Inhalation of tetranitromethane causes nasal passage irritation and pulmonary carcinogenesis in rodents.
Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed for 2 years to vapors of tetranitromethane at concentrations below (0.5 ppm) and slightly above (2 or 5 ppm) the current U.S. recommended occupational exposure limit. Under the conditions of exposure of 6 h/day, 5 days/week, tetranitromethane was found to cause mild irritation and hyperplastic lesions in the nasal passages, but not nasal cavity neoplasms were observed. In contrast, nearly all animals exposed to the higher TNM concentrations, and the majority of animals exposed to the lower concentrations developed alveolar/bronchiolar adenoma or carcinoma; squamous cell neoplasms of the lung also occurred in exposed rats. The extent of the lung tumor response, and the low concentrations of tetranitromethane required for this response, are unprecedented in National Toxicology Program (NTP) studies.
Bucher
J R
JR
National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
Huff
J E
JE
Jokinen
M P
MP
Haseman
J K
JK
Stedham
M
M
Cholakis
J M
JM
D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013774:Tetranitromethane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D013774:Tetranitromethane