Dimethylformamide in freshwater and marine water

Toxicant default guideline values for protecting aquatic ecosystems

October 2000

Extracted from Section 8.3.7 ‘Detailed descriptions of chemicals’ of the ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines.

The default guideline values (previously known as ‘trigger values’) and associated information in this technical brief should be used in accordance with the detailed guidance provided in the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.

Description of chemical

Dimethylformamide (CAS 68-12-2)

Aquatic toxicology

Freshwater fish: five species, 48 to 96-hour LC50, 1000 to 12,000 mg/L (x 1000 µg/L).

Freshwater crustaceans: one species, Daphnia magna 48-hour EC/LC50, 14,500 mg/L.

Freshwater insects: three species, 48-hour LC50, 3620 to 36,000 mg/L.

Guideline

A freshwater low reliability trigger value of 1000 µg/L was calculated for dimethylformamide using an assessment factor (AF) of 1000. In the absence of marine data this was adopted as a marine low reliability trigger value. These figures should only be used as indicative interim working levels.

References

ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.