Inhalation developmental toxicology studies: Teratology study of methyl ethyl ketone in mice: Final report

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6277861· OSTI ID:6277861

Mast, T J; Dill, J A; Evanoff, J J; Rommereim, R L; Weigel, R J; Westerberg, R B

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a widely used industrial solvent which results in considerable human exposure. In order to assess the potential for MEK to cause developmental toxicity in rodents, four groups of Swiss (CD-1) mice were exposed to 0, 400, 1000 or 3000 ppM MEK vapors, 7 h/day, 7 dy/wk. Ten virgin females and approx.30 plug-positive females per group were exposed concurrently for 10 consecutive days (6--15 dg for mated mice). Body weights were obtained throughout the study period, and uterine and fetal body weights were obtained at sacrifice on 18 dg. Uterine implants were enumerated and their status recorded. Live fetuses were sexed and examined for gross, visceral, skeletal, and soft-tissue craniofacial defects. Exposure of pregnant mice to these concentrations of MEK did not result in apparent maternal toxicity, although there was a slight, treatment-correlated increase in liver to body weight ratios which was significant for the 3000-ppM group. Mild developmental toxicity was evident at 3000-ppM as a reduction in mean fetal body weight. This reduction was statistically significant for the males only, although the relative decrease in mean fetal body weight was the same for both sexes. 17 refs., 4 figs., 10 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6277861
• Report Number(s): PNL-6833; ON: DE89009563
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
INHALATION
INTAKE
KETONES
LIFE SPAN
LITTER SIZE
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
MICE
MORTALITY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PRENATAL EXPOSURE
PROGRESS REPORT
RODENTS
SEX DEPENDENCE
TERATOGENESIS
TIME DEPENDENCE
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES