Reproductive-toxicologic assessment of the epoxides ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and styrene oxide.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hackett PL ; Hardin, Bryan D. ; Niemeier RW ; Sikov MR
• Description:
  Teratogenic effects of inhaling ethylene-oxide (75218), propylene- oxide (75569), butylene-oxide (26249207) and styrene-oxide (96093) were investigated in rats and rabbits. Female Sprague-Dawley-rats were used for studies using ethylene-oxide and propylene-oxide. Wistar-rats and New-Zealand-white-rabbits were used for studies using butylene-oxide and styrene-oxide. Stainless steel dynamic inhalation chambers were used. Chamber concentrations were monitored at approximately 40 minute intervals by gas chromatography. Rabbits and rats were exposed to 270 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) ethylene-oxide, 1189mg/m3 propylene-oxide or 737 and 2950mg/m3 butylene-oxide. Rats were exposed to 492mg/m3 and rabbits were exposed to 74 and 246mg/m3 styrene-oxide. Daily exposures were for 7 hours during different gestational periods. All fetuses were examined for external defects, for visceral defects after dissection, and for skeletal defects. For each of the epoxides the acute toxicity was similar in pregnant and non pregnant rats. Rats exposed to propylene-oxide 7 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 3 weeks before breeding had a significant reduction in the number of corpora lutea. Fewer mated rats were found pregnant following gestational exposure to styrene-oxide suggesting preimplantation loss. In rabbits exposed to styrene-oxide the number of resorptions per litter was increased in a concentration related manner. Fetal body weight and crown rump length were reduced in all ethylene-oxide exposed groups. External, visceral, and skeletal examinations revealed no treatment related effects. Fetal examinations revealed evidence of toxicity with all four epoxides. No overt teratogenic activity was observed for the epoxides although a number of morphological aberrations were detected. Species differences were noted. The authors conclude that prolonged exposure to oxides may reduce female reproductive potential. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Epoxy Compounds Fetus Inhalation Exposure Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Teratogenesis Toxicology Urogenital System

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• Keywords:
  1,2-epoxyethane 1,2-epoxypropane Animal-studies Author Keywords: 1,2-epoxybutane Comparative-toxicology Congenital-effects Epoxides Epoxyethylbenzene Ethyloxirane Fertility Inhalants Inhalation Teratogenesis Methyloxirane NIOSH-Author Oxirane Skeletal-defects Teratogens

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• ISSN:
  0355-3140
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  94-102
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00138845
• Citation:
  Scand J Work Environ Health 1983 Apr; 9(2):94-102
• Contact Point Address:
  Mr BD Hardin, Robert A Taft Laboratories, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
• CAS Registry Number:
  (±)-Propylene oxide (CAS RN 75-56-9) ; Butylene oxide (CAS RN 26249-20-7) ; Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8) ; Styrene oxide (CAS RN 96-09-3)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1983
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:13ee9e2d82afc64c7d383a2ac57f0d3b0fecf10fb1848bd032415003eedcafc62e1fc59b64e273597b36b7f39d0bf34dd257813b621d918ba235f47879706a62
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184726/cdc_184726_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 627.74 KB ]