Chloroform

Acute Toxicity: inhalation

Administrative data

Endpoint:

acute toxicity: inhalation

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

key study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

test procedure in accordance with national standard methods with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Détermination de la concentration léthale50 des principaux hydrocarbures aliphatiques chlorés chez le rat

Author:

Bonnet P, Francin JP, Gradiski D, Raoul G, Zissu D

Year:

1980

Bibliographic source:

Archives des maladies professionnelles, de médecine du travail et de Sécurité Sociale 41(6-7), 317-321

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Male rats received whole-body exposure to chloroform vapours for 6 hours and were observed for 14 days subsequently.

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

traditional method

Limit test:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Chloroform

EC Number:

200-663-8

EC Name:

Chloroform

Cas Number:

67-66-3

Molecular formula:

CHCl3

IUPAC Name:

trichloromethane

Details on test material:

Chloroform of 99 % purity was obtained from Merck.

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

Rats had a body weight between 130 and 200 g.

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Vehicle:

air

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

yes

Remarks:

gas chromatograph

Duration of exposure:

6 h

No. of animals per sex per dose:

12 male rats

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

After exposure animals were observed for 14 days. All animals were subject to necropsy and gross pathology.

Statistics:

The LD50 value and the 95% confidence interval were determined based on the method of Bliss (1938).

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Key result

Sex:

male

Dose descriptor:

LC50

Effect level:

9.17 mg/L air

Based on:

test mat.

95% CL:

> 8.69 - < 9.7

Exp. duration:

6 h

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:

Category 4 based on GHS criteria

Conclusions:

Based on the results of this study, the 6 -h LC50 value determined was 9.17 mg/L. Upon recalculation, the 4 -h LC50 would be 10.5 mg/L.

Executive summary:

The acute inhalation toxicity of chloroform was tested in male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to chloroform vapours during 6 hours followed by an observation period of 14 days; the 6 -h LC50 value determined was 9.17 mg/L. Upon recalculation, the 4 -h LC50 would be 10.5 mg/L.