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Toxicological information

Repeated dose toxicity: inhalation

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Administrative data

Endpoint:
short-term repeated dose toxicity: inhalation
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Reliability:
1 (reliable without restriction)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: The study was carried out in accordance with the respective OECD Guidelines and under GLP conditions. No deviations were reported that were likely to negatively influence the outcomes of the study.

Data source

Reference
Reference Type:
study report
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
2002

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
according to guideline
Guideline:
OECD Guideline 412 (Subacute Inhalation Toxicity: 28-Day Study)
Deviations:
no
GLP compliance:
yes
Limit test:
no

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Hydrogen peroxide
EC Number:
231-765-0
EC Name:
Hydrogen peroxide
Cas Number:
7722-84-1
Molecular formula:
H2O2
IUPAC Name:
hydrogen peroxide
Details on test material:
Hydrogen peroxide, 50% w/w

Test animals

Species:
rat
Strain:
other: Alpk:ApfSD (Wistar derived)
Sex:
male/female
Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:
TEST ANIMALS
- Source: Rodent Breeding Unit, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, UK
- Age at study initiation: 6 to 7 weeks
- Weight at study initiation: for groups 1-4, 242.5 +/- 9.6 g (males), 190.2 +/- 12.3 g (females); four groups five and six, 300.3 +/- 9.1 g (males), 233.8 +/- 11.0 g (females)
- Fasting period before study:
- Housing: five rats, sexes separately, in stainless steel cages
- Diet (e.g. ad libitum): CT1 supplied by Special Diet Services Ltd, Witham, UK ad libitum
- Water (e.g. ad libitum): mains water ad libitum
- Acclimation period: 5 days


ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
- Temperature (°C): 22 +/- 3
- Humidity (%): 30-70
- Air changes (per hr): at least 15
- Photoperiod (hrs dark / hrs light): 12 hours light/12 hours darkness

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:
inhalation
Type of inhalation exposure:
whole body
Vehicle:
other: unchanged (no vehicle)
Remarks on MMAD:
MMAD / GSD: not applicable
Details on inhalation exposure:
Test atmospheres were generated using a glass concentric-jet atomiser to generate fine aerosol directly into a 3-necked quick-fit round bttomed flask, heated by placing it in a waterbath at 80 °C. The test substance was pumped to the atomiser using a peristaltic pump, typically operating at a pump speed giving a flow rate of test material of approximately 1 mL/min. Clean, dry air was passed through the atomiser at nominal flow rates of 2, 10 or 15 L/minute for groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively, and (together with heated generation air at 25 L/minute) carried the atmosphere to the lng term exposure chamber. Diluting air was added directly to the exposure chambers at a flow rate of 500-600 L/min. Air flows were monitored continuously using variable area flowmeters.
Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
yes
Details on analytical verification of doses or concentrations:
Test atmospheres were sampled by passing the atmosphere, at a fixed flow rate for a known time period, through a known volume of de-ionised water in a midget impinger. The resulting solutions were analysed by flow injection analysis using a LC Module 1 (Waters) separations module at a flow rate of 5 L/minute, a dilute Cobalt-bicarbonate reagent mobile phase, and a 486 series UV detector (Waters) at 260 nm. The limit of detection of the method was assessed to be approximately 0.1 mg/mL corresponding to an atmosphere concentration of 0.1 ppm.
Duration of treatment / exposure:
28 days
Frequency of treatment:
6 hours daily, 5 days per week
Doses / concentrations
Remarks:
Doses / Concentrations:
2.03, 10.3, 23.3, 58.1/27.3 ppm (2.88, 14.6, 33, 82.4/38.7 mg/m3)
Basis:
analytical conc.
No. of animals per sex per dose:
five males, five females
Control animals:
yes
Details on study design:
Another group (group 4 of the main test) of animals was exposed to 60 ppm at day 1, 4, 5 and 6. Thereafter, the exposure level was reduced to 30 ppm at day 11 and 12. The treatment was terminated on day 13 and animals were sacrificed due to toxicity. The group treated with a target concentration of 25 ppm was introduced later in the test after termination of the test group 4 (60/30 ppm).

Examinations

Observations and examinations performed and frequency:
Clinical observations: prior to the start of the study, frequently during exposure and at the end of the 6 hour exposure duration, daily before exposure
Body weight: before study initiation, weekly during exposure study
Food consumption: continuously throughout the study
Clinical pathology (haematology, blood clinical chemistry): at termination of study
Sacrifice and pathology:
Animals were killed by an overdose of halothane Ph. Eur. vapour followed by exsanguination. Weights of adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, lungs and testes were measured. All animals were subjected to full examination post mortem including external and careful internal examination of all organs and structures. Slides were prepared from various organs and tissues. All submitted tissues from control and high exposure animals together with the lungs, liver, kidney, trachea, nasal passages and abnormal tissues from the low and mid exposure groups were routinely processed, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned at 5 micrometre and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Examination by light microscopy was performed for these tissues.
Statistics:
Body weights were considered by analysis of covariance on initial body weight, separately for males and females. Haematology and blood clinical chemistry were consdired by analysis of variance. Male and female data were analysed together. Organ weights were considered by analysis of variance and of covariance on final body weight, separately for males and females. Analyses were carried separately for main study and additional group 5 and 6 animals. Unbiased estimates of differences from control were provided by the difference between each treatment group least-squares mean and the control group least-squares mean. Differences from control were tested statistically by comparing each treatment group least-squares mean with the contol group least squares mean using a two-sided Student's t-test, based on the error mean square in the analysis.

Results and discussion

Results of examinations

Clinical signs:
effects observed, treatment-related
Mortality:
mortality observed, treatment-related
Body weight and weight changes:
effects observed, treatment-related
Food consumption and compound intake (if feeding study):
effects observed, treatment-related
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:
effects observed, treatment-related
Urinalysis findings:
not examined
Behaviour (functional findings):
not examined
Organ weight findings including organ / body weight ratios:
effects observed, treatment-related
Gross pathological findings:
effects observed, treatment-related
Histopathological findings: non-neoplastic:
effects observed, treatment-related
Histopathological findings: neoplastic:
no effects observed
Details on results:
Clinical signs were seen in animals exposed to 10.3 ppm and greater and in general the number and severity of these clinical signs increased with repeated exposure at low doses, whereas the onset of clinical signs was earlier at higher doses but also a certain degree of recovery from symptoms was seen at higher doses. Signs included reddening of the nose, stains around the snout, stains around the mouth, signs of salivation, signs of respiratory tract irritation, irregular breathing, signs of urinary incontinence, piloerection, chomodacryorrhoea, hunched posture, increased response to touch, thin appearance. Some evidence of recovery from these symptoms was seen during periods of non-exposure. Body weights gradually decreased in males exposed to 23.3 ppm and in males and females exposed to 58.1/27.3 ppm. Food consumption was affected in males exposed to 23.3 ppm and in males and females exposed to 58.1/27.3 ppm. Minor effects on haematology were seen at exposure levels of 23.3 ppm, which were considered as not biologically and toxicologically significant. In both sexes there was a minimal decrease in albumin and total protein levels at 23.3 ppm exposure. Kidney weight was increased in females exposed to 23.3 ppm and lung/body weight ratio in males and kidney/body weight ratios in females exposed to 23.3 ppm was increased. Treatment-related findings were seen in the nasal and oral cavities of rats at the necropsy following termination of the study. Staining of the nares was seen at 10 ppm and above and mouth staining was at 25 ppm. In both instances, no dose-response could be found. Increased incidences of findings in exposed animals over controls during the microscopic examinations were seen in the nasal cavity, larynx and lung including necrosis, inflammation and perivascular neutrophil infiltration.

Effect levels

open allclose all
Dose descriptor:
NOAEL
Effect level:
2.9 mg/m³ air
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: all endpoints
Dose descriptor:
LOAEL
Effect level:
14.6 mg/m³ air
Based on:
test mat.
Sex:
male/female
Basis for effect level:
other: all endpoints

Target system / organ toxicity

Critical effects observed:
not specified

Any other information on results incl. tables

Table 1: Results of the clinical chemistry haematology

Parameter changed

Control group 1 (0 ppm)

2 ppm

10 ppm

Control group 2 (0 ppm)A

25 ppmA

Males

 

 

 

 

 

Mean cell volume (fl)

56.1

56.2

56.0

55.3

55.3*

Mean cell haemoglobin (pg)

19.4

19.6

19.4

19.0

18.8*

Albumin (g/L)

33.6

32.8

33.1

32.7

31.3*

Total protein (g/L)

66.

64.9

65.1

63.3

57.8**

Females

 

 

 

 

 

Red blood cell count (10e12/L)

7.56

7.72

7.42

7.77

7.43*

Albumin (g/L)

33.2

33.0

32.8

32.6

31.3*

Total protein (g/L)

61.1

61.3

60.2

61.4

57.0*

Glucose (mmol/L)

12.4

13.7

12.9

12.8

9.6**

A) 25 ppm group is compared to control group 2 since animals were treated simultaneously. *p <0.05, **p <0.01 (student's t-test, two-sided)

Table 2: Microscopic findings

Target organs

Control (0 ppm)

2 ppm

10 ppm

25 ppm

Nasal cavity

No finding

No finding

Necrosis and inflammation (sqamous epithelium, anterior region of nasal cavity)

3/5 males, 2/5 females

Rhinitis

1/5 males

Necrosis and inflammation (sqamous epithelium, anterior regions of nasal cavity)

4/5 males, 4/5 females

Larynx

No finding

Inflammation

1/5 females

No finding

Mononuclear cell infiltration

2/5 females

Epithelia erosion

1/5 males

Lung

No finding

Increase in perivascular neurophil infiltration

1/5 males

Haemorrhage

2/5 males, 1/5 females

Increase in perivascular neurophil infiltration

1/5 males

Haemorrhage

2/5 males

Increase in perivascular neurophil infiltration

1/5 males, 2/5 females

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:
Whole body exposure to hydrogen peroxide vapour for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for a period of 28 days at concentrations of 2.03, 10.3 or 23.3 ppm resulted in signs of general toxicity in males exposed to 23.3 ppm and were consistent with the material being a respiratory tract irritant. Treatment-related microscopic changes were seen in the nasal cavity in animals exposed to 10.3 ppm or above. The no observed effect level (NOEL) for the study was considered to be 2.03 ppm hydrogen peroxide.
Executive summary:

A repeated dose inhalation toxicity study was performed with male and female Alpk:APfSD (Wistar-derived) rats exposed to hydrogen peroxide vapours for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for a period of 28 days at concentrations of 2.03, 10.3 or 23.3 ppm. The study was carried out under GLP conditions and in accordance with OECD Guideline No. 412. Treatment of a group exposed initially to 58.1 ppm and subsequently to 27.3 ppm was terminated before schedule due to the toxicity of the test material. Clinical observations were consistent with the material being a respiratory tract irritant (reddened noses, stains around the nose, abnormal respiratory noise) and in general the time to onset, incidence and severity of clinical signs increased with exposure concentration and repeated exposure. Males exposed to 23.3 ppm hydrogen peroxide showed lower food consumption and body weight gain compared to controls. Minimal changes in albumin and total protein blood levels were found in males and females exposed to 23.3 ppm. Histopathological, treatment-related changes were seen in the anterior-most regions of the nasal cavity lined with squamous epithelium, where minimal to slight necrosis (with associated inflammation) and rhinitis were seen in animals exposed to 10.3 and 23.3 ppm hydrogen peroxide. Inflammation and epithelial erosion in the larynx and increased perivascular neutrophil infiltration in the lungs were considered unlikely to be related to treatment in the absence of a clear dose response relationship. The no observed effect level (NOEL) for the study was considered to be 2.03 ppm hydrogen peroxide (corresponding to 2.9 mg/m3).