Subchronic 90 day toxicity of dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acid in rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either dichloroacetic acid (DCA) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in the drinking water at levels of 0, 50, 500 and 5000 ppm for a period of 90 days to determine the toxicities associated with subchronic exposure. All animals were sacrificed and examined for gross and histopathologic lesions, serochemical changes, immune dysfunction, hepatic peroxisomal and mixed function oxidase enzyme induction and organ-body weight changes. Animals treated with DCA had decreased body weight gains (500 and 5000 ppm) and decreased total serum protein (all doses). Rats given either TCA (5000 ppm) or DCA (500 or 5000 ppm) had increased liver and kidney organ to body weight ratios. Rats offered DCA had significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase (500 and 5000 ppm) and alanine-amino transferase (5000 ppm). No consistent immunotoxicity was observed in animals exposed to either compound. Rats treated with 5000 ppm TCA or DCA had significantly increased hepatic peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity. These data, along with histopathologic changes, suggest that TCA and DCA produce substantial systemic organ toxicity to the liver and kidney during a 90-day subchronic exposure, although only at doses greater than those expected to occur in the environment.