Succinic anhydride

Dermal absorption

Administrative data

Endpoint:

dermal absorption

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

Not specified

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

data from handbook or collection of data

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Cyclic acid anhydrides: Human health aspects

Author:

World Health Organization (WHO)

Year:

2009

Bibliographic source:

Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 75

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

No method details - three human volunteers had hexahydrophthalic anhydride applied to the dorsum for 48 hours. No details of occlusion are provided. The material was dispersed in petrolatum. Percutaneous absorption was estimated from urinary excretion measurements

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride

EC Number:

201-604-9

EC Name:

Cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride

Cas Number:

85-42-7

Molecular formula:

C8H10O3

IUPAC Name:

3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-2-benzofuran-1,3-dione

Details on test material:

No details available

Specific details on test material used for the study:

The CICAD data are presented for a variety of cyclic acid anhydrides. Succinic anhydride is part of the general group addressed although studies with succcinic anhydride are not specifically included. Read across from group information is considered appropriate for members of the acid anhydride family, given the close structural similarities and physico-chemical similarities.

Radiolabelling:

no

Test animals

Species:

human

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

No information - three volunteers exposed for 48 hours but no further details on experimental conditions

Administration / exposure

Type of coverage:

not specified

Vehicle:

petrolatum

Duration of exposure:

48 hours

Doses:

Not specified

No. of animals per group:

Three human volunteers

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

Hexahydrophthalic anhydride was applied to the dorsal skin of three human volunteers for 48 hours. Urine was collected from the volunteers for 72 hours and analyzed for the hydrolysis product, hexahydrophthalic acid.

Details on in vitro test system (if applicable):

Not applicable

Results and discussion

Signs and symptoms of toxicity:

not specified

Dermal irritation:

yes

Remarks:

Slight erythema noted for subject with highest excretion, suggesting inflamed skin allowed greater penetration

Absorption in different matrices:

The excreted amounts of hexahydrophthalic acid were between 1.4% and 4.5%, 0.2% and 1.3%, and 0% and 0.4% of the total applied dose for the three subjects, respectively.

Total recovery:

No details

Conversion factor human vs. animal skin:

Insufficient information to estimate a conversion factor

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

This review supports the conclusion that hexahydrophthalic anhydride is minimally absorbed following dermal exposure. Cyclic anhydrides share structural and physicochemical properties such that toxicokinetic data on hexahydrophthalic anhydride can be used for read-across to succinic anhydride. The hydrolysis product of succinic anhydride is succinic acid, an endogenous substance and food ingredient, that is expected to show minimal absorption by the dermal route. A separate percutaneous absorption study on succinic anhydride is not proposed and cannot be justified based upon animal welfare considerations.

Executive summary:

The percutaneous absorption of hexahydrophthalic anhydride was very low following application to the skin of three human volunteers. Cyclic anhydrides, such as hexahydrophthalic acid, are readily hydrolyzed to the corresponding dicarboxylic acids and the excreted amounts of hexahydrophthalic acid in the three volunteers were between 0% and 4.5% of the total applied dose. The subject with the highest excretion showed mild skin effects which suggested that inflamed skin may permit higher dermal absorption.

Cyclic anhydrides share structural and physicochemical properties such that toxicokinetic data on hexahydrophthalic anhydride can be used to read-across to succinic anhydride. The hydrolysis product of succinic anhydride is succinic acid, an endogenous substance and food ingredient, that is expected to show minimal absorption by the dermal route. A separate percutaneous absorption study on succinic anhydride is not proposed and cannot be justified based upon animal welfare considerations.