The Acute and Subchronic Toxicity in Rats of Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene in Drinking Water

Abstract

Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene was administered either by gavage (acute studies) or in drinking water (subchronic studies) to male and female Sprague-Dawley derived Charles River rats. The acute oral LD₅₀ was 7902 mg/kg for males and 9939 mg/kg for females. Decreased activity, ataxia, and depressed respiration preceded death. In the subchronic study, rats received theoretical daily doses of 500, 1500, and 3000 mg trans-1,2-dichloroethylene/kg body weight/day for 90 consecutive days. The actual daily doses were 402, 1314, and 3114 mg/kg for males and 353, 1257, and 2809 mg/kg for females. There were no compound-related deaths. There were no consistently significant compound-related dose-dependent adverse effects on any of the hematological, serological, or urinary parameters evaluated. There were dose-dependent increases in kidney weights and ratios in treated females. There were no compound-related gross or histological effects. No specific organ site toxicity could be identified in these studies. These data suggest that the toxicity from exposure to trans-1,2-dichloroethylene in drinking water apparently is low and probably does not constitute a serious health hazard.

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