title: The inhalation toxicity of di- and triethanolamine upon repeated exposure.
abstract: Systemic and respiratory tract (RT) toxicity of triethanolamine (TEA) was assessed in a 28-day nose-only inhalation study in Wistar rats (10animals/sex, concentrations: 0, 20, 100, 500mg/m3; 5 days/week, 6h/day). In two nose-only 90-day inhalation studies, with similar exposure design, Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 15, 150, 400mg/m3 diethanolamine (DEA) (DEA Study 1:13animals/sex, general subchronic study) and to 0, 1.5, 3, 8mg/m3 (DEA Study 2:10animals/sex) to specifically investigate respiratory tract toxicity. Only DEA induced systemic toxicity at or above 150mg/m3 (body and organ weight changes, clinical- and histo-pathological changes indicative for mild blood, liver, kidney and testicular effects). Neurotoxicity was not observed for both substances. Exposure to both substances resulted in laryngeal epithelial changes starting from 3mg/m3 for DEA (reversible metaplasia at the base of the epiglottis, inflammation at higher concentrations extending into the trachea) or from 20mg/m3 for TEA (focal inflammation, starting in single male animals). TEA appears to be less potent with respect to systemic toxicity and RT irritancy than DEA. The 90-day no adverse effect concentration" (NOAEC) for changes due to TEA exposure in the respiratory tract was 4.7mg/m3 derived by extrapolation from the NOAEC of the 28day study.
authors.affiliation: BASF SE, Product Safety, Z 470, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gamer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossbacher
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Ravenzwaay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007509:Irritants / Q000633:toxicity; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000523:psychology; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000473:pathology; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D004983:Ethanolamines; D007509:Irritants; C009546:triethanolamine; C020283:diethanolamine