Dibutyltin maleate

Immunotoxicity

Description of key information

The following studies have been submitted to address the immunotoxicity endpoint:
Li, A. P., Dahl, A. R. and Hill, J. O. (1982). In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Dibutyltin Dichloride and Dibutylgermanium Dichloride. TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY 64, 482-485.
Penninks, A. H. and Seinen, W. (1982). COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF ALKYLTIN AND ESTERTIN STABILIZERS. Fd Chem. Toxic. Vol. 20. pp. 909 to 916.
Schobel, C. (1991). ZK 22.663: Local dermal tolerance test in rats after a single application and a subsequent rinsing. Report no.: IC 1/91. Report date: 1991-06-13.
Seinen, W. and Penninks, A. (1979). IMMUNE SUPPRESSION AS A CONSEQUENCE OF A SELECTIVE CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF CERTAIN ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS ON THYMUS AND THYMUS-DEPENDENT LYMPHOCYTES. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. USA. 320:499-517.
Seinen, W., Vos, J. G., van Kreiken, R., Penniks, A., Brands, R. and Hooykaas, H. (1977). Toxicity of Organotin Compounds. III. Suppression of Thymus-Dependent Immunity in Rats by Di-n-Butyltindichloride and Di-n-Octyltindichloride. TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY 42, 213-224.
Snoeij, N. J., Penninks, A. H. and Seinen, W. (1988). Dibutyltin and tributyltin compounds induce thymus atrophy in rats due to a selective action on thymic lymphoblasts. Int. J. Immunopharmac. 10: 891-899.
DeWitt et al (2005), Immune Responses in Sprague–Dawley Rats Exposed to Dibutyltin Dichloride in Drinking Water as Adults, Journal of Immunotoxicology, 2:151–160, 2005.
DeWitt et al (2006), Developmental Exposure to 1.0 or 2.5 mg/kg of Dibutyltin Dichloride Does Not Impair Immune Function in Sprague-Dawley Rats, Journal of Immunotoxicology, 3:245–252, 2006.
Seinen et al (1977), Toxicity of Organotin Compounds. II. Comparative in Vivo and in Vitro Studies with Various Organotin and Organolead Compounds in Different Animal Species with Special Emphasis on Lymphocyte Cytotoxicity, TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY 42, 197-212.

Additional information

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Option of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on request from the Commission to assess the risks to consumers associated with exposure to organotins in foodstuffs (2004), specific experimental data for Dibutyltin (chloride) indicate immunotoxic effects at doses as low as 1 mg/kg bw in preweaning exposure studies. This value is then apparently disregarded, and a LOAEL for DBT is cited as 2.5 mg/kg bw/day. The EFSA Option also indicate read-across from tributyltin to dibutyltin to be appropriate since the mechanism of action is similar and the immunotoxicity of TBT may be attributable to DBT as a metabolite; an immunotoxicity NOAEL for TBT is identified at 0.025 mg/kg bw/day by repeated dietary exposure. It must be noted that dose spacing in the critical study of TBTO (Wester et al 1988, 1990) is large and the NOAEL correspondingly imprecise. Further, if toxicity of TBTO is even in part due to formation of DBT as the ultimate toxicant, then a NOAEL based on an appropriate study of DBTC is the preferable endpoint.

Modern and robust studies of the immunotoxicity of DBTC in adult rats and in pups exposed during gestation and lactation (DeWitt et al, 2005, 2006) found no repeatable effect on immune function at doses up to 2.5 mg/kg bw/day, although at this dose an effect on bodyweight was reported (possibly due to palatability); 1 mg/kg bw/day was a NOAEL. In a series of appropriate supportive studies of DBTC (Gaunt et al., 1968; Pennincks et al., 1982; Osterburg, 1993; Waalkens et al., 2003) dose levels of approximately 2-2.5 mg/kg/bw/day are an inconsistent NOAEL/LEL; but no effects are detected at 1 mg/kg bw/day or below. The EFSA Option of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on a request from the Commission to assess the health risks to consumers associated with organotins in foodstuffs (2004), did not include the significant studies by Osterburg (1993), Waalkens (2003), and DeWitt et al (2005, 2006) Use of a NOAEL at 0.3 mg/kg bw/day form Waalkens (2003) for DNELs setting is therefore a robust and precautionary endpoint.

Justification for classification or non-classification

The substance is classified and labelled with T; R48/25 due to toxicity to the immune system at doses below 50 ppm in diet.Further on, the substance is assigned to STOT (Specific Target Organ Toxicant) - single exposure Category 1 based on results obtained in Snoeij, N.J., Penninks, A.H. and Seinen, W. (1988) which indicate 50% reduction of thymus weight following a single oral dose of 18 mg/kg bw. Signal word: Danger; Hazard statement: H370 Causes damage to thymus.