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Toxicological information

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
sub-chronic toxicity: inhalation
Remarks:
other: 2-generation reproduction toxicity study
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: 2-generation reproduction toxicity study as surrogate for a subchronic inhalation toxicity study
Cross-reference
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
reference to same study

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
publication
Title:
A two-generation reproduction study with monochlorobenzene vapor in rats
Author:
Nair RS, Barter JA, Schroeder RE, Knezevich A & Stack CR
Year:
1987
Bibliographic source:
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 9:678-686
Reference Type:
study report
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
1986
Report date:
1986

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
equivalent or similar to guideline
Guideline:
other: OECD Guideline 416 (Two-Generation Reproduction Toxicity Study)
Deviations:
yes
Remarks:
- F1 generation was exposed to test substance 1 week after weaning instead of being exposed at weaning. Sperm parameters oestrus cycle not examined,. only brain, liver and kidney were weighed,reproductive organs (m+f), liver, kidneys microscopically
GLP compliance:
yes
Limit test:
no

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Chlorobenzene
EC Number:
203-628-5
EC Name:
Chlorobenzene
Cas Number:
108-90-7
Molecular formula:
C6H5Cl
IUPAC Name:
chlorobenzene
Details on test material:
- Name of test material (as cited in study report): monochlorobenzene (MCB)
- Physical state: liquid
- Analytical purity: 99.9 %
-Boiling point: 132.1°C

Test animals

Species:
rat
Strain:
Sprague-Dawley
Sex:
male/female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:
inhalation
Type of inhalation exposure:
whole body
Vehicle:
other: preconditioned air
Details on inhalation exposure:
TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Charles River Breeding Laboratories, Portage, MI
- Age at study initiation: (P) 6 wks; (F1) 6 wks
- Weight at study initiation: Males: 129-233 g; Females: 131-162 g
- Housing: all animals were individually housed in suspended stainless stell cages with wire mesh floors except during lactation.
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): Rodent Laboratory Chow/5002 (registered trademark of Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, MO) ad libitum.
- Water (e.g. ad libitum) :ad libitum during non-exposure period.
- Acclimation period: 13 days prior to initiation of exposure during non-exposure period.


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 65-77°F
- Humidity (%): 40-70%
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12hrs dark/12hrs light cycle.

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
yes
Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
MIRAN 1 A organic vapour analyzer was used. At least 4 samples were drawn daily at hourly intervals from each exposure chamber.
Duration of treatment / exposure:
Premating exposure period (males): F0 males: 10 weeks; F1 males: 11 weeks
Premating exposure period (females): F0 females: 10 weeks; F1 females: 11 weeks
Exposure period: F0 and F1 generation: during mating period, d0 - 20 of gestation and d4 - 21 of lactation
Duration of test: until weaning (day 21 of lactation) of F2 pups
Frequency of treatment:
6 hour per day, 7 days per week
Doses / concentrations
Remarks:
Doses / Concentrations:
F0 and F1 generation: 0, 50, 150 or 450 ppm (0, 234, 702 or 2106 mg/m³)
Basis:

No. of animals per sex per dose:
30
Control animals:
yes, concurrent vehicle
Details on study design:
Groups of 30 males and 30 females CD rats, designed as P generation, were exposed to vapor of monochlorobenzene (MCB) at target concentrations of 0 , 50 , 150, or 450 ppm (0, 234, 702 or 2106 mg/m³) for 10 weeks prior to mating and during mating, gestation, and lactation. The progeny of the P generation was designed as the F1 generation and groups of 30 male and 30 female F1 animals were exposed to the same concentration of MCB as the F0 parents. Exposure of F1 animals was initiated 1 week postweaning and lasted 11 weeks prior to the mating and through mating, gestation, and lactation. All F2 pups were observed through weaning at which time they were killed.
Observations made during the study included body weights, food consumption, mating and fertility indices, pup and litter survival indices, and histopathology of selected tissues.
Positive control:
not required

Examinations

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:
CAGE SIDE OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: All adult and weanling animals were observed for mortality and clinical signs twice daily.
DETAILED CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS: Yes
- Time schedule: Detailed physical examinations were performed weekly.
BODY WEIGHT: Yes
- Time schedule for examinations: Male body weights were recorded weekly; female body weights were recorded weekly prior to mating, on days 0, 4, 14, and 20 of gestation, on days 0, 4, 7, 14 and 21 of lactation, and weekly again following lactation.
STANDARDISATION OF LITTERS
- Performed on day 4 postpartum: yes
- If yes, maximum of 8 pups/litter (4/sex/litter as nearly as possible).
PARAMETERS EXAMINED
The following parameters were examined in [F0 / F1/ F2] offspring:
number and sex of pups, stillbirths, live births, postnatal mortality, presence of gross anomalies, weight gain, physical abnormalities.


Sacrifice and pathology:
GROSS EXAMINATION OF DEAD PUPS:
yes, for external and internal abnormalities; possible cause of death was not determined for pups born or found dead.
SACRIFICE (parental animals)
- Male animals: All surviving animals were sacrificed after weaning of the F1 generation.
- Maternal animals: All surviving animals were sacrificed after weaning of the F1 generation.
HISTOPATHOLOGY / ORGAN WEIGHTS
The tissues indicated in Table 1 were prepared for microscopic examination and weighed, respectively.
SACRIFICE (offspring)
- The F1 offspring not selected as parental animals and all F2 offspring were sacrificed at 21 days of age (weaning).
Other examinations:
The mating index for males (ratio of number of males for which mating was confirmed in at least one female to total number of males) and
the mating index for females (ratio of number of females showing evidence of mating to total number of females),
pregnancy rate (ratio of number pregnant to number mated), and
fertlity index for males (ratio of number of males impregnating a female to number mating) were calculated for each of the two matings.
Pup viability index at birth (total number of live pups at day 0 / total number of pups observed (live plus dead pups at day 0 for individual females
Pup survival index at day 4: total number of live pups at day 4 (precull) / total number of live pups at day 0 for individual females
Pup survival index at day 21: total no of live pups at day 21 / total number of live pups at day 4 (postcull) for individual females
Litter survival index: total number of litters with live pups at weaning (day 21) / total number of litters with live pups at birth
Statistics:
Mean body weights, food consumption, organ weights, organ to body weight ratios, gestation lengths, and numbers of offspring were evaluated statistically using the following methods: Bartlett´s test, parametric methods (one-way analysis of variance which was followed by a Dunnett test) , Kruskal- Wallis test, and Dunn´s summed rank test.

Results and discussion

Results of examinations

Details on results:
Parental animals
--Results on reproductive toxicity are reported under 7.81
--Results on general toxicity
ORGAN WEIGHTS (PARENTAL ANIMALS)
Significant increases in mean absolute and/or relative liver weight were observed in the both P+F1 generation in the 150 and 450 ppm groups.
In the low-concentration group, only the relative liver weights of the F1 male rats were elevated.
males
absolute liver weights(g): control, 50, 150, 450 ppm
P: 19.25, 19.03, 21.48(p<=0.01), 21.84(p<=0.01) F1: 18.31, 19.46, 21.71(p<=0.01), 23.35(p<=0.01)
relative liver weights
P: 3.61, 3.60, 4.06(p<=0.01), 4.12(p<=0.01) F1: 3.47, 3.73(p<=0.05), 4.15(p<=0.01), 4.44(p<=0.01)
females
absolute liver weights(g): control, 50, 150, 450 ppm
P 11.45, 12, 12.08, 13.27(p<=0.01) F1: 12.36,12.7, 13.13, 13.95(p<=0.01)
relative liver weights
P: 3.77, 3.89, 3.95(p<=0.05), 4.41(p<=0.01) F1: 4.16, 4.17, 4.36, 4.59 (p<=0.01)

GROSS PATHOLOGY (PARENTAL ANIMALS)
--male, Increase in the incidence of small flaccid testes (50, 150, 450 ppm):
P: 0/30, 1/30, 3/30 F1: 0/30, 1/30, 5/30
--increase in incidence of dilated renal pelvis (control, 50, 150, 450 ppm)
male
P: 1/30, 1/30, 2/30, 4/30 F1: 1/30, 4/30, 6/30, 4/30
female:
P: 5/30, 4/30, 6/30, 5/30 F1: 0/30, 1/30, 2/30, 2/30

HISTOPATHOLOGY (PARENTAL ANIMALS)
Microscopic changes related to treatment were observed in the liver and kidney.

--Hepatocellular hypertrophy- incidence (0, 50, 150, 450 ppm)
male
P: 0/30, 0/30, 5/30, 14/30 F1: 2/30, 0/30, 3/30, 7/30.
All affected male rats showed only minimal to mild hepatocellular hypertrophy.
female
Only one high-concentration level female rat in the P generation showed hepatocellular hypertrophy (data not shown).

--Renal degeneration and inflammatory lesions were limited to the male rats.
The incidence and severity of renal changes were elevated in the mid-and high-concentration groups.
P. 30 males examined from each group: (0, 50, 150, 450 ppm)
bilateral tubular dilation/eosinophilic material : 0, 1, 4, 15
bilateral chronic interstitial nephritis : 1, 2, 7, 9
bilateral foci if regenerative epithelium : 0, 1, 5, 8
P: 30 females were examined of the control and 450 ppm group:
bilateral chronic interstitiial nephritis 0/30; 2/30
F1. 30 males examined from each group: (0, 50, 150, 450 ppm)
bilateral tubular dilation/eosinophilic material : 4, 3, 8, 16
bilateral chronic interstitial nephritis : 0, 1, 6, 11
bilateral foci if regenerative epithelium : 1, 0, 4, 10
F1: 30 females were examined of the control and the 450 ppm group
Unilateral tubular dilatation /eosinophilic material: 0/30; 3/30

VIABILITY (OFFSPRING)
No mortality was observed in the treated and control groups of the F1 generation.
In F2 litters, a slight decrease in pup survival index (days 0-4) was observed in the higest concentration level only.
The majority of the decrease in pup survival index(day 0-4) at the highest concentration level was attributed to two dams; one dam lost 12 of 15 pups during lactation days 0-4, and the other dam lost all 10 pups during the same time period. The authors stated that excluding pup survival data for these 2 litters the day 0-4 pup survival index for the high-concentration group was94.5 % which is similar to control value. they concluded that if this had been a compound-related response, more affected litters would have been expected.
Therefore, pup survival indices for control and treated animals for both litters were considered comparable.
further details . see section 7.8.1

Effect levels

open allclose all
Key result
Dose descriptor:
LOAEC
Remarks:
(systemic toxicity)
Effect level:
ca. 50 ppm
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: see 'Remark'
Dose descriptor:
NOAEC
Remarks:
(fertility)
Effect level:
ca. 450 ppm
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: no adverse effect observed
Key result
Dose descriptor:
NOAEC
Remarks:
(offspring)
Effect level:
ca. 450 ppm
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: no adverse effect observed

Target system / organ toxicity

Critical effects observed:
not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

Groups of 30 males and 30 females CD rats, designed as P generation, were exposed to vapor of monochlorobenzene (MCB) at target concentrations of 0 , 50 , 150, or 450 ppm (0, 234, 702 or 2106 mg/m³) for 10 weeks prior to mating and during mating, gestation, and lactation. The progeny of the P generation was designed as the F1 generation and groups of 30 male and 30 female F1 animals were exposed to the same concentration of MCB as the F0 parents. Exposure of F1 animals was initiated 1 week postweaning and lasted 11 weeks prior to the mating and through mating, gestation, and lactation. All F2 pups were observed through weaning at which time they were killed. Observations made during the study included body weights, food consumption, mating and fertility indices, pup and litter survival indices, and histopathology of selected tissues.

No mortality was observed during the course of this study. No adverse effect of treatment was evident on body weight, food consumption, and physical observation. Overall, reproductive performance, fertility and development of pups were not affected by treatment with monochlorobenzene yielding a NOAEC of 450 ppm (corresponding to 2106 mg/m³) for reproduction and development.

However, post mortem examinations revealed significantly elevated absolute and relative liver weights in F0 and F1 male and female rats at 150 and 450 ppm and at 50 ppm in F1 males accompanied by hepatocellular hypertrophy in F0 and F1 males exposed to 150 and 450 ppm. In addition, renal changes (tubular dilation with eosinophilic material, interstitial nephritis, and foci of regenerative epithelium) were observed mainly in F0 and F1 male rats exposed to 150 and 450 ppm. The significance of reported degeneration of the testicular germinal epithelium in male rats at 450 ppm is unclear because no histopathological correlate is reported. Thus, the LOAEC (systemic toxicity) is considered to be 50 ppm (corresponding to 234 mg/m³).