Teratogenic Potential of Inhaled Dichlorobenzenes in Rats and Rabbits

Teratogenic Potential of Inhaled Dichlorobenzenes in Rats andRabbits. HAYES, W. C., HANLEY, T. R., JR., GUSHOW, T. S., JOHNSON,K. A., AND JOHN, J. A. (1985). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 5, 190–202.Orthodichlorobenzene (ODCB) and paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) wereevaluated for teratogenic potential in rats (ODCB only) andrabbits. Groups of bred rats and inseminated rabbits were exposedto 0, 100, 200, or 400 ppm of ODCB; groups of inseminated rabbitswere exposed to 0, 100, 300, or 800 ppm of PDCB. Animals wereexposed for 6 hr/ day on Days 6 through 15 (rats) or 6 through18 (rabbits) of gestation. Maternal toxicity, as evidenced bya significant decrease in body weight gain, was observed inall groups of ODCB-exposed rats and liver weight was significantlyincreased in the 400-ppm ODCB-exposed group. Slight maternaltoxicity was observed in groups of rabbits exposed to 400 ppmODCB or 800 ppm PDCB as indicated by significantly decreasedbody weight gain during the first 3 days of exposure. Inhalationof up to 400 ppm of ODCB was not teratogenic or fetotoxic inrats, and neither ODCB nor PDCB was teratogenic or fetotoxicin rabbits at exposure levels up to 400 or 800 ppm, respectively.