(2H)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:

comparable to guideline study with acceptable restrictions

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Acute and subchronic nhalation toxicity of chloroform in rats and mice

Author:

Kasai T, Nishizawa T, Arito H, Nagano K, Yamamoto S, Matsushima T, Kawamoto T

Year:

2002

Bibliographic source:

Journal of Occupational Health 44, 193-202

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

according to guideline

Guideline:

other: OECD Guidelines No. 412 and 413

GLP compliance:

no

Test type:

fixed concentration procedure

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:

chloroform

Test material form:

liquid

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

Fischer 344/DuCrj

Sex:

male/female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: vapour

Type of inhalation exposure:

whole body

Vehicle:

other: unchanged (no vehicle)

Analytical verification of test atmosphere concentrations:

not specified

Duration of exposure:

6 h

Concentrations:

500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 ppm (2.44, 4.88, 9.76, 19.52, 39.04 g/m3)

No. of animals per sex per dose:

10 females, 10 males

Control animals:

yes

Details on study design:

exposure for 5 days/week, during 2 weeks

Results and discussion

Effect levels

Sex:

male/female

Dose descriptor:

other: NOEC

Effect level:

1 000 ppm

Exp. duration:

14 d

Remarks on result:

other: 6 h/day on 5 days/week

Mortality:

No mortality occurred at concentrations of 500 or 1000 ppm (see Table 1). All mice died on the first or second day of exposure to 2000 ppm or above.

Other findings:

Surviving males and females exposed to 500 and 1000 ppm had vacuolic changes in proximal tubules of the kidneys and in the central area of the liver, in addition to desquamation, atrophy and disarrangement of the olfactory epithelium and oedema of the lamina propria of the nasal cavity.

Any other information on results incl. tables

Table 1: Mortality occurring in the inhalation toxicity study. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of rats dying on specified days.

Exposure concentration	Rats
	Male			Female
0 ppm	0			0
500 ppm	0			0
1000 ppm	0			0
2000 ppm	10	(9/1st)	(1/2nd)	10	(3/1st)	(2/2nd)
4000 ppm	10	(9/1st)	(1/2nd)	10	(9/1st)	(1/2nd)
8000 ppm	10	(10/1st)		10	(10/1st)

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Inhalation exposure of male and female Fisher 344/DuCrj rats to 1000 ppm chloroform vapours during 6 hours/day on 5 days during a period of two weeks did not cause any mortality.

Executive summary:

The inhalation toxicity of chloroform vapours to female and male Fisher 344/DuCrj rats was tested over a period of two weeks with exposures for 6 hours per day on five days per week. No mortality occurred at exposure levels of 500 or 1000 ppm, whereas all test animals died within 48 hours at exposure levels of 2000 ppm and above. Surviving males and females exposed to 500 and 1000 ppm had vacuolic changes in proximal tubules of the kidneys and in the central area of the liver, in addition to desquamation, atrophy and disarrangement of the olfactory epithelium and oedema of the lamina propria of the nasal cavity.