Potassium cyanide

Developmental toxicity / teratogenicity

Administrative data

Endpoint:

developmental toxicity

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1982

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Well-designed study in a reputable corporate laboratory. Adequate detail is provided to assess the validity of the conclusions.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

study report

Title:

Unnamed

Year:

1983

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

equivalent or similar to guideline

Guideline:

OECD Guideline 414 (Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Study)

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Method: inhalation

GLP compliance:

yes

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile

EC Number:

200-909-4

EC Name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionitrile

Cas Number:

75-86-5

Molecular formula:

C4H7NO

IUPAC Name:

2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile

Details on test material:

IUCLID4 Test substance: as prescribed by 1.1 - 1.4

Test animals

Species:

rat

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: gavage

Vehicle:

not specified

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

not specified

Frequency of treatment:

daily (gd 6 through 15)

Duration of test:

21 days

No. of animals per sex per dose:

25

Control animals:

yes, concurrent vehicle

Details on study design:

Sex: female

Examinations

Statistics:

no data

Results and discussion

Results: maternal animals

Maternal developmental toxicity

Details on maternal toxic effects:

Maternal toxic effects:yes

Details on maternal toxic effects:
Dose selection was made on the basis of marked maternal toxicity observed at higher doses in a range-finding study.
Maternal toxicity was evident by slight reductions in body-weight gain in mid and high exposure groups.

Effect levels (maternal animals)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

1 mg/kg bw/day

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

other: maternal toxicity

Results (fetuses)

Details on embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:

Embryotoxic / teratogenic effects:no effects

Effect levels (fetuses)

Dose descriptor:

NOAEL

Effect level:

10 mg/kg bw/day

Based on:

test mat.

Basis for effect level:

other: teratogenicity

Fetal abnormalities

Abnormalities:

not specified

Overall developmental toxicity

Developmental effects observed:

not specified

Any other information on results incl. tables

Potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide can be considered as a chemical category, along with hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and acetone cyanohydrin (ACH, also known as 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanenitrile), based on structural similarity, similar physico-chemical properties and common breakdown/metabolic products in physical and biological systems. Particular attention is paid to the dissociation constant of HCN. In the vast majority of environmental and physiologic conditions, the cyanide salts will dissolve in water to form hydrogen cyanide. The physico-chemical hazards and toxicity result from the activity of this common proximal toxicant, HCN.An ECETOC Task Force, in the 2007 ECETOC Joint Assessment of Commodity Chemicals ( JACC ) Report No. 53, “Cyanides of Hydrogen, Sodium and Potassium, and Acetone Cyanohydrin (CAS No. 74-90-8, 143-33-9, 151-50-8 and 75-86-5)” supports the development of this chemical category. Hydrogen cyanide (Index No.006-006-00-X) and salts of hydrogen cyanides (Index No.006-007-00-5) are both listed in Annex VI,Table 3.1 of Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, entry 006-007-00-5, and are restricted in comparable ways taking into account physical characteristics. Thus, the assignment of potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide to a chemical category does not result in a less protective regulatory status.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Acetone cyanohydrin, at oral concentrations 0, 1, 3 or 10 mg/kgbw (corresponding to 0, 0.31, 0.92 and 3.06 mg CNˉ/kgbw), was orally administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (25/group) on days 6 to 15 of gestation. Concentrations up to 10 mg ACH/kgbw were not teratogenic in the rat, even in the presence of maternal toxicity.
Hydrogen cyanide (Index No.006-006-00-X) and salts of hydrogen cyanides (Index No.006-007-00-5) are both listed in Annex VI, Table 3.1 of Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008, entry 006-007-00-5, and are restricted in comparable ways taking into account physical characteristics. Thus, the assignment of potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide to a chemical category does not result in a less protective regulatory status.