Is it safe to apply the additivity rule to evaluating health effects of exposure to Farbasol?
Neurotoxic and sensory respiratory irritation effects of Farbasol in male rats and male Balb/C mice were investigated in condition of acute inhalation exposure. Rotarod performance and pain sensitivity behaviour were tested in rats exposed to Farbasol at concentrations of 4665-9622 mg/m3 immediately after termination of a four-hour exposure. The respiratory rate was measured in mice by the whole body plethysmographic method in 6 min duration exposure to various concentrations of Farbasol. Exposure to Farbasol resulted in concentration-dependent disturbances in rotarod performance and decrease in pain sensitivity in rats, and depression of respiratory rate in mice. The EC50 value for rotarod performance behaviour disturbances was 5497 mg/m3 and for pain sensitivity EC50 was 6589 mg/m3. The concentration depressing the respiratory rate to 50% (RD50) was 3139 mg/m3. The comparison of Farbasol EC50 and RD50 values and its individual constituents such as trimethylbenzene isomers and 4-ethyl toluene established in similar experimental conditions indicate their similar toxic effects potency. Application of additivity rule for establishing the MAC value for Farbasol seems to be safe.
Korsak
Z
Z
Department of Toxicity and Carcinogenesis, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódź, Poland.
Swiercz
R
R
Rydzyński
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D012997:Solvents; C077795:farbasol