Carcinogenic and toxicologic effects of inhaled ethylene oxide and propylene oxide in F344 rats.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ackerman LJ ; Burg, Jeanne R. ; Cockrell BY ; Groth DH ; Khan A ; Lewis TR ; Lynch DW ; Moorman WJ
• Description:
  The effects of chronic inhalation exposure to ethylene-oxide (75218) and propylene-oxide (75569) were investigated in rats. Male F344- rats were exposed to 0, 50, or 100 parts per million (ppm) ethylene- oxide or 0, 100, or 300ppm propylene-oxide, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 2 years. Body weights, clinical signs, hematology indices and mortality were followed. Median survival times were: controls, 720 days; ethylene-oxide exposed rats, at 50ppm, 690 days at 100ppm, 653 days; propylene-oxide exposed rats, at 100ppm, 705 days and at 300ppm, 675 days. For all propylene-oxide exposed rats, hemoglobin concentrations were significantly elevated. Rats exposed to ethylene-oxide had a higher incidence of inflammatory lesions of the lungs, nasal cavities, trachea, and internal ear. Their lungs had increased incidences of bronchiectasis, bronchial epithelial hyperplasia, and inflammations. The adrenal cortex showed vacuolation and hyperplasia. Skeletal muscle myopathy was observed in 60 percent of animals exposed to 100ppm ethylene-oxide and 33 percent of animals exposed to 300ppm propylene-oxide. Splenic extramedullary hematopoiesis was increased with both exposures of both agents. Twenty five percent of the 100ppm ethylene-oxide group developed peritoneal mesotheliomas and 6.5 percent developed brain gliomas. Pheochromocytomas were seen in 33 and 25 percent of the 100 and 300ppm propylene-oxide groups, respectively. Approximately 33 percent of all exposed animals developed pituitary adenomas. Mononuclear cell leukemia was seen in 50 percent of rats exposed to 100ppm ethylene-oxide. The authors conclude that 50ppm ethylene- oxide and 100ppm propylene-oxide exposures are toxic. Current federal permissible exposure concentrations need to be reevaluated for both substances. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Carcinogens Ethylenes Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  Alkylating-agents Animal-studies Biological-effects Carcinogenicity Comparative-toxicology Dose-response Fumigants NIOSH-Author Oxides Rodents Toxic-effects

  More +
• ISSN:
  0041-008X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Virginia
• 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:
  69-84
• Volume:
  76
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00141062
• Citation:
  Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1984 Oct; 76(1):69-84
• CAS Registry Number:
  (±)-Propylene oxide (CAS RN 75-56-9) ; Ethylene oxide (CAS RN 75-21-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1985
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c69d8c131116cc3be3ec7cc3987a2d803feac5d5dfaec1e8f1b9844f585b5716e52d7b6dbb90ba3bf492186ee7d92fab840431ce01a109e580ce8367c05a3713
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184757/cdc_184757_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.17 MB ]