Toxicology of haloacetonitriles

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8669183· OSTI ID:5749603

Hayes, J R; Condie, Jr, L W; Borzelleca, J F

Haloacetonitriles are by-products of water chlorination and may form in vivo from the reaction of residual chlorine with endogenous compounds such as amino acids. Dibromoacetonitrile (DBAN) was negative in selected mutagenic assays; dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) was mutagenic in S. typhimurium, but not in S. cerevisiae. Both DBAN and DCAN may be carcinogenic. The studies described were conducted to determined the acute, subacute, and subchronic toxicity of DBAN and DCAN. The acute oral LD/sub 50/ values (mg/kg) in mice and rats are: DBAN, mice: 289 (M), 303 (F); DBAN, rats: 245 (M), 361 (F); DCAN, mice: 270 (M), 279 (F); DCAN, rats: 339 (M), 330 (F). Death was preceded by slowed respiration, depressed activity, prostration, and coma. There were no apparent compound-related gross pathological effects. DBAN (in corn oil) was administered by gavage to male and female CD rats for 14 or 90 days at levels of 23, 45, 90, and 180 mg/kg/day or 6, 23, and 45 mg/kg/day, respectively. No consistent, significant, adverse compound-related effects on any of the parameters evaluated were evident. Possible target organs might be spleen, thymus, and liver. The no-observed adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for 14 days was 45 mg/kg/day and for 90 days was 23 mg/kg/day. DCAN (in corn oil) was administered by gavage to male and female CD rats for 14 or 90 days at levels of 12, 23, 45, and 90 mg/kg/day or 8, 33, and 65 mg/kg/day, respectively. There were not deaths during the 14 day study. No consistent, significant adverse compound-related effects on any of the parameters evaluated were evident. The NOAEL for 14 days was 45 mg/kg/day and for 90 days was 9 mg/kg/day.

• Research Organization: Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
• OSTI ID: 5749603
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 69
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHLORINATION
BY-PRODUCTS
NITRILES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
ACETONITRILE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CORN OIL
DRINKING WATER
LETHAL DOSES
MICE
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RESPIRATION
WATER TREATMENT
WEIGHT
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DOSES
ESTERS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
MAMMALS
OILS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RODENTS
TRIGLYCERIDES
VEGETABLE OILS
VERTEBRATES
WATER
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology