Butyl ethyl ether

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

weight of evidence

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

study well documented, meets generally accepted scientific principles, acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

The comparative anesthetic activity of the aliphatic ethers

Author:

Marsh D.F., Leake C.D.

Year:

1950

Bibliographic source:

Anesthesiology 11 (4). 455-463

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The aim of the study was to determine the anesthetic activity of all the commonly available ethers of from two to ten total carbon numbers.

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

other: laboratory specific test protocol

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Butyl ethyl ether

EC Number:

211-055-7

EC Name:

Butyl ethyl ether

Cas Number:

628-81-9

Molecular formula:

C6H14O

IUPAC Name:

1-ethoxybutane

Specific details on test material used for the study:

SOURCE OF TEST MATERIAL
- Source: the compound was purchased on the open market

TREATMENT OF TEST MATERIAL PRIOR TO TESTING
- Treatment of test material prior to testing: The test item was purified and freshly distilled just prior to use

Test animals

Species:

mouse

Strain:

not specified

Sex:

not specified

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

White mice, weight 18 to 24 g were used for the experiments.

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: aerosol

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Vehicle:

air

Details on inhalation exposure:

Twenty liter, wide-mouth, Pyrex jars were flushed out with oxygen and stoppered. A measured quantity of anesthetic agent was introduced after volatilization had taken place, four mice were placed in the jar. The jar was rotated by hand once every thirty seconds for fifteen minutes. Using this conditions, the mice have approximately 2.5 L of atmosphere available per kilogram of body weight per minute.

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

not specified

Duration of exposure:

15 min

Concentrations:

not specified

No. of animals per sex per dose:

4

Control animals:

not specified

Details on study design:

Four mice were placed in the jar. The jar was rotated by hand every thirty seconds for fifteen minutes. Any mouse that was unable to right itself for thirty seconds after being rolled on its back was considered anesthetized, and any mouse that developed respiratory collapse and did not recover on exposure to air after the jars was opened was considered dead. No pre-anesthetic medication was used and no attempt was made at reusecitation after removing the mice from the jar. The experiments were repeated until the quantity of ether was found that anesthetize 9 to 11 animals out of a total 20 (AC50), anesthetize 19 of 20 (AC95, 99), kill one (LC1-5), and kill 9 to 11 out of 20 (LC50).

Statistics:

not specified

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Sex:

not specified

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

153 000 mg/m³ air (nominal)

Based on:

test mat.

Exp. duration:

15 min

Mortality:

not specified, but to determine the LC50 9 to 11 out of 20 mice died

Clinical signs:

other: not specified

Body weight:

not specified

Gross pathology:

not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

GHS criteria not met

Conclusions:

In this study, the test item was applied via the inhalation route to four mice for 15 minutes. The LC50 was determined to be 153000 mg/m³.

Executive summary:

In an acute inhalation toxicity study, four white mice were exposed by inhalation route to butyl ethyl ether for 15 min. Any mouse that was unable to right itself for thirty seconds after being rolled on its back was considered anesthetized, and any mouse that developed respiratory collapse and did not recover on exposure to air after the jars was opened was considered dead. The experiments were repeated until the quantity of ether was found that anesthetize 9 to 11 animals out of a total 20 (AC50), anesthetize 19 of 20 (AC95, 99), kill one (LC1-5), and kill 9 to 11 out of 20 (LC50). As reported in the publication, the LC50 was determined to be 153000 mg/m³.