Hafnium tetrachloride

Repeated dose toxicity: oral

Administrative data

Endpoint:

chronic toxicity: oral

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

disregarded due to major methodological deficiencies

Reliability:

3 (not reliable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: documentation not sufficient for a reliable assessment of the chronic toxicity of the substance

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

The toxicologic and pharmacologic effects of hafnium salts

Author:

Haley T.J., Raymond K., Komesu N. and Upham H.C.

Year:

1962

Bibliographic source:

Toxicology and applied pharmacologiy, vol 4: 238-246

Materials and methods

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The chronic toxicity of hafnium chloride was determined by including 0.01, 0.1, and 1 % of the compound in the diet of three groups of CFN rats, over a period of 12 weeks (doses not expressed in mg/kg bw). Each group contained 6 males and 6 females.

GLP compliance:

no

Remarks:

GLP did not exist in 1962

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Hafnium tetrachloride

EC Number:

236-826-5

EC Name:

Hafnium tetrachloride

Cas Number:

13499-05-3

Molecular formula:

Cl4Hf

IUPAC Name:

hafnium tetrachloride

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

other: CFN

Sex:

male/female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

oral: feed

Vehicle:

unchanged (no vehicle)

Duration of treatment / exposure:

12 weeks

Doses / concentrations

Doses / concentrations 1

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
0.01 %
Basis:
nominal in diet

Doses / concentrations 2

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
0.1 %
Basis:
nominal in diet

Doses / concentrations 3

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
1 %
Basis:
nominal in diet

No. of animals per sex per dose:

6

Control animals:

yes

Examinations

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:

The following observations were made: total erythrocytes, total leucocytes, differential cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and body weight. At the conclusion of the period, the following tissues were subjected to histological examination: heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen, adrenal, and small intestine.

Results and discussion

Results of examinations

Clinical signs:

no effects observed

Mortality:

no mortality observed

Body weight and weight changes:

no effects observed

Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):

no effects observed

Food efficiency:

not examined

Water consumption and compound intake (if drinking water study):

not examined

Ophthalmological findings:

not examined

Haematological findings:

no effects observed

Clinical biochemistry findings:

not examined

Urinalysis findings:

not examined

Behaviour (functional findings):

not examined

Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:

not examined

Gross pathological findings:

no effects observed

Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:

effects observed, treatment-related

Histopathological findings: neoplastic:

not specified

Details on results:

Histopathological examination revealed damage only in the liver: perinuclear vacuolization of the parenchymal cells and coarse granularity of the cytoplasm. Both sexes showed this damage in 5/6 animals at 1 %, whereas only 2/6 males and 1/6 females showed this damage at 0.1 % and 0.01 %.

Target system / organ toxicity

Critical effects observed:

not specified

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Executive summary:

The chronic toxicity of hafnium chloride was determined by including 0.01, 0.1, and 1 % of the compound in the diet of three groups of CFN rats, over a period of 12 weeks (doses not expressed in mg/kg bw). Each group contained 6 males and 6 females. The following observations were made: total erythrocytes, total leucocytes, differential cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and body weight. At the conclusion of the period, the following tissues were subjected to histological examination: heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen, adrenal, and small intestine.

No effects on growth or hematological parameters. Histopathological examination revealed damage only in the liver: perinuclear vacuolization of the parenchymal cells and coarse granularity of the cytoplasm. Both sexes showed this damage in 5/6 animals at 1 %, whereas only 2/6 males and 1/6 females showed this damage at 0.1 % and 0.01 %.