
ppb)
in
flow­
through
systems
for
24
hours
to
determine
whether
ammonia
would
cause
emergence
of
immature
fry.
Eggs,
alevins,
and
fry
were
also
exposed
to
static
solutions
of
ammonium
sulfate
for
96
hours
in
freshwater
at
pH
of
6.3­
6.5
and
3.7­
4.8
°
C.
Each
test
group
consisted
of
twenty­
five
individuals.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
sulfate
((
NH3)
2SO4)
Remarks:
Late
alevins
(
completion
of
yolk
absorption)
were
the
most
sensitive
and
had
the
lowest
96­
h
TLm.
Concentrations
as
low
as
1.2
ppb
reduced
fry
weight
in
the
61
day
exposures.
Only
levels
>
10
ppb
stimulated
early
emergence
of
immature
fry.
40
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Reference:
Rice,
S.
D.
and
Bailey,
J.
E.
1980.
Survival,
size,
and
emergence
of
pink
salmon,
Oncorhynchus
gorbuscha,
alevins
after
short­
and
long­
term
exposures
to
ammonia.
Fish.
Bull.
78:(
3)
641­
648.

(
j)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salvelinus
namaycush
(
lake
trout)
and
Salmo
salar
(
Atlantic
salmon)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
Calcium
did
not
reduce
ammonia
toxicity
to
Atlantic
salmon
fry
or
smelts.
Sodium
reduced
toxicity
to
salmon
smelts,
but
had
no
effect
on
toxicity
to
fry.
Both
sodium
and
calcium
reduced
toxicity
to
lake
trout
fingerlings,
but
had
no
effect
on
lake
trout
fry.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Ammonia
toxicity
test
containers
contained
either
NaCl
or
CaCl2
at
concentrations
0,
0.1,
and
1.0%
NaCl.
Each
test
solution
had
5
salmon
or
10
trout.
Actual
un­
ionized
NH3
concentrations
ranged
from
0.05­
1.1
mg/
L
depending
on
the
test.
pH
ranged
from
7.2
to
7.7
and
the
water
temperatures
were
maintained
at
8.5
°
C.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
salts;
reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Results
suggest
that
mitigating
effects
of
solution
cations
on
unionized
ammonia
toxicity
may
be
related
to
species,
size,
and
life
stage.
Reference:
Soderberg,
R.
W.
and
Meade,
J.
W.
1992.
Effects
of
sodium
and
calcium
on
acute
toxicity
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
to
Atlantic
salmon
and
lake
trout.
J.
Appl.
Aquaculture
1(
4):
83­
92.

(
k)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Pimephales
promelas
(
Fathead
minnows)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
mean
range
=
0.75­
3.4
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
34­
108
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
total
of
35
flow­
through
tests
were
conducted.
Fish
were
acclimated
for
at
least
1
week,
and
in
most
cases
1
to
6
months,
prior
to
tests.
Each
test
started
with
zero
ammonia
concentration
in
the
test
tanks,
and
full
test
concentration
was
reached
within
18
hours.
Each
test
consisted
of
five
test
tanks
and
one
control
tank.
Each
tank
had
between
7
and
15
fish
in
each
test.
Mortality
concentrations
were
made
at
4­
8
hour
intervals
during
the
first
24
hours
and
6­
12
hour
intervals
thereafter.
Some
tests
were
run
at
elevated
temperatures,
with
an
increase
in
temperature
of
approximately
1
°
C
every
8
hours
until
the
desired
temperature
was
reached.
The
mean
pH
ranged
from
7.62­
8.06.
41
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Fish
ranged
in
size
from
0.22
to
2.3
g
(
2.7
cm
to
6.3
cm
in
length),
with
fish
in
any
given
test
having
a
similar
size.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
toxicity
of
ammonia
decreased
as
temperature
increased
over
a
range
of
12­
22
°
C.
There
was
no
significant
relationship
between
ammonia
toxicity
and
dissolved
oxygen
concentration
over
the
oxygen
range
of
3­
9
mg/
L.
Toxicity
was
not
related
to
size
or
source
of
the
test
fish.
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.,
Russo,
R.
C.,
and
Phillips,
G.
R.
1983.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
fathead
minnows.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
112:
705­
711.

(
l)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish),
Pimephales
promelas
(
fathead
minnow),
Catastomus
commersoni
(
white
sucker),
Stizostedion
vitreum
(
walleye),
Salmo
gairdneri
stonei
(
rainbow
trout)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
winter,
avg
3.6
°
C
,
rainbow
trout)
=
avg
0.26
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
spring,
avg
16.2
°
C,
rainbow
trout)
=
0.43
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
fall,
avg
13.3
°
C,
rainbow
trout)
=
0.75
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
fall,
avg
15.1
°
C,
walleye)
=
0.81
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
winter,
avg
3.7
°
C,
walleye)
=
0.52
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
winter,
avg
3.5
°
C,
channel
catfish)
=
0.50
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
spring,
avg
17.1
°
C,
channel
catfish)
=
1.14
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
winter,
avg
3.6
°
C,
white
sucker)
=
0.76
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
spring,
avg
14.0
°
C,
white
sucker)
=
2.0
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
fall,
avg
11.3
°
C,
white
sucker)
=
1.87
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
fall,
avg
12.1
°
C,
fathead
minnow)
=
1.83
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
spring,
avg
17.1
°
C,
fathead
minnow)
=
1.97
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
winter,
avg
3.4
°
C,
fathead
minnow)
=
2.41
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
summer,
avg
26.1
°
C,
fathead
minnow)
=
2.55
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
large
diluter
delivered
1
L
to
each
five
duplicate
14­
L
test
concentration
and
control
chambers.
Ten
test
animals
were
42
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
generally
placed
in
each
chamber.
Depending
on
the
test,
pH
ranged
from
7.6
to
8.8.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Technical
grade
(
99%
purity)
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
primary
objective
of
the
study
was
to
determine
the
relative
sensitivity
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
to
fish
in
river
water
at
ambient
seasonal
temperatures.
The
difference
in
toxicity
among
the
fish
species
was
a
factor
of
4.
The
most
sensitive
species
to
ammonia
was
the
rainbow
trout.
Except
for
the
channel
catfish,
none
of
the
tests
showed
a
progressive
increase
in
LC50
values
with
increasing
water
temperature.
Reference:
Arthur,
J.
W.,
West,
C.
W.,
Allen,
K.
N.,
and
Hedtke,
S.
F.
1987.
Seasonal
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
five
fish
and
nine
invertebrate
species.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
38:
324­
331.

(
m)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Lepomis
macrochirus
(
bluegill),
Stizostedion
vitreum
(
walleye),
Pimephales
promelas
(
fathead
minnow)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
walleye;
pH
7.88­
8.24)
=
1.04
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
LC50
(
bluegill;
pH
7.95­
8.25)
=
1.06
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
LC50
(
fathead
minnow;
pH
7.89­
8.39)
=
1.50
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Followed
ASTM
E
729­
80.
Test
solutions
were
brought
to
a
pH
of
8
using
KOH.
Test
solutions
were
kept
at
22
°
C.
Each
test
container
had
18
fish.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
authors
note
that
Tittabawassee
River
water
quality
did
not
influence
the
toxicity
of
ammonia.
Reference:
Mayes,
M.
A.,
Alexander,
H.
C.,
Hopkins,
D.
L.,
and
Latvaitas,
P.
B.
1986.
Acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
freshwater
fish:
a
site­
specific
study.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
5:
437­
442.

(
n)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Pimephales
promelas
(
fathead
minnows),
Etheostoma
nigrum
(
johnny
darters),
Catostomus
commersoni
(
white
suckers)
Exposure
period:
10­
days
Results:
LC50
(
johnny
darters,
20
°
C)
=
1.12
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
larval
fathead
minnows,
20
°
C)
=
1.12
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
johnny
darters,
6
°
C)
=
0.18
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
larval
fathead
minnows,
6
°
C)
=
0.19
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
juvenile
fathead
minnows,
6
°
C)
=
0.30
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
43
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
According
to
EPA
600/
4­
78­
012
and
ASTM
E
729­
80.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
purpose
of
the
study
was
to
determine
site­
specific
ammonia
toxicity
in
a
Colorado
stream.
Un­
ionized
ammonia
was
acutely
toxic
to
all
fishes
at
20
°
C.
Results
showed
that
fish
were
significantly
more
toxic
to
ammonia
at
cold
than
at
warm­
water
temperatures.
LC50s
in
laboratory
water
and
in
river
water
were
similar,
indicating
that
there
is
no
site­
water
effect.
The
pH
of
the
water
ranged
from
7.7­
8.2,
depending
on
the
test.
Reference:
Nimmo,
D.
W.
R.,
Link,
D.,
Parrish,
L.
P.,
Rodriguez,
G.
J.,
and
Wuerthele,
W.
1989.
Comparison
of
on­
site
and
laboratory
toxicity
tests:
derivation
of
site­
specific
criteria
for
un­
ionized
ammonia
in
a
Colorado
transitional
stream.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
8:
1177­
1189.

(
o)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
];
closed­
system
[
X]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
survival)
Exposure
Period:
96­
hours
and
7­
days
Results:
LC50
(
1­
day
old,
96­
h)
=
1.21
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC1
(
1­
day
old,
96­
h)
=
0.263
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
1­
day
old,
7­
d)
=
1.07
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC1
(
1­
day
old,
7­
d)
=
0.261
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
1­
day
old,
growth)
=
0.082
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
1­
day
old,
growth)
=
0.233
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
1­
day
old,
survival)
=
0.350
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
1­
day
old,
survival)
=
0.493
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
7­
day
old,
96­
h)
=
1.61
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC1
(
7­
day
old,
96­
h)
=
0.147
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
7­
day
old,
7­
d)
=
1.18
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC1
(
7­
day
old,
7­
d)
=
0.097
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
7­
day
old,
growth)
=
0.093
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
7­
day
old,
growth)
=
0.212
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
7­
day
old,
survival)
=
0.212
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
7­
day
old,
survival)
=
0.340
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
"
Synthetic"
water
was
prepared
by
dissolving
384.0
mg
NaHCO3/
L,
240.0
mg
CaSO4 
2H2O/
L,
240.0
mg
MgSO4/
L,
and
16.0
mg
KCl/
L
in
50
L
deionized
water.
Six
concentrations
ranging
from
0.082­
0.874
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
were
tested
in
each
study.
Test
chambers
were
individually
covered
with
plastic
food
wrap
and
placed
in
a
water
bath
at
24
°
C.
Tests
were
conducted
on
either
1­
day
old
or
7­
day
old
newly
transformed
juvenile
channel
catfish.
Each
test
used
100­
150
fish.
Water
44
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
characteristics
and
ammonia
concentrations
were
measured
every
24­
hours.
Study
pH
was
8.2
±
0.02.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
No
significant
differences
were
detected
in
lethal
toxicity
or
growth
suppression
between
catfish
exposed
during
the
first
and
second
week
after
hatching.
The
lowest
concentration
of
ammonia
tested
caused
significant
growth
inhibition.
The
three
lowest
concentrations
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
increased
over
each
24
hour
period
because
of
an
accumulation
of
waste
products,
while
the
three
highest
concentrations
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
decreased
over
24
hours
because
of
the
volatility
of
ammonia.
Reference:
Bader,
J.
A.
and
Grizzle,
J.
M.
1992.
Effects
of
ammonia
on
growth
and
survival
of
recently
hatched
channel
catfish.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
4:
17­
23.
(
p)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish)
Exposure
period:
24­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
NH4Cl)
=
0.74,
1.04,
1.45
and
1.91
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
for
pH
6.0,
7.2,
8.0
and
8.8,
respectively.
LC50
((
NH4)
2SO4)
=
0.81,
1.16,
1.75
and
2.24
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
for
pH
6.0,
7.2,
8.0
and
8.8,
respectively.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
A
total
of
8
static
acute
toxicity
tests
were
conducted.
Fish
were
acclimated
for
at
least
2
weeks
prior
to
testing.
Feeding
was
stopped
one
week
before
use
in
tests.
The
110
L
aquaria
held
80­
L
of
21
°
C
water
at
various
pH
(
6.0,
7.2,
8.0,
8.8).
Each
exposure
group
consisted
of
10
fish.
Buffers
were
added
and
fish
acclimated
for
24
hours
before
ammonia
(
as
NH4Cl
or
(
NH4)
2SO4)
was
added.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
and
ammonium
sulfate
(
NH4)
2SO4
Remarks:
Fish
exposed
to
NH4­
N
concentrations
up
to
1,787
mg
NH4­
N/
L
(
ionized)
for
24
hours
suffered
no
mortality.
The
LC50s
for
NH4Cl
were
lower
(
i.
e.,
more
toxic)
than
those
for
(
NH4)
2SO4
at
each
experimental
pH.
Reference:
Sheehan,
R.
J.
and
Lewis,
W.
M.
1986.
Influence
of
pH
and
ammonia
salts
on
ammonia
toxicity
and
water
balance
in
young
channel
catfish.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
115:
891­
899.

(
q)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish)
Exposure
period:
24­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
buffered;
pH
7)
=
1.39
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
264
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
45
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
LC50
(
buffered;
pH
8)
=
1.82
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
38.9
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
LC50
(
buffered;
pH
9)
=
1.49
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
4.5
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
LC50
(
enriched
unbuffered;
pH
7)
=
1.79
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
356
mg
total
ammonia­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Tests
solutions
were
buffered
to
a
pH
of
7.0,
8.0,
and
9.0.
Unbuffered
water
at
pH
7.0
was
enriched
to
440
mg/
L
total
hardness
as
CaCO3.
Groups
of
10
fish
were
exposed
to
geometrically
increasing
concentrations
of
ammonia.
Four
replicates
of
each
exposure
were
tested.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Ammonia
toxicity
generally
increased
with
increasing
pH
from
pH
7
to
pH
9
because
more
of
the
total
ammonia
is
present
as
un­
ionized
ammonia.
Enrichment
of
water
with
calcium
significantly
increased
the
24­
h
LC50
(
i.
e.
decreased
toxicity)
at
pH
7
of
both
total
NH3­
N
and
un­
ionized
NH3­
N.
Reference:
Tomasso,
J.
R.,
Goudie,
C.
A.,
Simco,
B.
A.,
and
Davis,
K.
B.
1980.
Effects
of
environmental
pH
and
calcium
on
ammonia
toxicity
in
channel
catfish.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
109:
229­
234.

(
r)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Cyprinus
carpio
L.
(
Common
carp)
Exposure
period:
48­
hours
Results:
NH4Cl
LC50
mean
range
=
1.60­
1.96
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
mean
pH
7.8,
mean
range
12.9­
13.7
°
C)
(
103­
109
mg
total
NH3/
L)
NH4NO3
LC50
mean
range
=
1.15­
1.72
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
mean
pH
7.6­
7.8,
mean
range
12.1­
13.5
°
C)
(
95­
102
mg
total
NH3/
L)
NH4OH
LC50
mean
range
=
1.34­
1.70
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
mean
pH
9.1,
mean
range
12.8­
13.0
°
C)
(
6.9­
7.6
mg
total
NH3/
L)
CH3COONH4
LC50
mean
range
=
0.89
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
mean
pH
1.7,
mean
range
16.0
°
C)
(
72
mg
total
NH3/
L)
(
NH4)
2S
LC50
=
1.46
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
mean
pH
9.2,
10.4
°
C)
(
6.6
mg
total
ammonia/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
The
tests
were
semi­
static
with
the
solutions
replaced
every
24
hours.
Fish
were
acclimated
to
aquarium
conditions
for
10­
14
days
prior
to
test
initiation.
Fish
received
no
food
during
the
acclimation
and
exposure.
Eight
or
12
fish
were
exposed
to
each
concentration.
Eight
experimental
series
were
carried
out,
each
comprised
of
5­
7
ammonia
concentrations
and
a
control
group.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
46
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl),
ammonium
nitrate
(
NH4NO3),
ammonium
water
(
NH4OH),
ammonium
acetate
(
CH3COONH4),
and
ammonium
sulphide
((
NH4)
2S).
Remarks:
Much
lower
values
of
LC50
of
total
ammonia
were
obtained
when
toxic
agents
consisted
of
ammonia
water
and
ammonia
sulphide
as
compared
to
ammonium
chloride
and
ammonium
nitrate.
Ammonia
toxicity
increased
with
higher
pH
and
lowered
with
increasing
temperature.
The
test
with
ammonium
acetate
was
conducted
at
a
higher
temperature
than
the
others,
which
may
explain
the
lower
LC50.
Reference:
Dabrowski,
H.
and
Skiora,
H.
1986.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
common
carp
(
Cyprinus
carpio
L.).
Pol.
Arch.
Hydrobiol.
33(
1):
121­
128.

(
s)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Lepomis
cyanellus
(
Green
sunfish)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
pH
6.6,
7.2,
7.7
and
8.7)
=
0.50,
1.06,
1.34
and
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
respectively
(
272,
139,
57
and
9
mg
NH3­
N/
L
respectively)
EC50
(
pH
6.6­
8.7,
resp.)
=
0.50­
1.29
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
272­
7
mg
NH3­
N/
L
respectively)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Each
chamber
had
1
L
of
test
solution
and
20
fish.
The
fish
were
provided
no
food
during
the
tests.
The
mean
water
temperature
was
22.4
°
C.
Studies
were
conducted
at
four
different
pHs:
6.6,
7.2,
7.7,
and
8.7.
Ammonia
was
added
as
ammonium
chloride
by
a
continuous
flow
diluter.
The
pH
was
adjusted
with
sodium
hydroxide
or
hydrochloric
acid.
Mortality
was
recorded
at
3,
6,
12,
24,
48,
72,
and
96
hours
after
the
onset
of
exposure.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Stock
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Hyperactivity
was
the
first
behavioral
change
observed.
This
frequently
progressed
to
loss
of
equilibrium
and
an
anaesthetised
state.
Some
individuals
that
lost
equilibrium
subsequently
recovered.
As
measured
by
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentration,
toxicity
was
greatest
at
the
lowest
pH
(
6.6)
and
decreased
(
i.
e.,
LC50
increased)
steadily
as
pH
increased.
The
reverse
was
shown
when
using
the
total
ammonia­
nitrogen
values,
with
toxicity
increasing
as
pH
increased.
Reference:
McCormick,
J.
H.,
Broderius,
S.
J.,
and
Fiandt,
J.
T.
1984.
Toxicity
of
ammonia
to
early
life
stages
of
the
green
sunfish
Lepomis
cyanellus.
Environ.
Poll.
(
Series
A)
36:
147­
163.

(
t)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Menidia
beryllina
(
Silversides)
and
Cyprinodon
variegatus
(
Sheepshead
minnow)
47
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
minnow;
13­
32.5
°
C;
30­
32.5
ppt;
pH
7.6­
8.1)
=
2.10­
3.51
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
80.6­
121.2
mg
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
silverside;
25­
32.5
°
C;
11­
31.5
ppt;
pH
6.9­
8.1)
=
0.97­
1.77
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
27.1­
193.7
mg
total
NH3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
ASTM
E
729­
80
(
1980)
ASTM
E
1191­
87
(
1987)
ASTM
E
47.01
(
1985)
Test
organisms
were
one
to
two
week
old
larval
silversides
and
larval
sheephead
minnows.
Fish
were
tested
in
either
static
or
flow­
through
systems
at
a
variety
of
different
pHs
(
7.0,
8.0
or
9.0),
temperatures
(
13­
32.5
°
C),
and
salinities
(
11­
31
ppt).
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
NH3
toxicity
to
inland
silversides
was
greatest
at
pH
7.0
and
9.0
and
lowest
at
pH
8.0.
At
11
ppt
salinity,
NH3
toxicity
to
silversides
was
less
at
pH
7.0,
greater
at
pH
8.0
and
slightly
less
at
pH
9.0,
relative
to
the
toxicity
at
31
ppt.
Temperature
had
a
small
affect
on
larval
sheepshead
minnows
tested
at
13,
25
and
32.5
°
C.
Reference:
Miller,
D.
C.,
Poucher,
S.,
Cardin,
J.
A.,
and
Hansen,
D.
1990.
The
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
marine
fish
and
a
mysid.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
19:
40­
48.

(
u)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Poecilia
reticulatus
(
guppy
fry)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
pH
6.95­
7.50)
=
128.2
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L
LC50
(
pH
7.40­
7.50)
=
71.1­
74.2
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Fish
were
fed
once
or
twice
daily.
Each
aquarium
held
14
L
of
water
at
pH
7.40
and
77­
78
°
F.
Each
tank
had
10
or
20
fish,
which
were
acclimated
to
the
test
conditions
for
48
hours.
Six
or
8
concentrations
were
used
for
each
test.
The
toxicant
solution
was
added
in
five
equal
and
separate
batches
during
a
period
of
2
hours
to
avoid
sudden
increases
in
concentration.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
titrated
with
30%
aqueous
ammonia
to
bring
the
stock
solution
to
pH
7.40.
Remarks:
An
LC50
was
determined
at
24,
48,
72,
and
96
hours
of
exposure.
At
the
lowest
ammonia
concentration
(
74.15
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L),
only
4
fish
died
during
the
period
between
24­
96
hours.
At
the
higher
total
ammonia
concentration
of
138
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L,
all
the
fish
died
in
the
first
15
hours.
Reference:
Rubin,
A.
J.
and
Elmaraghy,
G.
A.
1977.
Studies
on
the
toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrate
and
their
mixtures
to
guppy
fry.
Water
Res.
11:
927­
935.
48
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
v)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Menidia
beryllina
(
bay
silverside),
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish),
Lepomis
macrochirus
(
bluegill
sunfish),
Cyprinodon
variegatus
(
sheepshead
minnow)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
bay
silverside,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
1.13
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
bay
silverside,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.73
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
bay
silverside,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.78
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
bay
silverside,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.23
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
bluegill
sunfish
,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
1.02
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
bluegill
sunfish,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.53
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
bluegill
sunfish,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.29
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
bluegill
sunfish,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
0.36
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
channel
catfish,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
>
1.63
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
channel
catfish,
20.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
>
1.63
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
sheepshead
minnow,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
>
1.56
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
sheepshead
minnow,
12.0
°
C,
pH
8.0)
=
1.04
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Tests
were
performed
in
duplicate
for
each
concentration
(
treatment)
with
10
organisms.
A
0.5
dilution
series
of
total
ammonia
concentrations
was
utilized
in
each
test.
Test
solution
for
the
sheepshead
minnow
and
bay
silverside
were
adjusted
to
3
ppt
salinity.
Temperatures
ranged
between
18.4
and
20.8
°
C
and
pH
ranged
between
7.14
and
8.21.
The
LC50
and
NOEC
in
warm­
water
conditions
were
adjusted
for
pH
8.0
and
20.0
°
C
and
in
cold­
water
conditions
were
adjusted
for
pH
8.0
and
12.0
°
C.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
study
objective
was
to
derive
site­
specific
ammonia
standards
for
a
freshwater
wooded
stream
on
the
Delmarva
Penninsula.
Studies
were
performed
at
summer
and
winter
temperatures
to
obtain
seasonal
standards.
All
species
showed
a
surprisingly
similar
response
in
terms
of
un­
ionized
ammonia.
Based
on
acute
NOECs,
the
bluegill
was
the
most
sensitive.
Fish
49
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
showed
greater
acute
sensitivity
to
un­
ionized
ammonia
at
the
colder
temperature.
Reference:
Diamond,
J.
M.,
Mackler,
D.
G.,
Rasnake,
W.
J.,
and
Gruber,
D.
1993.
Derivation
of
site­
specific
ammonia
criteria
for
an
effluent­
dominated
headwater
stream.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
12:
649­
658.

(
w)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Micropterus
treculi
(
Guadalupe
bass)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
=
0.56
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
12.7
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
=
>
187
mg
NO2/
L
LC50
=
>
1,200
mg
NO3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Eight
trials
were
conducted
with
five
ammonia
concentrations
and
one
control
each.
The
pH
ranged
from
8.0­
8.3
at
the
beginning
of
the
test
to
7.9­
8.4
after
96­
h
and
the
temperature
was
22
°
C.
Fish
were
placed
in
indoor
holding
tanks
receiving
a
constant
supply
of
well
water.
Studies
were
also
conducted
with
sodium
nitrite
and
sodium
nitrate.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
toxicity
of
ammonia
increased
with
increasing
pH
and
temperature.
This
specie
appears
to
be
slightly
less
resistant
to
ammonia
than
most
warmwater
species
tested.
Neither
nitrite
nor
nitrate
contributed
significant
toxicity
to
aquatic
systems.
Reference:
Tomasso,
J.
R.
and
Carmichael,
G.
J.
1986.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrite,
and
nitrate
to
the
Guadalupe
bass,
Micropterus
treculi.
Bull.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
36:
866­
870.

(
x)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Dicentrarchus
labrax
(
seabass),
Sparus
aurata
(
seabream),
and
Scophthalmus
maximus
(
turbot)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
mean
range
(
bream)
=
2.22­
2.94
mg
NH3­
N/
L
(
52­
69
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
mean
range
(
bass)
=
0.97­
2.30
mg
NH3­
N/
L
(
23­
54
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
mean
range
(
turbot)
=
1.47­
3.32
mg
NH3­
N/
L
(
35­
78
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
total
of
14
acute
toxicity
tests
were
conducted.
Five
trials
were
conducted
with
turbot
juveniles
of
different
age
groups
and
origin
(
6
to
163
g),
6
with
seabass
(
6
to
93
g),
and
3
with
seabream
(
6
to
136
g).
Each
tank
had
45
L
of
water
at
pH
8.15
and
17.9­
18.2
°
C.
Duplicate
or
triplicate
groups
of
10
fish
were
50
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
used
in
each
tank.
The
fish
were
acclimated
to
the
test
conditions
for
at
least
48
hours.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
An
LC50
was
determined
at
6,
12,
24,
48,
72,
and
96
hours
of
exposure.
In
all
species,
loss
of
equilibrium
from
1­
24
hours
was
followed
by
death.
Mean
LC50s
did
not
change
significantly
from
24
to
96
hours
of
exposure.
In
seabass,
sensitivity
to
ammonia
was
observed
to
be
higher
than
in
the
other
two
species
for
any
duration
of
exposure.
Reference:
Ruyet,
J.
P.
and
Quemener,
H.
C.
1995.
Comparative
acute
ammonia
toxicity
in
marine
fish
and
plasma
ammonia
response.
Aquaculture
136:
181­
194.

(
y)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Anguilla
dieffenbachii
(
longfin
eels),
Anguilla
australis
(
shortfin
eels),
Galaxias
fasciatus
(
banded
kokopu),
Galaxias
maculatus
(
inanga),
Gobiomorphus
cotidianus
(
common
bully),
Gobiomorphus
huttoni
(
redfin
bully),
Retropinna
retropinna
(
common
smelt)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
51
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Results:
Mean
LC50
(
range
of
all
species)
=
0.75­
2.35
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Mean
LC10
(
range
of
all
species)
=
0.47­
1.37
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Test
animals
were
collected
from
the
wild
using
electrofishing,
nets
or
traps,
depending
on
species
and
life
stage.
Before
testing,
animals
were
acclimated
at
15
°
C
in
aged
tap
water
for
at
least
48
hours.
Fish
were
fed
daily
before
testing
only.
Tests
were
conducted
in
20
L
plastic
containers
with
water
at
pH
7.5
or
8.1.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
LC10s
and
LC50s
were
determined
for
24,
48,
and
96
hour
exposure
periods.
All
species
showed
increased
rates
of
mortality
with
exposure
time
from
24
to
96
hours.
Sub­
lethal
effects
were
rarely
observed.
Reference:
Richardson,
J.
1997.
Acute
ammonia
toxicity
for
eight
New
Zealand
indigenous
freshwater
species.
NZ
J.
Mar.
Freshwater
Res.
31:
185­
190.

4.2
ACUTE
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
INVERTEBRATES
*
A.
Daphnia
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Daphnia
magna
Exposure
period:
48­
hours
Results:
LC50
=
2.94
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Based
on
ASTM
E
729­
80.
Test
solutions
ranged
from
0.3
to
4.1
mg
NH3­
N/
L.
Test
solutions
were
adjusted
to
a
pH
of
8.6
with
KOH.
Three
replicate
groups
of
10
neonates
were
exposed
to
each
concentration
and
the
control.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
stock
solution
Remarks:
Based
on
a
comparison
of
these
results
and
those
from
other
literature,
D.
magna
appears
to
be
a
good
surrogate
species
for
the
aquatic
invertebrates.
Reference:
Gersich,
F.
M.
and
Hopkins,
D.
L.
1986.
Site­
specific
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
Daphnia
magna
Straus.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
5:
443­
447.
52
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
B.
Other
Aquatic
Organisms
(
a)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Chironomus
tentans
(
larval
midge)
and
Lumbriculus
variegatus
(
oligochaete)
Exposure
period:
10­
days
Results:
LC50
(
oligochaete;
pH
6.30)
=
0.455
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
390
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
oligochaete;
pH
7.18)
=
0.651
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
75.4
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
oligochaete;
pH
7.82)
=
0.768
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
21.4
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
oligochaete;
pH
8.59)
=
1.20
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
6.60
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
midge;
pH
6.52)
=
0.72
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
368
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
midge;
pH
7.07)
=
1.58
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
233
total
NH3/
L)
LC50
(
midge;
pH
8.53)
=
13.8
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
82.4
total
NH3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Tests
were
conducted
at
4
pHs.
Each
exposure
concentration
and
a
control
had
a
duplicate
with
10
organisms
per
replicate.
The
test
solution
was
maintained
at
25
°
C.
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Total
ammonia
was
more
toxic
to
both
species
with
increasing
pH.
The
degree
of
pH
dependence
of
toxicity,
however,
was
more
pronounced
for
L.
variegatus.
The
smaller
pH
dependence
of
total
ammonia
toxicity
to
C.
tentans
suggest
that
ammonium
ion
contributes
more
significantly
to
the
toxicity
of
total
ammonia
for
this
species.
Reference:
Schubauer­
Berigan,
M.
K.,
Monson,
P.
D.,
West,
C.
W.,
and
Ankley,
G.
T.
1995.
Influence
of
pH
on
the
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
Chironomus
tentans
and
Lumbriculus
variegatus.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
14(
4):
713­
717.

(
b)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Mercenaria
mercenaria
(
hard
clam)
and
Crassostrea
virginica
(
oyster)
Exposure
Period:
96­
hours
Results:
TLm
(
C.
virginica
adult)
=
8.2E­
2
M
NH4Cl/
L
TLm
(
C.
virginica
juvenile)
=
2.9E­
2
M
NH4Cl/
L
NOEC
(
both
species)
=
1E­
4
M
NH4Cl/
L
LOEC
(
both
species)
=
2E­
4
M
NH4Cl/
L
TLm
(
M.
mercenaria
adult)
=
1.1E­
2
M
NH4Cl/
L
TLm
(
M.
mercenaria
juvenile)
=
1.60E­
2
M
NH4Cl/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
53
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Method:
The
aquaria
contained
30
L
of
seawater
at
20
°
C
and
the
pH
was
ranged
from
7.70­
7.96.
Each
aquarium
contained
10
individuals.
All
molluscs
were
held
in
a
sea­
water
system
and
fed
a
diet
of
cultured
algae
for
at
least
3
weeks
prior
to
use
in
an
experiment.
They
were
not
fed
during
the
experiment.
After
the
96
hour
exposure,
surviving
individuals
were
transferred
to
uncontaminated
tanks
for
a
24
hour
recovery
period.
Criteria
for
death
were
gaping
of
the
valves
and
lack
of
response
to
mechanical
stimulation
of
exposed
body
parts.
To
measure
the
sublethal
toxicity,
the
effect
of
NH3
on
the
rate
of
removal
of
algae
from
suspension
by
the
shellfish
over
a
20
hour
period
(
clearing
rate)
was
studied.
Both
juveniles
(
hatchery
reared)
and
adults
(
wild
caught)
were
tested.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Both
species
were
extremely
tolerant
to
ammonia.
The
authors
conclude
that
it
is
very
unlikely
that
these
two
values
would
be
exposed
to
acutely
toxic
concentrations
of
ammonia
in
the
natural
environment.
Reference:
Epifanio,
C.
E.
and
Srna,
R.
F.
1975.
Toxicity
of
ammonia,
nitrite
ion,
nitrate
ion,
and
orthophosphate
to
Mercenaria
mercenaria
and
Crassostrea
virginica.
Mar.
Biol.
33:
241­
246.

(
c)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Paratya
curvirostris
(
decapod
shrimp)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
=
0.75­
0.77
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC10
=
0.45­
0.54
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Shrimp
were
collected
from
the
wild
and
acclimated
at
15
°
C
in
aged
tap
water
for
at
least
48
hours
before
testing.
Tests
were
conducted
in
20­
L
plastic
containers
with
water
at
pH
7.5.
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
LC10s
and
LC50s
were
determined
for
24,
48,
and
96
hour
exposure
periods.
Shrimp
showed
a
3­
fold
increase
in
mortality
rate
when
exposure
time
was
increased
from
24
to
96
hours.
Reference:
Richardson,
J.
1997.
Acute
ammonia
toxicity
for
eight
New
Zealand
indigenous
freshwater
species.
NZ
J.
Mar.
Freshwater
Res.
31:
185­
190.
54
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
d)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Hyalella
azteca
(
amphipod)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
soft,
pH
6.5)
=
0.04
mg
un­
ionized
NH3
 
N/
L;
(
22.8
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
soft,
pH
7.5)
=
0.31
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
17.5
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
soft,
pH
8.5)
=
2.24
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
24.0
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
moderately
hard,
pH
6.5)
=
0.19
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
105
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
moderately
hard,
pH
7.5)
=
0.83
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
64.0
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
moderately
hard,
pH
8.5)
=
6.09
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
39.8
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
hard,
pH
6.5)
=
>
0.37
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(>
204
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
hard,
pH
7.5)
=
2.14
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
140
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
LC50
(
hard,
pH
8.5)
=
5.38
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L;
(
35.2
mg
total
NH3­
N/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Individuals
were
7­
to
10­
days
old.
Toxicity
tests
were
conducted
in
disposable
polystyrene
cups
containing
10
amphipods
in
50
mL
of
test
solution.
Tests
were
conducted
at
25
±
1
°
C.
Four
ammonia
concentrations
(
50%
serial
dilutions)
and
a
control
were
tested
in
duplicate
at
each
hardness
(
42­
100
mg/
L
CaCO3)
and
pH
(
6.5,
7.5,
and
8.5).
Test
solutions
were
renewed
daily.
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
stock
solution
Remarks:
In
the
soft
water
samples,
LC50
values
expressed
on
a
total
ammonia
basis
were
essentially
constant.
At
any
tested
pH,
ammonia
toxicity
(
as
total
or
un­
ionized)
was
less
in
the
moderately
hard
samples
than
in
the
soft
water
samples.
Hardness
decreases
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
the
amphipod.
Furthermore,
the
amphipod
may
be
responding
more
to
ammonium
than
to
ammonia
in
softer
water.
Reference:
Ankley,
G.
T.,
Schubauer­
Berigan,
and
Monson,
P.
D.
1995.
Influence
of
pH
and
hardness
on
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
the
amphipod
Hyalella
azteca.
Can.
J.
Fish.
Aquat.
Sci.
52:
2078­
2083.

(
e)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
55
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Species:
Crangonyx
pseudogracilis
(
amphipod),
Philartcus
quaeris
(
caddisfly
larvae),
Simocephalus
vetulus
(
cladoceran),
Orconectes
immunis
(
crayfish),
Musculium
transversum
(
fingernail
clam),
Callibaetis
skokianus
(
mayfly),
Asellus
racovitzai
(
isopod),
Helisoma
trivolvus
(
snail),
Physa
gyrina
(
snail)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LD50
(
fall,
avg
13.5
°
C,
fingernail
clam)
=
avg
1.1
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
20.4
°
C,
48­
h,
cladoceran)
=
avg
1.27
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
17.0
°
C,
48­
h,
cladoceran)
=
avg
2.29
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
winter,
avg
4.0
°
C,
P.
gyrina)
=
avg
1.59
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
24.9
°
C,
P.
gyrina)
=
avg
1.71
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
13.1
°
C,
P.
gyrina)
=
avg
1.97mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
fall,
avg
8.8
°
C,
P.
gyrina)
=
avg
2.29
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
22.0
°
C,
H.
trivolvis)
=
avg
2.04
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
12.9
°
C,
H.
trivolvis)
=
avg
2.76
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
24.9
°
C,
amphipod)
=
avg
1.63
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
winter,
avg
4.0
°
C,
amphipod)
=
avg
2.76
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
13.2
°
C,
amphipod)
=
avg
3.4
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
fall,
avg
12.1
°
C,
amphipod)
=
avg
5.63
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
fall,
avg
10.8
°
C,
mayfly)
=
avg
3.15
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
13.3
°
C,
mayfly)
=
avg
4.82
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
winter,
avg
4.0
°
C,
isopod)
=
avg
4.95
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
22.0
°
C,
isopod)
=
avg
5.09
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
21.9
°
C,
caddisfly)
=
avg
10.07
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
spring,
avg
13.3
°
C,
caddisfly)
=
avg
10.17
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
summer,
avg
17.1
°
C,
crayfish)
=
avg
14.72
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LD50
(
winter,
avg
4.6
°
C,
crayfish)
=
avg
22.84
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
56
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Method:
A
small
diluter
delivered
500
mL
of
toxicant
solution
to
each
of
nine
duplicate
7­
L
test
concentration
and
control
chambers.
Test
substance:
Technical
grade
(
99%
purity)
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
objective
of
the
study
was
to
determine
the
relative
sensitivity
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
to
invertebrates
in
river
water
at
ambient
seasonal
temperatures.
The
difference
in
toxicity
among
the
invertebrates
was
a
factor
of
17.
The
most
sensitive
invertebrate
was
the
fingernail
clam,
which
was
twice
as
sensitive
as
the
two
snail
species.
No
definitive
relationship
between
ammonia
toxicity
and
temperature
could
be
demonstrated.
Mean
pH
varied
by
test
but
was
maintained
in
the
range
7.7­
8.3.
Reference:
Arthur,
J.
W.,
West,
C.
W.,
Allen,
K.
N.,
and
Hedtke,
S.
F.
1987.
Seasonal
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
five
fish
and
nine
invertebrate
species.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
38:
324­
331.

(
f)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Chironomus
riparius
(
midge)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
well
water)
=
6.6­
9.4
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
The
experiment
consisted
of
two
tests
with
well
water
of
six
different
NH3
concentrations
added
and
a
control.
Well
water
was
maintained
at
22
°
C.
Each
test
concentration
had
fifteen
10­
day
old
larvae.
Mean
pH
ranged
from
7.52­
8.17.
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
results
indicate
that
invertebrates
are
generally
more
tolerant
to
ammonia
than
fish.
Reference:
Monda,
D.
P.,
Galat,
D.
L.,
Finger,
S.
E.,
and
Kaiser,
M.
S.
1995.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
(
NH3­
N)
in
sewage
effluent
to
Chironomus
riparius:
II.
Using
a
generalized
linear
model.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
28:
385­
390.

(
g)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
];
closed­
system
[
X]
Species:
Potamopyrgus
antipodarum
(
snail),
Pycnocentria
evecta
(
caddis),
Paratya
curvirostris
(
shrimp),
Sphaerium
novaezelandiae
(
fingernail
clam),
Paracalliope
fluviatilis
(
crustacean),
Lumbriculus
variegatus
(
oligochaeta),
Zephlebia
dentata
(
mayfly),
Deleatidium
spp.
(
mayfly),
and
Zealandobius
furcillatus
(
stonefly)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
The
EC50
values
ranged
from
0.18
to
>
0.8
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
About
150
organisms
of
each
species
were
collected
from
rivers
for
the
toxicity
tests.
Five
replicates
each
containing
five
organisms
in
40­
mL
were
exposed
at
each
concentration.
There
57
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
were
five
test
concentrations
(
2.46,
4.91,
9.82,
19.6,
and
39.3
g/
m3
NH3
for
series
I
and
2.8,
5,
9,
16,
and
28
g/
m3
NH3
for
series
II).
All
species
were
tested
at
15
°
C,
with
snails
tested
at
15,
20,
and
25
°
C.
The
pH
of
Series
I
was
7.6
and
that
of
Series
II
was
8.2.
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
The
rank
of
species
sensitivity
was:
shrimp
 
mayfly
 
stonefly
<
oligochaete
<
fingernail
clam
<
caddisfly
<
crustacean.
Reference:
Hickey,
C.
W.
and
Vickers,
M.
L.
1994.
Toxicity
of
ammonia
to
nine
native
New
Zealand
freshwater
invertebrate
species.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
26:
292­
298.

(
h)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Nitocra
spinipes
(
Harpacticoid)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
N.
spinipes)
=
70
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Method:
N.
spinipes
were
kept
in
test
tubes
containing
10
mL
of
brackish
water
at
room
temperature
(
20­
22
°
C)
and
pH
7.8.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
(~
25%
purity)
(
form
unspecified)
Remarks:
Concentrations
are
based
on
initial
concentration
of
test
material.
Reference:
Linden,
E.,
Bengtsson,
B.
E.,
Svanberg,
O.,
and
Sundstrom,
G.
1979.
The
acute
toxicity
of
78
chemicals
and
pesticide
formulations
against
two
brackish
water
organisms,
the
bleak
(
Alburnus
alburnus)
and
the
harpacticoid
(
Nitocra
spinipes).
Chemosphere
11/
12:
843­
851.

(
i)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
P.
tennuis
(
flatworm);
L.
stagnalis
(
snail);
L.
inermis
(
insect);
C.
riparius
(
midge);
B.
rhodani
(
insect);
P.
fontinalis
(
snail);
E.
ignita
(
insect);
L.
hoffmeisteri
(
oligochaete);
A.
aquaticus
(
isopod);
G.
pulex
(
amphipod);
and
H.
angustipennis
(
caddisfly)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
(
P.
tennuis)
=
0.71
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
L.
stagnalis)
=
1.0
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
L.
intermis)
=
1.6
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
C.
riparius)
=
1.65
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
B.
rhodani)
=
1.7
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
P.
fontinalis)
=
1.7
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
E.
ignita)
=
1.85
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
L.
hoffmeisteri)
=
1.92
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
A.
aquaticus)
=
2.3
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
G.
pulex)
=
2.05
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
H.
angustipennis)
=
2.95
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
58
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Method:
Specimens,
collected
from
local
streams
and
rivers
or
taken
from
laboratory
cultures,
were
acclimated
for
48
hours
prior
to
testing.
Water
was
maintained
at
11.5
°
C
and
pH
7.8­
8.0
and
was
provided
by
a
continuous
flow­
through
system.
Test
substance:
Ammonia
(
NH3;
form
unspecified)
Remarks:
LC50s
for
10,
24,
48,
and
150
hours
are
also
reported.
The
LC50
for
each
species
decreased
with
increasing
ammonia
concentration
(
total
and
un­
ionized).
The
ammonium
ion
was
shown
to
be
not
acutely
toxic
with
the
concentration
of
unionized
ammonia
determining
the
acute
toxicity
of
ammonia.
The
most
sensitive
species
in
this
study,
P.
tennuis,
appears
to
be
of
similar
sensitivity
to
many
fish.
Reference:
Williams,
K.
A.,
Green,
D.
W.,
and
Pascoe,
D.
1986.
Studies
on
the
acute
toxicity
of
pollutants
to
freshwater
macroinvertebrates.
Arch.
Hydrobiol.
106(
1):
61­
70.

(
j)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Mysidopsis
bahia
(
mysids)
Exposure
period:
96­
hours
Results:
LC50
=
0.23­
3.41
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
2.81­
98.9
mg
total
ammonia/
L)
at
salinity
ranging
from
10­
31
ppt
and
pH
6.8­
9.17.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
ASTM
E729­
80
(
1980).
Test
organisms
were
juvenile
mysids
(<
48
hr
old)
fed
throughout
w/
Artemia
nauplii.
Mysids
were
tested
in
either
static
or
flow­
through
systems
at
a
variety
of
different
pHs
(
7.0,
8.0
or
9.0)
and
salinities
(
10­
31
ppt).
Test
temperatures
were
generally
maintained
at
25oC.
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4CL)
59
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
Ammonia
was
most
toxic
at
the
lowest
pH
(
7.0)
with
toxicity
decreasing
as
pH
increased.
Also,
greater
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
mysids
was
observed
at
the
lower
salinity.
Reference:
Miller,
D.
C.,
S.
Poucher,
J.
A.
Cardin
and
D.
Hansen.
1990.
The
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
marine
fish
and
a
mysid.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
19:
40­
48.

(
k)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Rana
pipiens
(
Leopard
frog),
Rana
clamitans
(
Green
Frog),
Bufo
americanus
(
American
toad)
Exposure
period:
3
to
5
days
Results:
See
remarks
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
[
e.
g.
OECD,
other
(
with
the
year
of
publication
or
updated
of
the
method
used)]
Leopard
frog
embryos
were
exposed
for
five
days
to
the
target
NH3
concentrations
of
0,
0.5,
1,
and
2
mg/
L.
American
toad
embryos
were
exposed
for
3
days
and
green
frog
embryos
for
4
days
to
five
target
concentrations
of
0,
0.1,
0.2,
0.5,
and
1
mg/
L.
Exposure
times
differed
because
of
differences
in
development
rates.
Egg
masses
for
each
species
were
placed
in
petri
dishes
and
exposed
to
each
of
the
target
concentrations.
Embryos
were
exposed
until
hatch,
and
then
larval
deformities
and
abnormal
swimming
were
noted.
Twenty
day
old
green
frog
tadpoles
were
also
exposed
to
three
target
concentrations
(
0,
0.01,
and
0.1
mg/
L
NH3).
Mortality,
deformities,
abnormal
pigmentation,
and
abnormal
movement
every
two
days
and
percent
metamorphosis
at
the
end
of
the
experiment
was
determined.
Body
length
was
also
measured.
Tests
were
conducted
in
dechlorinated,
charcoalfiltered
water
of
pH
8
and
23oC.
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Embryo
survival
declined,
the
prevalence
of
deformities
increased
in
newly
hatched
tadpoles,
and
growth
and
development
were
slow
in
embryos
and
tadpoles
exposed
to
unionized
NH3
in
excess
if
0.6
mg/
L
(
green
frogs)
or
1.5
mg/
L
(
leopard
frogs).
No
effects
were
observed
in
American
toads
up
to
an
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentration
of
0.9
mg/
L.
Reference:
Jofre,
M.
B.,
and
Karasov,
W.
H.
1999.
Direct
effect
of
ammonia
on
three
species
of
North
American
anuran
amphibians.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
18(
8):
1806­
1812.
60
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
*
4.3
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
PLANTS,
e.
g.
algae
(
a)
Species:
Benthic
Diatoms:
Navicula
arenaria,
N.
cryptocephala,
N.
salinarum,
Gyrosigma
spencerii,
Nitzschia
sigma,
N.
arenaria,
N.
dissipata,
N.
closterium,
Amphiprora
paludosa,
and
Stauroneis
consticta.
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
X];
Other
[
X]
(
photosynthesis)
Exposure
period:
Up
to
25­
days
Results:
Growth
retardation
(
most
species)
and
photosynthetic
inhibition
(
LOEC)
=
0.5­
1.0
mg
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Unialgal
cultures
of
benthic
diatoms
were
isolated
from
field
samples.
Ten
species
were
isolated
from
various
sites
in
the
Eems­
Dollard
estuary.
The
salinity
of
the
media
in
the
stock
cultures
was
30
or
15
ppt,
depending
on
the
salinity
of
the
original
habitat.
Artificial
seawater
was
used
in
concentrations
of
33.7
or
15.0
ppt
in
accordance
with
the
stock
solutions.
Diatoms
were
grown
in
100
mL
Erlenmeyer
flasks.
Estimates
of
growth
were
made
on
the
basis
of
chlorophyll
content.
Culture
experiments
were
performed
at
12
°
C
and
a
light
period
of
16
hours
per
day.
Ammonia
concentration
were
0.1,
0.5,
1.0,
2.5
and
5.0
mmol/
L.
The
tests
were
conducted
at
either
pH
8
or
9.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
In
both
growth
inhibition
and
photosynthesis
experiments,
the
inhibitory
effects
of
ammonia
were
found
at
concentrations
above
0.5
mg
N/
L.
Inhibition
of
photosynthesis
was
strongly
enhanced
by
high
irradiance
and
high
pH.
Reference:
Admiraal,
W.
1977.
Tolerance
of
estuarine
benthic
diatoms
to
high
concentrations
of
ammonia,
nitrite
ion,
nitrate
ion,
and
orthophosphate.
Mar.
Biol.
43:
307­
315.

(
b)
Species:
Chlorella
ellipsoidea
(
green
alga)
Anabaena
subcylindrica
(
bluegreen
alga)
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
photosynthesis)
Exposure
period:
90­
minutes
Results:
C.
ellipsoidea:
EC50
(
O2
production)
=
1.6
x
10­
7
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
cell
A.
subcylindrica:
EC50
(
O2
production)
=
2.51
x
10­
6
mg
unionized
NH3­
N/
cell.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Both
algae
were
grown
in
500
mL
Erlenmeyer
flasks
in
300
mL
of
Knopp's
solution
adjusted
to
pH
7.2.
Carbon
dioxide
levels
were
provided
by
bubbling
5%
CO2
in
air
at
about
10
mL/
min.
The
temperature
was
maintained
at
25
°
C
and
moderate
light
was
continuous.
Photosynthesis
was
measured
in
a
Gilson
submarine
respirometer
at
pH
8.0.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
61
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Remarks:
Ammonia
concentrations
of
12
to
2,510
and
14
to
1,220
times
greater
than
any
single
amine
concentration
were
needed
to
decrease
A.
subcylindrica
O2
production
or
acetylene
reduction
by
50%,
respectively.
Reference:
Mosier,
A.
R.
1978.
Inhibition
of
photosynthesis
and
nitrogen
fixation
in
algae
by
volatile
nitrogen
bases.
J.
Environ.
Qual.
7(
2):
237­
240.

(
c)
Species:
Chlorella
vulgaris
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
X];
Other
[
X]
(
photosynthesis)
Exposure
period:
21­
days
Results:
At
20­
250
mg
N/
L,
there
were
no
significant
differences
in
specific
growth
rates
and
maximal
cell
densities
attained.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
A
total
of
12
ammonia
concentrations
were
prepared:
0,
10,
20,
40,
50,
60,
80,
125,
250,
500,
750,
and
1,000
mg
N/
L.
The
initial
cell
density
was
1x106
cells/
mL.
The
pH
values
of
the
culture
media
were
adjusted
to
7.0
before
algal
inoculation.
The
algae
were
grown
in
light­
dark
cycles
of
16­
8
hours
for
21
days.
The
algal
cell
number
was
determined
at
3
or
4
day
intervals.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
Growth
occurred
in
all
ammonia
concentrations
(
10­
1,000
mg
N/
L,
although
less
growth
was
found
in
cultures
containing
either
very
low
(
10
mg
N/
L)
or
very
high
(
750
and
1,000
mg
N/
L)
ammonia
concentrations.
Total
chlorophyll
contents
(
µ
g/
mL)
increased
gradually
with
the
incubation
time
in
all
cultures,
with
the
highest
chlorophyll
content
recorded
at
day
21.
Chlorophyll
content
generally
increased
from
0
to
50
mg
N/
L.
At
higher
concentrations,
there
was
no
significant
difference.
Algal
growth
was
accompanied
by
a
decrease
in
nitrogen
content
in
the
medium,
indicating
that
nitrogen
removal
was
due
to
algal
uptake
and
assimilation.
Results
demonstrate
that
C.
vulgaris
can
tolerate
high
concentrations
of
ammonia.
Reference:
Tam,
N.
F.
Y.
and
Wong,
Y.
S.
1996.
Effect
of
ammonia
concentrations
on
growth
of
Chlorella
vulgaris
and
nitrogen
removal
from
media.
Bioresource
Technol.
57:
45­
50.

(
d)
Remarks:
Ammonia
is
used
by
algae
and
aquatic
macrophytes
as
a
source
of
nitrogen
for
protein
synthesis.
Algal
assimilation
may
be
a
significant
sink
for
ammonia
in
freshwater
environments.
It
is
estimated
that
up
to
34%
of
ammonia
may
be
removed
via
algal
assimilation.
Ceratophyllum
demersum,
a
non­
rooted
macrophyte,
can
remove
ammonia
at
the
rate
ammonia
is
released
through
decomposition
in
a
pond.
References:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
62
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.
Ecological
Analysts,
Inc.
1981.
The
Sources,
Chemistry,
Fate,
and
Effects
of
Ammonia
in
Aquatic
Environments.
Washington,
D.
C.:
American
Petroleum
Institute.

4.4
TOXICITY
TO
BACTERIA
(
a)
Species:
Photobacterium
phosphoreum
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
bioluminescence
Exposure
period:
5­
minutes
Results:
EC50
=
1.49
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
3,607
mg
total
NH3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Microtox
bioassays
were
performed
in
duplicate
and
each
test
sample
was
adjusted
to
contain
2
percent
sodium
chloride.
Subsequent
dilutions
were
made
to
give
samples
of
5.63,
11.25,
22.5,
and
45
percent
of
the
original
test
concentration.
Samples
were
maintained
at
15
°
C
and
pH
6.0
to
6.5.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
The
Microtox
test
was
significantly
less
sensitive
than
the
trout
and
daphnid
assays
when
measured
as
total
ammonia.
Results
were
more
similar
between
the
assays
when
measured
as
unionized
NH3.
Reference:
Qureshi,
A.
A.,
Flood,
K.
W.,
Thompson,
S.
R.,
Janhurst,
S.
M.,
Iniss,
C.
S.,
and
Rokosh,
D.
A.
1982.
Comparison
of
luminescent
bacterial
test
with
other
bioassays
for
determining
toxicity
of
pure
compounds
and
complex
effluents.
Aquatic
Toxicology
and
Hazard
Assessment:
Fifth
Conference,
ASTM
STP
766.
Pearson,
J.
G.,
Foster,
R.
B.,
and
Bishop,
W.
E.
(
eds.).
American
Society
for
Testing
and
Materials
(
ASTM).
Pp.
179­
195.

(
b)
Species:
Photobacterium
phosphoreum
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
bioluminescence
Exposure
period:
5­
minutes
Results:
2
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Microtox
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
ammonia
Remarks:
pH
7.0
Reference:
Indorato,
A.
M.
et
al.
1985.
First
International
Symposium
on
Toxicity
Testing
using
Bacteria.
Burlington,
Ontario,
Canada
17­
19
May
1983.
In
Datenblaetter
zum
Katalog
wassergefaehrdender
Stoffe,
KBwS.
Nr.
5.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
63
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
c)
Species:
Photobacterium
phosphoreum
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
bioluminescence
Exposure
period:
5­
minutes
Results:
5.2
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
3575
mg
total
NH3/
L)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Microtox
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
ammonia
Remarks:
pH
9.7
Reference:
Beaumont,
A.
R.
and
Budd,
M.
D.
1984.
Marine.
Poll.
Bull.
15:
402­
405.
In
Vorlaeufige
Ergebnisse
des
F+
E­
Vorhabens
Bewertung
wassergefaehrdender
Stoffe.
1985.
vgl.
Datenblaetter
zum
Katalog
wassergefaehrdender
Stoffee,
KBwS,
Nr.
5.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

(
d)
Species:
Nitrosomonas
and
Nitrobacter
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
nitrification
Exposure
period:
Unspecified
Results:
Nitrification
inhibited
by
10
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
ammonia
Reference:
Neufeld,
R.
D.,
Hill,
A.
J.,
and
Adekoya,
D.
O.
1980.
Phenol
and
free
ammonia
inhibition
to
Nitrosomonas
activity.
Water
Res.
14(
12):
1695­
1703.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
­
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
e)
Species:
Denitrifying
and
ammonifying
bacteria
Endpoint:
Biomass
[
];
Growth
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
metabolism
Exposure
period:
24­
hours
Results:
NOEC
=
170
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
ammonia
Remarks:
A
concentration
of
220
mg
NH3/
L
caused
a
reduction
in
metabolic
processes.
Reference:
Langowska,
I.,
and
Moskal,
J.
1974.
Effect
of
ammonia
and
urea
on
nitrobacteria
in
water
environment.
Pol.
Arch.
Hydrobiol.
21(
1):
119­
123.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
­
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.
64
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
4.5
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
ORGANISMS
4.5.1
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
FISH
(
a)
Remarks:
Chronic
ammonia
toxicity
results
in
gill
hyperplasia
and
may
cause
reduced
swimming
ability
and
inhibit
growth.
Ammonia
acts
on
the
central
nervous
system
of
fish,
causing
hyperventilation,
hyper­
excitability,
coma,
convulsions,
and
finally
death.
References:
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.
Draft,
Unpublished
Version.
Government
of
Canada,
Environment
Canada.

(
b)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
Approximately
5­
years
Results:
Parental
fish
spawned
naturally
at
all
concentrations.
The
F1
fish
did
not
spawn
voluntarily,
although
manual
spawning
of
4
year
old
F1
fish
produced
viable
eggs.
No
significant
correlation
between
ammonia
concentration
and
numbers
of
egg
lots
spawned,
total
numbers
of
eggs
produced,
numbers
of
viable
eggs,
growth
of
progeny,
or
mortality
of
parents
or
progeny.
Blood
ammonia
concentrations
and
histopathological
lesions
were
positively
correlated
with
ammonia
concentrations,
especially
at
0.04
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
and
higher.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Method:
The
test
was
initiated
by
placing
approximately
10
male
and
20
female
fish
into
each
of
six
stainless
steel
troughs
(
one
control
and
5
test
concentrations
ranging
from
0.01­
0.07
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L).
Water
flowed
through
the
troughs
at
an
exchange
rate
of
once
every
22
minutes.
Troughs
also
contained
spawning
baskets
and
egg
trays
to
facilitate
exposure
of
all
life
stages.
Parental
fish
were
exposed
for
11
months,
the
first
filial
generation
(
F1)
for
4
years,
and
the
second
filial
generation
(
F2)
for
5
months.
Mean
pH
of
the
test
water
was
7.7.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.,
Russo,
R.
C.,
Luedtke,
R.
J.,
Smith,
C.
E.,
Meyn,
E.
L.,
Chakoumakos,
C.,
Wong,
K.
C.
and
Brown,
C.
J.
D.
1984.
Chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
rainbow
trout.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
113:
56­
73.

(
c)
65
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
rainbow
trout)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
survival)
Exposure
Period:
Up
to
42­
days
after
hatching
Results:
Toxicity
curves
based
on
mortalities
show
a
21
day
LC50
of
0.25
mg
NH3­
N/
L.
The
mean
lengths
of
fry
from
all
test
concentrations
were
significantly
different
from
those
of
the
controls
at
21
days
after
hatching.
They
remained
significantly
different
to
the
end
of
the
test
period
at
42
days
after
hatching,
with
the
exception
of
those
from
0.05
mg
NH3­
N/
L
at
35
and
42
days,
and
0.10
mg
NH3­
N/
L
at
42
days.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Five
test
concentrations
(
0.05,
0.10,
0.19,
0.28,
and
0.37
mg
NH3­
N/
L)
and
a
control
were
maintained
during
two
runs
at
12
°
C
(
run
1)
and
10
°
C
(
run
2).
Each
run
began
with
310
fertilized
eggs
at
each
concentration.
Exposure
was
continuous
throughout
the
incubation
period
(
25
days
for
run
1
and
33
days
for
run
2)
and
for
42
days
afterwards.
The
pH
of
the
dilution
water
was
7.4­
7.6.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Egg
mortality
was
not
affected
in
either
run
by
any
of
the
ammonia
concentrations.
Growth
and
development
of
rainbow
trout
sac
fry
are
inhibited
by
long­
term
exposures
to
concentrations
of
ammonia
as
low
as
0.05
mg
NH3­
N/
L.
Reference:
Burkhalter,
D.
E.
and
Kaya,
C.
M.
1977.
Effects
of
prolonged
exposure
to
ammonia
on
fertilized
eggs
and
sac
fry
of
rainbow
trout
(
Salmo
gairdneri).
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
106(
5):
470­
474.

(
d)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
outdoor
simulated
streams)
[
X];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Pimephales
promelas
(
fathead
minnow),
Lepomis
macrochirus
(
bluegill),
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish),
Catastomas
commersoni
(
white
sucker),
Stizostedion
vitreum
(
walleye),
Salmo
gairdnei
(
rainbow
trout)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
76­
weeks
Results:
The
maturation
rate
for
fathead
minnow
in
each
stream
was
67­
80%
after
18
days
and
reached
93­
100%
within
60
days.
Samples
of
the
first
generation
showed
no
differences
in
length
or
weight
in
any
of
the
streams.
Egg
production
and
drifting
larvae
were
greater
in
the
control
stream.
Both
percent
eyed
eggs
and
percent
dead
eggs
were
similar
in
all
four
streams.
Second
generation
population
size
as
represented
by
standing
stock
was
highest
in
the
high
treatment.
The
survival
of
66
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
bluegill
was
not
correlated
with
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentrations.
In
all
three
channel
catfish
groups,
growth
in
relation
to
the
control
was
reduced
in
one
or
more
of
the
treatment
streams.
In
the
1983
white
sucker
group,
mortality
was
the
greatest
in
the
control
stream.
Both
yearling
and
youngof
year
walleye
failed
to
survive
in
the
highest
treatment
stream.
There
was
an
indication
of
a
mortality
concentration­
response
relationship
for
all
three
treatment
streams
in
both
groups.
Both
the
1984­
A
and
1984­
B
rainbow
trout
groups
had
increased
mortality
in
the
two
highest
treatment
streams.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
series
of
studies
were
conducted
over
a
76
week
period
in
outdoor
experimental
streams
at
the
Monticello
(
MN)
Ecological
Research
Station.
Intended
total
ammonia
concentrations
were
1,
3,
and
9
mg/
L
in
the
low,
medium,
and
high
treatments.
A
mean
pH
of
8.0
and
temperature
of
20
°
C
was
expected
to
produce
un­
ionized
NH3
concentrations
close
to
0.05,
0.15,
and
0.45
mg/
L
in
streams.
One
to
three
groups
of
six
fish
each
for
each
concentration
were
tested
for
28
to
236
days.
All
fish
were
yearlings
except
for
the
fathead
minnows
and
walleyes.
Total
lengths
and
weights
were
determined
for
all
fish
caught.
Reproduction
studies
were
carried
out
only
with
fathead
minnows.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Technical
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl;
99.3%
purity)
Remarks:
Generally,
the
fish
effect
values
agreed
with
most
laboratory
effect
values.
Reference:
Hermanutz,
R.
O.,
Hedtke,
S.
F.,
Arthur,
J.
W.,
Andrew,
R.
W.,
Allen,
K.
N.,
and
Helgen,
J.
C.
1987.
Ammonia
effects
on
microinvertebrates
and
fish
in
outdoor
experimental
streams.
Environ.
Poll.
47:
249­
283.

(
e)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
Period:
72­
days
Results:
LC50
(
72­
d)
=
0.056
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
macroscopic
malformation
at
hatching)
=
0.063
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
macroscopic
malformation
at
hatching)
=
0.099
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
microscopic
malformation
at
hatching)
=
0.025
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
microscopic
malformation
at
hatching)
=
0.063
mg
unionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Tests
were
carried
out
with
semicontinuous
flow
equipment.
Each
exposure
concentration
had
at
least
20
individuals.
Water
67
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
flow
through
the
30
L
tanks
was
40
L/
hr.
The
pH
of
the
water
was
7.4
and
the
temperature
was
14.5
°
C.
Exposure
began
1
day
after
fertilization
and
ended
when
fry
were
fed
for
30
days.
Each
ammonia
concentration
had
300
animals.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Sensitivity
increased
after
hatching.
Reference:
Calamari,
D.,
Marchetti,
R.,
and
Vailati,
G.
1981.
Effects
of
long­
term
exposure
to
ammonia
on
the
developmental
stages
of
rainbow
trout
(
Salmo
gairdneri
Richardson).
Rapp.
P.­
v.
Reun.
Const.
Int.
Explor.
Mer
178:
81­
86.

(
f)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Salmo
gairdneri
(
Rainbow
trout)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
(
Survival)
[
X]
Exposure
period:
12­
and
35­
days
Results:
LC50
(
12­
d)
=
0.262­
0.676
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LC50
(
35­
d)
=
0.322­
0.659
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Seven
12
day
and
five
35
day
flow­
through
studies
were
conducted.
Five
test
tanks
and
a
control
were
used
for
each
test.
Fish
were
acclimated
to
the
tanks
for
at
least
2
days,
except
for
5
tests
with
1
day
acclimation
periods.
Fish
ages
ranged
from
1
day
old
fry
(<
1
g)
to
4
year
old
adults
(
2.6
g).
Tanks
with
smaller
fish
had
a
water
flow
rate
of
500
mL
every
2­
3
minutes;
replacement
time
was
about
5
hours,
and
full
concentration
was
reached
within
18
hours.
Tanks
with
larger
fish
had
a
water
flow
rate
of
0.5­
5
L/
minute
and
a
turnover
time
of
1.2­
12
hours.
Mean
pH
was
7.85­
7.96.
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
or
ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
All
of
the
12
and
35
day
LC50
values
fell
within
the
range
of
LC50
values
reported
for
the
complete
set
of
96
hour
tests.
No
difference
in
toxicity
with
different
salts
was
observed.
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.
and
Russo,
R.
C.
1983.
Acute
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
rainbow
trout.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
112:
696­
704.

(
g)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
X];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Pimephales
promelas
(
fathead
minnow
embryo­
larva)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
survival)
Exposure
Period:
28­
days
after
mean
hatch
Results:
Average
weight
ranged
from
45.9
mg
at
the
control
to
55.9
mg
at
0.37
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L.
Average
length
ranged
from
14.4
mm
at
the
control
to
14.6
mm
at
0.37
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L.
68
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
MATC
=
0.21
mg
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Test
solutions
were
brought
to
a
pH
of
8
using
KOH.
Test
solutions
were
kept
at
25
°
C.
Each
container
held
30
embryos.
Un­
ionized
NH3­
N
concentrations
were
0.10,
0.17,
0.16,
0.37,
0.59,
and
0.93
mg
NH3­
N/
L.
According
to
ASTM
(
draft)
guidance.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
No
concentration
related
effects
on
hatching
success
and
growth
were
found
when
comparing
ammonia
toxicity
from
Tittabawassee
River
water
and
laboratory
water.
There
was
a
significant
decrease
in
the
number
of
normal
larvae
at
hatch
and
in
larval
survival
at
0.26
mg
NH3­
N/
L
and
higher.
Reference:
Mayes,
M.
A.,
Alexander,
H.
C.,
and
Hopkins,
D.
L.
1986.
Acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
freshwater
fish:
a
sitespecific
study.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
5:
437­
442.

(
h)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Pimephales
promelas
(
Fathead
minnows)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
X];
Other
[
X]
Survival
Exposure
Period:
up
to
337­
days
Results:
NOEC
=
0.37
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
parental
fish)
NOEC
=
0.19
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
F1
fish)
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Each
of
two
tests
were
conducted
with
five
test
concentrations
over
a
range
0.07­
0.96
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
,
plus
a
control
tank.
Each
tank
had
a
water
volume
of
30
L.
The
flow
rate
of
the
toxicant
solution
to
each
tank
was
1
L
every
4­
5
minutes
(
replacement
time
of
2­
2.5
hours).
Each
test
was
begun
by
randomly
distributing
50
larvae,
3­
to
5­
days
old,
into
each
tank
and
rearing
them
to
maturity.
Progeny
of
these
fish
(
F1)
were
reared
until
they
were
60
days
old.
Fish
were
fed
twice
daily
throughout
the
test.
Mean
test
pH
ranged
from
7.95­
8.05.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Survival
of
parental
fish
was
reduced
by
ammonia
only
at
the
highest
concentration
for
each
test
(
0.91­
0.96
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L).
For
both
tests,
the
mean
percent
survival
of
parental
fish
in
all
tanks
but
the
highest
concentration
was
62%
during
the
first
30
days
of
development
and
98%
thereafter.
The
mean
percent
survival
of
F1
larvae
was
38%
and
84%
for
these
same
time
periods.
Parental
fish
in
the
highest
concentration
for
each
test
(
0.91­
0.96
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L)
were
significantly
shorter
than
those
at
any
lower
concentration
at
30
days.
Lesions
on
heads
of
fish
appeared
to
be
of
a
connective­
tissue
type
that
originated
from
the
meninx
primativa
covering
the
brain,
and
varied
from
mild
to
severe.
69
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Reference:
Thurston,
R.
V.,
Russo,
R.
C.,
Meyn,
E.
L.,
Zajdel,
R.
Z.
and
Smith,
C.
E.
1986.
Chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
fathead
minnows.
Trans.
Amer.
Fish.
Soc.
115:
196­
207.

(
i)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Lepomis
macrochirus
(
bluegill
sunfish)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
survival)
Exposure
Period:
14­
days
Results:
NOEC
(
survival
and
growth,
20.0
°
C)
=
0.31
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
NOEC
(
survival
and
growth,
12.0
º
C)
=
0.36
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Larval
bluegill
were
exposed
for
14
days
and
each
sample
consisted
of
10
organisms.
The
LC50
and
NOEC
in
warm­
water
conditions
were
adjusted
for
pH
8.0
and
20.0
°
C;
in
cold
water
conditions
were
adjusted
for
pH
8.0
and
12.0
º
C
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Contrary
to
the
acute
results
reported
earlier,
chronic
testing
indicated
that
bluegills
were
slightly
less
sensitive
at
colder
temperatures
during
exposure.
Reference:
Diamond,
J.
M.,
Mackler,
D.
G.,
Rasnake,
W.
J.,
and
Gruber,
D.
1993.
Derivation
of
site­
specific
ammonia
criteria
for
an
effluent­
dominated
headwater
stream.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
12:
649­
658.

(
j)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Lepomis
cyanellus
(
green
sunfish)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
40­
days
Results:
Mean
wet
weights
of
juveniles
ranged
from
115
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
in
the
control
to
54
mg
at
1.02
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
NOEC
=
0.22
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
=
0.49
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Test
solutions
consisted
of
a
control
and
five
ammonia
concentrations
in
duplicate.
Each
sample
had
30
individuals.
Test
solutions
had
a
pH
of
7.9.
Because
of
the
complete
mortality
within
10
days
of
hatching
in
both
replicates
at
1.02
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L,
a
second
set
of
duplicates
with
60
fish
each
was
studied.
Embryos
were
tested
at
0.05,
0.12,
0.48,
and
0.91
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
and
juveniles
were
tested
at
0.05,
0.11,
0.22,
0.49,
and
1.02
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
70
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
stock
solution
Remarks:
Hatching
success
was
unaffected
by
exposure
to
un­
ionized
NH3
concentrations.
However,
by
3­
4
days
post­
hatching,
87%
of
the
surviving
larvae
at
0.91
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
had
developed
deformities.
During
the
10
days
following
hatching,
mortalities
reached
100%
at
the
highest
concentration.
Reference:
McCormick,
J.
H.,
Broderius,
S.
J.,
and
Fiandt,
J.
T.
1984.
Toxicity
of
ammonia
to
early
life
stages
of
the
green
sunfish
Lepomis
cyanellus.
Environ.
Poll.
(
Series
A)
36:
147­
163.

(
k)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
Channel
catfish)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
31­
days
Results:
NOEC
(
growth/
weight)
<
48
µ
g
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
The
flow
to
each
40­
L
aquarium
was
150
mL/
min.
A
20­
min
gradual
off­
on
of
the
photoperiod
was
used.
The
fish
were
fed
twice
a
day
during
the
14
day
acclimation
period
and
31
day
dosing
period,
except
for
the
day
prior
to
weighing
Fifteen
to
20
test
animals
were
exposed
to
each
of
12
ammonia
concentrations
ranging
from
48­
2048
µ
g
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L.
The
aquariums
were
cleaned
each
week.
The
temperature
was
maintained
at
27.9
°
C
and
pH
varied
from
8.30
to
8.44.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Over
the
range
of
217­
779
µ
g/
L
un­
ionized
NH3­
N,
there
were
only
9
mortalities
and
16
fish
did
not
grow,
compared
to
1
mortality
and
2
no­
growth
fish
in
the
controls.
The
total
number
of
fish
was
approximately
400.
On
a
wet
weight
basis,
growth
was
reduced
by
50%
at
517
µ
g/
L
un­
ionized
NH3­
N
and
no
growth
occurred
at
967
µ
g/
L
un­
ionized
NH3­
N
and
higher.
Above
500
µ
g/
L
un­
ionized
NH3­
N,
there
was
increasing
damage
to
the
dorsal
and
pectoral
fins.
The
authors
suggested
that
ionized
ammonia
(
NH4
+)
caused
the
sublethal
effects
observed.
Reference:
Colt,
J.
and
Tchobanoglous,
G.
1978.
Chronic
exposure
of
channel
catfish
Ictalurus
punctatus,
to
ammonia:
effects
on
growth
and
survival.
Aquaculture
15:
353­
372.

(
l)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Menidia
beryllina
(
Silversides)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
(
survival)
[
X]
Exposure
period:
28­
days
71
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Results:
NOEC
(
fry
weight)
=
0.05
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L;
(
2.1
mg
total
ammonia/
L)
MATC
=
0.061
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
ASTM
E­
47.01
(
1985)
Test
organisms
were
one
to
two
week
old
larval
silversides.
Fish
were
tested
in
flow­
through
systems
at
temperatures
of
23.5­
25
°
C
and
salinities
of
30­
33
ppt.
Test
concentrations
were
0.002,
0.050,
0.074,
0.16,
0.22,
and
0.38
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
Mean
pH
values
were
7.36­
7.86.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Average
weights
of
fish
in
ammonia
concentrations
from
0.074
up
to
0.38
mg/
L
ranged
from
87.7%
to
68.5%
of
the
mean
control
weight.
Survival
was
reduced
significantly
only
at
the
highest
treatment.
Reference:
Miller,
D.
C.,
Poucher,
S.,
Cardin,
J.
A.,
and
Hansen,
D.
1990.
The
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
marine
fish
and
a
mysid.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
19:
40­
48.

(
m)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Oncorhynchus
gorbuscha
(
Pink
salmon)
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
21,
40,
or
61­
days
Results:
NOEC
=
1.2
mg/
L
un­
ionized
NH3
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Three
groups
of
alevins
were
exposed
to
ammonium
sulfate
solutions
for
three
different
lengths
of
time;
21­,
40­,
and
61­
d.
In
each
group,
subgroups
were
exposed
to
concentrations
of
unionized
ammonia
ranging
from
0
to
4
ppb.
Test
organisms
were
exposed
at
pH
6.3­
6.5
and
3.7­
4.8
°
C.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
sulfate
((
NH4)
2SO4)
Remarks:
The
highest
exposure
concentration
of
ammonia
caused
significant
decreases
in
weight
of
exposed
fry
in
all
three
exposure
groups.
At
2.4
ppb
un­
ionized
ammonia,
the
groups
held
for
40
days
and
61
days
were
significantly
smaller
in
length
and
weight
and
at
1.2
ppb
un­
ionized
ammonia
there
was
no
significant
difference.
Effects
were
consistently
more
adverse
for
groups
held
61
days.
72
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Reference:
Rice,
S.
D.
and
Bailey,
J.
E.
1980.
Survival,
size,
and
emergence
of
pink
salmon,
Oncorhynchus
gorbuscha,
alevins
after
short­
and
long­
term
exposures
to
ammonia.
Fish.
Bull.
78(
3):
641­
648.

(
n)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Ictalurus
punctatus
(
channel
catfish)
Exposure
period:
8­
days
Results:
mean
LC50
(
pH
7.7­
8.0;
21.1­
22.8
°
C)
=
37.5
ppm
total
ammonia
mean
LC100
(
pH
7.9­
8.2;
22.8
°
C)
=
45.7
ppm
total
ammonia
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Twenty
fish
were
placed
into
each
of
four
7.5
gallon
bowls.
Water
from
an
Aqualoop
system
(
a
controlled
environment
filtration
system)
was
added
and
allowed
to
come
to
equilibrium.
The
pH
was
7.2­
8.2.
The
fish
were
hand­
fed
as
much
as
they
would
eat
once
a
day
but
feeding
was
stopped
during
the
test.
The
ammonia
level
was
allowed
to
rise
naturally
due
to
ammonia
excretion
by
the
fish.
Daily
samples
were
taken
from
each
bowl
and
analyzed
for
pH,
dissolved
oxygen,
and
total
ammonia.
Ammonia
levels
were
determined
by
the
direct
nesslerization
method
for
ammonia
nitrogen.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
(
NH3)
(
from
natural
excretion)
Remarks:
It
took
approximately
one
week
to
reach
the
LC50
value,
with
the
LC100
value
reached
within
another
24
hours
after
that.
Reference:
Knepp,
G.
L.
and
Arkin,
G.
F.
1973.
Ammonia
toxicity
levels
and
nitrate
tolerance
of
channel
catfish.
Prog.
Fish.­
Cult.
35(
4):
221­
224.

*
4.5.2
CHRONIC
TOXICITY
TO
AQUATIC
INVERTEBRATES
(
a)
Type
of
test:
static
[
X];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Daphnia
magna
End­
point:
Length
of
fish
[
];
Weight
of
fish
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
21­
days
Results:
MATC
=
0.60
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
NOEC
=
0.42
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
Test
solutions
ranged
from
0.22
to
3.65
mg
un­
ionized
NH3­
N/
L.
Test
solutions
were
adjusted
to
a
pH
of
8.6
with
KOH.
Each
600
mL
test
beaker
contained
500­
mL
of
test
solution.
There
were
four
replicates
for
each
concentration
and
the
control
with
five
daphnids
per
replicate.
The
test
beakers
were
maintained
at
20
°
C.
73
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Tittabawassee
River
water
did
not
increase
or
decrease
the
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
D.
magna.
Reference:
Gersich,
F.
M.
and
Hopkins,
D.
L.
1986.
Site­
specific
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
Daphnia
magna
Straus.
Environ.
Toxicol.
Chem.
5:
443­
447.

(
b)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Mysidopsis
bahia
(
mysids)
End­
point:
Length
of
[
X];
Weight
of
fish
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
period:
32­
days
Results:
NOEC
(
length)
=
0.163
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
(
3.47
mg
total
ammonia/
L)
MATC
=
0.232
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
ASTM
E
1191­
87
(
1987)
Six
replicates
at
each
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentration
had
ten
newly
hatched
(<
48
hours)
mysids
each.
Eighty
stage­
18
embryos
were
used
per
treatment.
Mysids
were
tested
in
flowthrough
systems
at
temperatures
of
24.5­
26.5
°
C
and
salinities
of
30­
32
ppt.
Mean
pH
was
7.92­
8.01.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Reagent
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl)
Remarks:
Mysid
survival
was
significantly
reduced
at
0.048,
but
not
the
next
two
higher
concentrations,
and
at
0.331
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L.
Length
was
significantly
effected
at
0.331
mg
unionized
NH3/
L.
Reference:
Miller,
D.
C.,
Poucher,
S.,
Cardin,
J.
A.,
and
Hansen,
D.
1990.
The
acute
and
chronic
toxicity
of
ammonia
to
marine
fish
and
a
mysid.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
19:
40­
48.

(
c)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
X];
other
(
e.
g.
field
test)
[
];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Musculium
transversum
(
fingernail
clam)
End­
point:
Length
of
invertebrate
[
X];
Weight
of
invertebrate
[
X];
Reproduction
rate
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
Period:
up
to
8­
weeks
Results:
LOEC
(
survival)
=
0.09­
0.16
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
LOEC
(
growth
and
reproduction)
=
0.14
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
The
effects
of
ammonia
on
survival,
growth,
and
reproduction
were
tested
in
outdoor
experimental
streams.
Nominal
test
solutions
were
0.05,
0.15,
and
0.45
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
in
the
low,
medium,
and
high
dose
channels,
respectively.
This
was
a
two
year
study.
In
1983,
there
were
two
cages
containing
20
young
clams
each
in
each
test
concentration.
During
the
test
to
74
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
determine
the
effect
of
ammonia
on
survival
and
growth,
one
cage
from
each
concentration
was
removed
after
six
seeks
and
the
second
after
eight
weeks.
During
the
test
to
determine
the
effect
of
ammonia
on
reproduction,
the
first
cage
from
each
concentration
was
removed
after
two
weeks
and
the
second
after
four
weeks.
In
1984,
two
additional
studies
were
run.
The
study
used
to
determine
the
effects
of
ammonia
on
clam
survival
used
20
clams
in
each
of
eight
cages.
Every
two
weeks
two
cages
were
removed
from
each
concentration.
The
second
study
looked
at
the
effects
of
ammonia
on
growth
and
reproduction.
Three
cages
containing
20
young
clams
each
and
three
containing
20
adult
clams
each
were
removed
after
four
weeks.
pH
ranged
from
7.0­
8.7.
Temperatures
in
1983
were
17.4­
28.3
°
C
and
in
1984
were
20.7­
28.7
°
C.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Technical
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl;
>
99.3%
purity)
Remarks:
The
1983
results
suggest
that
older
clams
are
more
sensitive
to
ammonia
than
younger
clams.
Length
increases
were
greater
in
the
control
and
low
ammonia
streams
than
in
the
medium
treatments.
In
the
1984
test,
no
clams
in
0.51
mg
un­
ionized
NH3/
L
survived
much
beyond
four
weeks.
The
1984
test
showed
depressed
growth
in
the
low
un­
ionized
NH3
stream.
Reproduction
was
reduced
in
the
low
un­
ionized
NH3
stream.
The
number
of
newborn
clams
recovered
from
cages
after
four
weeks
of
exposure
in
the
low
treatment
stream
was
approximately
10%
of
the
number
from
the
control
stream.
Results
of
the
1983
study
are
confounded
by
several
factors
which
make
the
conditions
less
than
optimal
(
e.
g.
low
initial
density,
inappropriate
substrate,
excessive
mesh
size
in
cages
leading
to
possible
loss
of
newborn
clams,
etc.).
Reference:
Zischke,
J.
A.
and
Arthur,
J.
W.
1987.
Effects
of
elevated
ammonia
levels
on
the
fingernail
clam,
Musculium
transversum,
in
outdoor
experimental
streams.
Arch.
Environ.
Contam.
Toxicol.
16:
225­
231.

(
d)
Type
of
test:
static
[
];
semi­
static
[
];
flow­
through
[
];
other
(
outdoor
simulated
streams)
[
X];
open­
system
[
X];
closed­
system
[
]
Species:
Cladocera,
copepods,
rotifers,
and
protozoa
End­
point:
Length
of
invertebrate
[
];
Weight
of
invertebrate
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
Period:
76­
weeks
Results:
Protozoan
mean
population
densities
appeared
lower
in
the
medium
and
high
treatments,
but
variability
was
too
high
to
show
any
statistical
differences.
Copepod
and
rotifer
populations
did
not
appear
to
be
adversely
affected
by
any
of
the
un­
ionized
ammonia
concentrations,
but
it
is
not
clear
whether
cladoceran
and
protozoan
populations
were
adversely
affected
by
un­
ionized
ammonia.
Cladocerans
were
reduced
in
all
three
75
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
treatments
relative
to
the
control;
however,
their
reduction
did
not
follow
a
concentration­
response
relationship.
Analytical
monitoring:
Yes
[
X]
No
[
]
?
[
]
Method:
A
mean
pH
of
8.0
and
temperature
of
20
°
C
was
expected
to
produce
un­
ionized
NH3
concentrations
close
to
0.05,
0.15,
and
0.45
mg/
L
in
streams.
The
flow
rate
into
each
stream
was
0.8
m3/
min.
Microinvertebrate
population
densities
and
number
of
taxa
were
estimated
by
direct
sampling
with
funnel
trap
samplers.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Technical
grade
ammonium
chloride
(
NH4Cl;
99.3%
purity)
Reference:
Hermanutz,
R.
O.,
Hedtke,
S.
F.,
Arthur,
J.
W.,
Andrew,
R.
W.,
Allen,
K.
N.,
and
Helgen,
J.
C.
1987.
Ammonia
effects
on
microinvertebrates
and
fish
in
outdoor
experimental
streams.
Environ.
Poll.
47:
249­
283.

4.6
TOXICITY
TO
TERRESTRIAL
ORGANISMS
4.6.1
TOXICITY
TO
SOIL
DWELLING
ORGANISMS
No
specific
toxicity
test
using
soil
dwelling
organisms
was
identified.

4.6.2
TOXICITY
TO
TERRESTRIAL
PLANTS
Remarks:
Ammonia
toxicity
in
terrestrial
plants
affects
both
photosynthetic
and
respiratory
pathways.
Ammonium
ions
can
cause
inhibition
of
photosynthesis
through
uncoupling
of
noncylic
photophosphorylation.
References:
Clement
Associates,
Inc.
1990.
Health
Effects
Assessment
for
Ammonia.
Prepared
for
The
Fertilizer
Institute,
Washington,
D.
C.
76
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
(
a)
Species:
Helianthus
annus
(
sunflower),
Sinapsis
sp.
(
mustard),
Taraxacum
officinale
(
dandelion),
Chenopodium
sp.
(
pigweed),
Stellaria
media
(
chickweed)
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
damaged
leaf
area)
Exposure
period:
4­
hours
Results:
LOEC
=
3
ppm
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Remarks:
Little
effect
was
observed
at
the
LOEC.
Reference:
Benedict,
H.
M.
and
Breen,
W.
H.
1955.
The
use
of
weeds
as
a
means
of
evaluating
vegetation
damage
caused
by
air
pollution.
Proc.
3rd
Natl.
Pollution
Symp.
Pasadena,
Calif.
Pp.
177­
190.
Zitiert
nach:
DSM,
Inventory
of
data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft,
1992.
RO471001/
4150J.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.
(
b)
Species:
Taraxacum
officinale
(
dandelion),
Chenopodium
sp.
(
pigweed),
Stellaria
media
(
chickweed)
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
damaged
leaf
area)
Exposure
period:
4­
hours
Results:
LOEC
=
12
ppm
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Reference:
Benedict,
H.
M.
and
Breen,
W.
H.
1955.
The
use
of
weeds
as
a
means
of
evaluating
vegetation
damage
caused
by
air
pollution.
Proc.
3rd
Natl.
Pollution
Symp.
Pasadena,
Calif.
Pp.
177­
190.
Zitiert
nach:
DSM,
Inventory
of
data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft,
1992.
RO471001/
4150J.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

(
c)
Species:
Fagopyrum
esculentum
(
buckwheat),
Coleus
sp.,
Helianthus
annuus
(
sunflower),
Solanum
lycopersicum
(
tomato)
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
foliage
injury)
Exposure
period:
4­
hours
Results:
LOEC
=
16.6
ppm
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Reference:
Shah,
K.
D.
1988.
Hazardous
properties
of
ammonia,
Draft.
zitiert
nach:
DSM,
Inventory
of
data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft.
1992.
RO471001/
4150J.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

(
d)
77
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Species:
Fagopyrum
esculentum
(
buckwheat),
Coleus
sp.,
Helianthus
annuus
(
sunflower),
Solanum
lycopersicum
(
tomato)
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
foliage
injury)
Exposure
period:
4­
hours
Results:
LOEC
=
40
ppm
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Reference:
Shah,
K.
D.
1988.
Hazardous
properties
of
ammonia,
Draft.
zitiert
nach:
DSM,
Inventory
of
data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft.
1992.
RO471001/
4150J.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

(
e)
Species:
Solanum
lycopersicum
(
tomato),
Helianthus
annuus
(
sunflower),
Coleus
sp.
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
period:
1­
hour
Results:
LC100
=
40
ppm
(
28
mg/
m3)
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Remarks:
Completely
injured
Reference:
Zimmerman,
P.
W.
1949.
Impurities
in
the
air
and
their
influence
on
plant
life.
In:
Proceedings
of
the
First
National
Air
Pollution
Symposium.
Pasadean,
California.
Pp.
135­
141.
Zitiert
nach:
DSM,
Inventory
of
data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft.
1992.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database
and
in
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
f)
Species:
Tomatoes,
buckwheat,
tobacco
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
Foliar
necrosis)
Exposure
period:
4,
5,
or
8­
minutes
Results:
See
remarks.
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Remarks:
An
exposure
of
175
mg/
m3
(
250
ppm)
NH3
for
4
minutes
produced
50%
foliar
necrosis
in
tomatoes,
whereas
the
same
foliar
injury
was
only
produced
in
buckwheat
and
tobacco
with
exposure
to
700
mg/
m3
(
1,000
ppm)
for
5
and
8
minutes,
respectively.
Reference:
Thornton,
N.
C.
and
Setterstrom,
C.
1940.
Toxicity
of
ammonia,
chlorine,
hydrogen
cyanide,
hydrogen
sulphide,
and
sulphur,
dioxide
gases.
III.
Green
Plants.
Contrib.
Boyce
Thompson
Inst.
11:
343­
356.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
78
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
g)
Species:
Spring
rye
seeds
and
radish
seeds
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
X];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
4
or
16­
hours
Results:
See
remarks.
Method:
Unspecified
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Ammonia
gas
Remarks:
Moist
spring
rye
seeds
were
killed
in
a
4­
h
exposure
to
700
mg/
m3
(
1,000
ppm)
NH3,
whereas
moist
radish
seeds
were
still
viable
after
16
hour.
Exposure
to
175
mg/
m3
(
250
ppm)
NH3
for
16
hour
reduced
germination
of
rye
seeds
by
half,
but
had
no
effect
on
radish
seeds.
Reference:
Barton,
L.
V.
1940.
Toxicity
of
ammonia,
chlorine,
hydrogen
cyanide,
hydrogen
sulphide,
and
sulphur
dioxide
gases.
IV.
Seeds.
Contrib.
Boyce
Thompson
Inst.
11:
357­
363.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
h)
Species:
Hordeium
sativum
(
barley),
Beta
vulgaris
(
sugar
beet),
Beta
vulgaris
(
garden
beet),
Spinacia
oleracea
(
spinach)
Endpoint:
Emergence
[
];
Growth
[
];
Other
[
X]
(
respiration)
Exposure
period:
4­
hours
Results:
Treatment
of
barley
roots
with
1.6x10­
3
M
un­
ionized
ammonia
reduced
their
respiration
23
percent
and
3.3x10­
3
M
un­
ionized
ammonia
caused
a
78
percent
inhibition
after
4
hours.
The
respiration
of
barley
roots
treated
with
1x10­
3
to
3x10­
3
M
unionized
ammonia
was
reduced
by
46
to
62
percent
within
4
hours.
Method:
Barley
roots
were
treated
with
gaseous
ammonia.
In
other
experiments
leaves
and
root
tissues
were
suspended
in
buffer
and
treated
with
ammonia
solutions.
Mitochondria
were
prepared
from
garden
been
roots.
All
work
was
performed
at
0
to
3
°
C.
One­
hundred
grams
of
plant
tissue
with
100
mL
of
homogenizing
medium
were
placed
in
a
1­
L
blender.
Total
blending
time
was
16
seconds
in
4­
second
intervals
one
minute
apart.
Suspension
was
certified
to
isolate
the
mitochondria.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X
]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Gaseous
ammonia
(
NH3)
evolved
from
ammonium
hydroxide
(
NH4OH)
Remarks:
The
pH
itself
has
often
been
implicated
as
the
basic
cause
of
toxicity
to
plants
resulting
from
ammonia
applications.
However,
the
results
of
this
study
indicate
that
the
toxicity
results
from
reactions
of
ammonia
inside
the
cells
and
that
the
primary
effect
of
a
high
pH
in
increasing
damage
to
plants
from
ammonia
is
probably
an
increase
in
the
amount
of
ammonia
79
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
entering
the
cell.
Gaseous
and
un­
ionized
ammonia
in
equal
concentrations
were
found
to
inhibit
respiration
to
the
same
degree
in
plant
tissue,
thus
indicating
that
the
unionized
form
is
the
primary
toxic
agent.
Reference:
Vines,
H.
M.
and
Wedding,
R.
T.
1960.
Some
effects
of
ammonia
on
plant
metabolism
and
a
possible
mechanism
for
ammonia
toxicity.
Plant
Physiol.
35:
820­
825.

4.6.3
TOXICITY
TO
OTHER
NON­
MAMMALIAN
TERRESTRIAL
SPECIES
(
INCLUDING
BIRDS)

(
a)
Type:
LD0
[
];
LD100
[
];
LD50
[
X];
LDL0
[
];
Other
[
X]
Species/
strain:
Gallus
domesticus
(
White
Leghorn
chicks)
Exposure
Time:
1­
hour
Results:
LD50
(
intravenous;
chicks)
=
2.72
mM
CH3COONH4/
kg
LD50
(
intraperitoneal;
chicks)
=
10.44
mM
CH3COONH4/
kg
Method:
A
total
of
200
chicks
were
used.
One­
half
to
1.5
mL
isotonic
saline
containing
ammonium
acetate
was
injected
rapidly
into
the
wing
vein
of
the
chicks
for
intravenous
studies,
and
into
the
peritoneal
cavity
for
the
intraperitoneal
studies.
Ten
animals
were
exposed
to
each
of
eight
to
eleven
concentration
groups.
Animals
were
observed
continually
until
all
sizes
of
acute
toxicity
disappeared
and
the
survivors
counted
after
1
hour.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Ammonium
acetate
(
CH3COONH4)
Remarks:
In
the
intravenous
studies,
reaction
began
immediately,
characterized
by
hyperventilation
and
clonic
convulsions.
In
individuals
who
died,
clonic
convulsions
were
followed
by
a
fatal
tonic
extensor
convulsion.
Chicks
exhibited
clonic
convulsions
followed
by
a
gradual
onset
of
coma
and
completely
recovered
in
50­
60
minutes.
The
reaction
to
the
intraperitoneal
dose
included
clonic
convulsions
accompanied
by
a
gradual
onset
of
coma
began
10­
15
minutes
after
injection.
Animals
either
died
of
a
fatal
tonic
extensor
convulsion
or
recovered
in
50­
60
minutes.
Reference:
Wilson,
R.
P.,
Muhrer,
M.
E.,
and
Bloomfield,
R.
A.
1968.
Comparative
ammonia
toxicity.
Comp.
Biochem.
Physiol.
25:
295­
301.

(
b)
Species:
Wild
birds
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Weight
[
];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
7­
minutes
Results:
Within
0.5­
h,
dead
starlings,
sparrows,
and
pigeons
were
removed
from
the
barns.
Method:
Farm
buildings
were
sealed
and
treated
with
anhydrous
ammonia
at
1600
mg/
m3
(
2,285
ppm)
for
7
minutes,
then
reopened.
Farm
80
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
animals
were
placed
back
in
the
barns
within
1
hour
of
their
reopening.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Anhydrous
ammonia
(
NH3)
Reference:
Day,
D.
L.,
Hansen,
E.
L,
and
Anderson,
S.
1965.
Gases
and
odors
in
confinement
swine
buildings.
Trans.
Am.
Soc.
Agric.
Eng.
8:
118­
121.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
c)
Species:
Leghorn
chickens
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Weight
[
X];
Other
[
]
Exposure
period:
up
to
12
weeks
Results:
No
significant
effects
were
observed
at
20
ppm
un­
ionized
NH3
through
six
weeks
of
exposure.
Effects
observed
at
200
ppm
unionized
NH3
included
rubbing
of
the
eyes
and
slight
lacrimation,
anorexia,
and
subsequent
weight
loss.
Method:
A
controlled­
environment
cabinet
was
maintained
at
75
°
F.
Anhydrous
ammonia
supplied
in
15­
lb
cylinders
was
released
into
the
chambers
to
maintain
either
20,
200
or
1000
ppm
concentrations.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
X]
?
[
]
Test
substance:
Anhydrous
ammonia
(
NH3)
Remarks:
After
6
weeks
of
continuous
exposure
to
20
ppm,
gross
examination
revealed
lungs
darker
in
color
and
more
dense
than
the
controls.
Chickens
exposed
continuously
to
200
ppm
showed
signs
of
discomfort
during
the
first
few
days
of
exposure.
At
necropsy
following
17
days
of
exposure
to
200
ppm,
the
gross
changes
were
limited
to
the
respiratory
system,
all
eye
irritation
having
disappeared.
Histopathological
changes
were
pulmonary
edema,
congestion,
and
hemorrhage.
After
8
days
of
exposure
to
1,000
ppm
ammonia,
corneal
opacities
began
to
appear.
After
14
days,
nearly
all
birds
exhibited
bilateral
corneal
opacities.
Reference:
Anderson,
D.
P.,
Beard,
C.
W.,
and
Hanson,
R.
P.
1964.
The
adverse
effects
of
ammonia
on
chickens
including
resistance
to
infection
with
newcastle
disease
virus.
Avian
Dis.
8:
369­
379.

(
d)
Species:
Chicks
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Weight
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
period:
Unspecified
Results:
Tracheitis
was
observed
at
42­
49
mg/
m3
(
60
to
70
ppm)
NH3
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
ammonia
Remarks:
Breathing
was
audible
as
moist
rales
with
bubbling
sounds.
At
post­
mortem
examination,
some
of
the
birds
had
slight
81
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
congestion
of
the
lungs
with
excess
mucous
in
the
respiratory
tract.
Reference:
Valentine,
H.
1964.
A
study
of
the
effect
of
different
ventilation
rates
on
the
ammonia
concentrations
in
the
atmosphere
of
broiler
houses.
Br.
Poult.
Sci.
5:
149­
159.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.

(
e)
Species:
Laying
hens
Endpoint:
Mortality
[
];
Reproduction
rate
[
];
Weight
[
];
Other
[
X]
Exposure
period:
10­
weeks
Results:
Significantly
reduced
egg
production
was
observed
at
73.5
mg/
m3
(
105
ppm)
un­
ionized
NH3
after
10
weeks
of
exposure.
Method:
Laying
hens
were
exposed
to
atmospheric
ammonia
at
18oC.
GLP:
Yes
[
]
No
[
]
?
[
X]
Test
substance:
Unspecified
atmospheric
ammonia
Remarks:
No
effects
were
observed
on
egg
quality.
Food
intake
was
reduced
and
weight
gain
was
lower.
During
a
12
week
recovery
period,
egg
production
remained
reduced.
Reference:
Charles,
D.
R.
and
Payne,
C.
G.
1966.
The
influence
of
graded
levels
of
atmospheric
ammonia
on
chickens.
II.
Effects
on
the
performance
of
laying
hens.
Br.
Poult.
Sci.
7:
189­
198.
In
World
Health
Organization
(
WHO).
1986.
Ammonia
 
Environmental
Health
Criteria
54.
Geneva:
International
Programme
on
Chemical
Safety.
82
Ammonia
(
CAS
No.
7664­
41­
7)
4.7
BIOLOGICAL
EFFECTS
MONITORING
Type:
Animal
[
];
Aquatic
[
];
Plant
[
];
Terrestrial
[
];
Other
[
X]
Remarks:
Ammonia
is
normally
present
in
all
tissues
constituting
a
metabolic
pool.
Ammonia
is
taken
up
by
glutamic
acid
in
many
tissues,
and
this
will
take
part
in
a
variety
of
transamination
and
other
reactions.
In
the
liver,
ammonia
is
used
in
the
synthesis
of
protein
by
the
Krebs­
Hanseleit
cycle.
Reference:
DSM,
Inventory
of
Data
on
chemicals,
Ammonia,
Delft.
1992.
LRO471001/
4150J.
In
European
Commission.
1996.
Ammonia.
International
Uniform
Chemical
Information
Database.

4.8
BIOTRANSFORMATION
AND
KINETICS
(
a)
Type:
Animal
[
X];
Aquatic
[
X];
Plant
[
];
Terrestrial
[
];
Other
[
]
Results:
Control
=
7.11
mg
haemolymph
NH3­
N/
L
At
100
mg/
L
NH3­
N
seawater;
5­
min
=
7.51
mg
haemolymph
NH3­
N/
L
At
100
mg/
L
NH3­
N
seawater;
6­
h
=
20.59
mg
haemolymph
NH3­
N/
L
Remarks:
This
study
suggests
that
when
shrimp
were
exposed
to
more
than
10
mg/
L
total
ammonia­
N,
diffusion
of
un­
ionized
ammonia
from
haemolymph
to
water
was
replaced
by
diffusion
from
unionized
ammonia
from
water
to
haemolymph.
Diffusion
of
ammonia
from
blood
to
water,
exchange
of
ionized­
ammonia
for
sodium
ion,
and
conversion
to
non­
toxic
compounds
are
three
routes
by
which
fish
and
crustaceans
lose
metabolic
ammonia.
Reference:
Chen,
J.
C.
and
Kou,
Y.
Z.
1993.
Accumulation
of
ammonia
in
the
haemolymph
of
Penaeus
monodon
exposed
to
ambient
ammonia.
Aquaculture
109:
177­
185.

(
b)
Remarks:
Elevated
ammonia
levels
in
the
brain
causes
NADH
depletion
due
in
part
to
TCA
cycle
impairment
in
mammals
and
fish.
TCA
cycle
is
impaired
because
of
a
decrease
in
succinate
in
fish
and
ketoglutarate
in
mammals.
Ammonia
stimulates
glycolysis
in
fish
by
activation
of
phosphofructokinase.
Increases
in
pyruvate
and
lactate
levels
in
rainbow
trout
exposed
to
elevated
ammonia
water
levels
have
also
been
observed.
It
has
also
been
suggested
that
ammonia
effects
ionic
balance
in
fish,
reducing
Na+
influx
and
K+
loss
through
substitution
of
Na+
for
K+
in
Na+/
K+
­
ATPase,
and/
or
Na+/
K+/
2C1­
co­
transport
and/
or
the
substitution
for
H+
in
Na+/
H+
exchange.
References:
The
following
references
were
sited
under
Constable,
M.,
Jensen,
F.,
McLernon,
J.
Craig.,
G.,
Moore,
D.
1999.
Canadian
Environmental
Protection
Act,
Priority
Substances
List
II:
Supporting
Document
for
Ammonia
in
the
Aquatic
Environment.