Dermal toxicity studies of technical polychlorinated biphenyls and fractions thereof in rabbits

A significant difference in toxicity between 3 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) preparations was found in a prior study: Clophen A 60 and Phenoclor DP6 showing the highest, Aroclor 1260 the lowest, toxicity (Vos and Koeman, 1970). A subsequent study revealed the presence of tetra- and pentachlorodibenzofuran in Phenoclor and Clophen (Vos et al., 1970). In the present study, application of 118 mg of the 3 PCB's (5 times per wk, for 38 days) on the back skin of rabbits also resulted in differences in toxicity.PCB-induced skin lesions were hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis of the epidermal and follicular epithelium. Histopathology of the liver included centrolobular degeneration, centrolobular liver cell atrophy, focal necrosis, and cytoplasmic hyalin degeneration. Definite hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis of the follicular epithelium of the ear skin were seen after the topical application of fractions of Phenoclor and Clophen eluted from chromatographic columns with 25% diethylether in hexane. The fraction from Aroclor caused a minimal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis of the follicular epithelium. PCB-induced kidney lesions were hydropic degeneration of the convoluted tubules and tubular dilatation with the presence of casts. This dilatation was demonstrated also by a significantly increased relative percentage of the diameter which corresponds to the space of Bowman. Moreover, thymus atrophy and lymphopenia were found. Fecal coproporphyrin and protoporphyrin excretion was increased.