Ammonium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene)sulfonates

Carcinogenicity

Description of key information

The HYDROTOPES Category comprises the following 6 substances:
STS - Sodium toluene 4-sulphonate (CAS 657-84-1, EC 211-522-5)
SXS - Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates (EC 701-037-1)
NH4XS - Ammonium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates (EC 943-024-5)
SCS - Sodium p-cumenesulphonate (CAS 15763-76-5, EC 239-854-6)
KCS - Potassium p-cumenesulphonate (CAS 164524-02-1, EC 629-764-9)
NH4CS - Ammonium p-cumenesulphonate (CAS 680972-33-2, EC 811-484-5) 
In addition CaXS (Calcium Xylenesulphonate, CAS 28088-63-3, EC 248-829-9) was evaluated for complete the assessment despite it is not registered under REACH.

There are two key studies for the hydrotrope category substances, both conducted on Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates. The key studies are 2-year rat and mouse dermal exposure studies conducted under GLP.  Up to 240 mg (rats) and 727 mg (mice)/kg body weight in 50% ethanol were dosed 5 days per week for 104 weeks. There were no treatment related incidences of mononuclear cell leukaemia, neoplasms, or non-neoplastic lesions of the skin and other organs. The increased incidence of epidermal hyperplasia may have been related to exposure to the test substance. The NOAEL for systemic toxicity and carcinogenicity was reported as 240 mg/kg bw/day for rats and 727 mg/kg bw/day for mice. The NOAEL for local effects is considered to be 60 mg/kg bw/day, based on the findings from the rat study.

 

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Carcinogenicity: via oral route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Carcinogenicity: via inhalation route

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no study available

Carcinogenicity: via dermal route

Link to relevant study records

Reference

Reference 1

Endpoint:

carcinogenicity: dermal

Type of information:

other: Read across from another member of the category

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

December 20, 1990 to December 18, 1992

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Justification for type of information:

Protocols and results reviewed and accepted by the National Toxicology Program's Board of Scientific Counselor's Reports Review Subcommittee. USA National Institutes of Health

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 453 (Combined Chronic Toxicity / Carcinogenicity Studies)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

yes

Species:

mouse

Strain:

B6C3F1

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Simonsen Laboratories, Inc (Gilroy, CA)
- Age at study initiation: 7 weeks
- Weight at study initiation: no data
- Fasting period before study: no data
- Housing: individually caged in polycarbonate cages changed once per week and rotated on stainless steel racks once every two weeks. Sani-chip hardwood chips and spun-bonded polyester cage filters.
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): ad libitum
- Water (e.g. ad libitum):ad libitum
- Acclimation period: 14 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 16.7 to 25.6 °C
- Humidity (%): 34 to 69 %
- Air changes (per hr): 10 minimum
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 / 12
IN-LIFE DATES: From: December 20, 1990 To: December 18, 1992

Route of administration:

dermal

Vehicle:

ethanol

Remarks:

use of ethanol increase the probability of skin penetration

Details on exposure:

TEST SITE
- Area of exposure: shaved interscapular skin
- % coverage: no data
- Type of wrap if used: no data
- Time intervals for shavings or clipplings: no data

REMOVAL OF TEST SUBSTANCE
- Washing (if done): no data
- Time after start of exposure: no data

TEST MATERIAL
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): 46 to 128 microliters
- Concentration (if solution): 50% of applied volume. Doses were 0, 182, 364 and 727 mg/kg bw
- Constant volume or concentration used: yes

VEHICLE
- Justification for use and choice of vehicle (if other than water): test material beads up in distilled water
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): in the 46 to 128 microliters
- Concentration (if solution): 50%
- Lot/batch no. (if required): no data
- Purity: no data

USE OF RESTRAINERS FOR PREVENTING INGESTION: no data

Duration of treatment / exposure:

2 years

Frequency of treatment:

5 days per week

Dose / conc.:

0 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Remarks:

males and females, Based on analytical conc.

No. of animals per sex per dose:

50

Statistics:

Kaplan-Meier, logistic regression analysis, life table test, FIsher exact test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, comparison of continuous variables, Dunnett and Williams test, Shirley and Dunn

Conclusions:

Not carcinogenic in mice

Executive summary:

The potential of Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates to cause carcinogenic and chronic effects and to determine dose-response relationships following prolonged and repeated exposure on mice was assessed following official guideline OECD 453, Combined Chronic Toxicity/Carcinogenicity Studies. Under the conditions of these 2-year dermal studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates in male or female B6C3F1 mice administered with 182, 364, or 727 mg/kg bw. Increased incidences of epidermal hyperplasia in male mice may have been related to exposure to Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates.

Reference 2

Endpoint:

carcinogenicity: dermal

Type of information:

other: Read across from another member of the category

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

November 29, 1990 to November 20, 1992

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Justification for type of information:

Protocols and results reviewed and accepted by the National Toxicology Program's board of Scientific Counselor's Technical Reports Review Subcommittee, USA National Institutes of Health

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 453 (Combined Chronic Toxicity / Carcinogenicity Studies)

Deviations:

not specified

GLP compliance:

yes

Species:

rat

Strain:

Fischer 344

Sex:

male/female

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Simonsen Laboratories, Inc (Gilroy, CA)
- Age at study initiation: 7 weeks
- Weight at study initiation: no data
- Fasting period before study: no data
- Housing: housed individually in polycarbonate cages; changed every week and stainless steel racks rotated every 2 weeks. Heat-treated hardwood chips and spun-bonded polyester cage filters
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): ad libitum
- Water (e.g. ad libitum):ad libitum
- Acclimation period: 14 days

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 20-24.4
- Humidity (%): 35-70
- Air changes (per hr): 10 per day minimum
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 / 12
IN-LIFE DATES: From: November 29, 1990 To: November 20, 1992

Route of administration:

dermal

Vehicle:

ethanol

Remarks:

use of ethanol increase the probability of skin penetration

Details on exposure:

TEST SITE
- Area of exposure: shaved interscapular skin
- % coverage: no data
- Type of wrap if used: no data
- Time intervals for shavings or clipplings: no data

REMOVAL OF TEST SUBSTANCE
- Washing (if done): no data
- Time after start of exposure: no data

TEST MATERIAL
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): 85 to 357 microliters (volume adjusted for weights during the study)
- Concentration (if solution): 50% of applied volume; doses were 0, 60, 120 and 240 mg/kg bw
- Constant volume or concentration used: yes

VEHICLE- Justification for use and choice of vehicle (if other than water): beading of test substance in ethanol
- Amount(s) applied (volume or weight with unit): as part of the 85-357 microliters
- Concentration (if solution): 50%
- Lot/batch no. (if required): no data
- Purity: no data

USE OF RESTRAINERS FOR PREVENTING INGESTION: no data

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

yes

Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

HPLC at the beginning of the study and then every 7 to 10 weeks

Duration of treatment / exposure:

2 years

Frequency of treatment:

5 days per week

Post exposure period:

no data

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:0, 60, 120 and 240 mg/kg bwBasis:analytical conc.

No. of animals per sex per dose:

50

Control animals:

yes, concurrent no treatment

Details on study design:

- Dose selection rationale: based on 17 day and 14 week range finding studies
- Rationale for animal assignment: random

50 male and 50 female F344/N rats (at 6 weeks old) were administered dermal applications of 0, 60, 120 or 240 mg sodium xylenefulfonate/kg body weight in 50% ethanol.
Doses were applied 5 days per week for 104 weeks to the clipped interscapular skin at volumes of 85 to 357 microliters.
Volumes were adjusted for the weights of the animals throughout the study. Animals were housed individually and fed and given water ad libitum. Cages were changed weekly and racks were rotated every 2 weeks. All animals were observed twice daily and clinical findings were recorded monthly. Body weights were recorded weekly for 13 weeks, then monthly thereafter. All animals were necropsied and a complete histopathological examination was performed. All organs and tissues including skin were examined for grossly visible lesions. Major tissues were examined microscopically and slides were evaluated by an independent quality laboratory in addition to the study laboratory pathologist.

Positive control:

no data

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:

CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: twice daily
- Cage side observations checked in table were not included.

DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS:
Yes- Time schedule: monthly

DERMAL IRRITATION (if dermal study): Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: monthly

BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: weekly through week 13, monthly thereafter

FOOD CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if feeding study):
- Food consumption for each animal determined and mean daily diet consumption calculated as g food/kg body weight/day: No data
- Compound intake calculated as time-weighted averages from the consumption and body weight gain data: No data

FOOD EFFICIENCY:
- Body weight gain in kg/food consumption in kg per unit time X 100 calculated as time-weighted averages from the consumption and body weight gain data: No data
WATER CONSUMPTION AND COMPOUND INTAKE (if drinking water study): Not a drinking water study

OPHTHALMOSCOPIC EXAMINATION: No data

HAEMATOLOGY: No data

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY: No data

URINALYSIS: No data

NEUROBEHAVIOURAL EXAMINATION: No data

Sacrifice and pathology:

GROSS PATHOLOGY: Yes
HISTOPATHOLOGY: Yes

Complete histopathologic examinations were performed on all control, on all 240 mg/kg rats, and on all animals that died early.
In these animals, in addition to gross lesions, tissue masses, and associated lymph nodes, the tissues examined included: adrenal gland, bone and marrow, brain, clitoral gland, esophagus, gallbladder (mice), heart, kidney, large intestine (cecum, colon and rectum), small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), liver, lung, lymph nodes (mandibular and mesenteric), mammary gland, nose, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid gland, pituitary gland, preputial gland, prostate gland, salivary gland, spleen, stomach (forestomach and glandular stomach), testis with epididymis and seminal vesicle, thymus, thyroid gland, trachea, urinary bladder, and uterus. In 60 and 120 mg/kg rats tissues examined microscopically included skin from the site of application and control skin. Additional review was made of the liver and spleen of 60 and 120 mg/kg male rats for mononuclear cell leukemia; the clitoral gland of female rats and the preputial gland of control and high-dose male rats for proliferative lesions.

Statistics:

Kaplan-Meier, logistic regression analysis, life table test, FIsher exact test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, comparison of continuous variables, Dunnett and Williams test, Shirley and Dunn

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

not specified

Food efficiency:

not specified

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not specified

Haematological findings:

not specified

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not specified

Urinalysis findings:

not specified

Behaviour (functional findings):

not specified

Immunological findings:

not specified

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not specified

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Neuropathological findings:

not specified

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

no effects observed

Details on results:

Survival of dosed males and females was similar to that of the control groups. Mean body weights of dosed males and females were similar to those of the controls throughout the study. In male groups, there were no clinical findings considered treatment related. In females, clinical findings were limited to irritation at the site of application in one control female, four 120 mg/kg females, and two 240 mg/kg females.
There were no neoplasms at any site (including the skin) that were considered treatment related. Low incidences of hyperplasia of the epidermis at the site of application occurred in males in the 60, 120, and 240 mg/kg groups. Low incidences of hyperplasia of the epidermis at the site of application also occurred in females in the 120 and 240 mg/kg groups, and they occurred with a significant positive trend. Low incidences of hyperplasia of the sebaceous gland occurred in control and 60 mg/kg males and in control, 120 mg/kg, and 240 mg/kg females.

Relevance of carcinogenic effects / potential:

No evidence of carcinogenic activity.

Key result

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Remarks:

carcinogenicity

Effect level:

>= 240 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

act. ingr.

Sex:

male/female

Basis for effect level:

other: overall effectsclinical signs; mortality; body weight; gross pathology; organ weights; histopathology

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Remarks:

local effects on skin

Effect level:

>= 60 mg/kg bw/day (nominal)

Based on:

act. ingr.

Sex:

female

Basis for effect level:

other: Epidermal hyperplasia

Conclusions:

Test substance was found to be non-carcinogenic in rats

Executive summary:

The potential of Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates to cause carcinogenic and chronic effects and to determine dose-response relationships following prolonged and repeated exposure on mouse was assessed following official guideline OECD 453, Combined Chronic Toxicity/Carcinogenicity Studies. Under the conditions of these 2-year dermal studies, there was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of Sodium (xylenes and 4-ethylbenzene) sulfonates in male or female F344/N rats administered 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg bw.

Increased incidences of epidermal hyperplasia in female rats may have been related to exposure to sodium xylenesulfonate.

Endpoint conclusion

Endpoint conclusion:

no adverse effect observed

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

240 mg/kg bw/day

Study duration:

chronic

Species:

rat

Quality of whole database:

Sufficient to meet requirements.

Justification for classification or non-classification

There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity in two dermal carcinogenicity studies in rats and mice. Therefore there is no justification for hazard classification.

Additional information

50 male and 50 female rats and mice were administered dermal applications of up to 240 mg (rats) and 727 mg (mice) sodium xylenefulfonate/kg body weight in 50% ethanol. Doses were applied 5 days per week for 104 weeks to the clipped interscapular skin at volumes adjusted for the weights of the animals throughout the study. Animals were housed individually and fed and given water ad libitum. Cages were changed weekly and racks were rotated every 2 weeks. All animals were observed twice daily and clinical findings were recorded monthly. Body weights were recorded weekly for 13 weeks, then monthly thereafter. All animals were necropsied and a complete histopathological examination was performed. All organs and tissues including skin were examined for grossly visible lesions. Major tissues were examined microscopically and slides were evaluated by an independent quality laboratory in addition to the study laboratory pathologist. The study was conducted under GLPs from late 1990 to late 1992 at the Battelle Columbus Laboratories. NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Technical Grade Sodium Xylenesulfonate in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice. NTP TR 464, June 1998. The study reliability is Klimisch 1.

Survival of the dosed males and females was similar to that of the control groups and consistent with historical controls.

Mean body weights of dosed males and females were similar to those of the controls throughout and there were no clinical findings considered treatment related in males. In female rats, clinical findings were limited to irritation at the site of application in one control, in 4 at 120 mg/kg bw and in 2 at 240 mg/kg bw. In mice, clinical finding were limited to irritation of the site of application in female controls, and males and females at the 364 and 727 mg/kg bw doses. There were no treatment related incidences of mononuclear cell leukaemia, neoplasms, or non-neoplastic lesions of the skin and other organs. The increased incidence of epidermal hyperplasia may have been related to exposure to the test substance.