The developmental toxicities of seven
acrylates were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats after inhalation exposure for 6 h/day, during days 6 to 20 of gestation. The exposure concentrations were: for
acrylic acid, 50, 100, 200, or 300 ppm; for
methyl acrylate, 25, 50, or 100 ppm; for
ethyl acrylate, 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm; for
butyl acrylate, 100, 200, or 300 ppm; for ethylhexyl
acrylate, 50, 75, or 100 ppm; for hydroxyethyl
acrylate, 1, 5, or 10 ppm; and for hydroxypropyl
acrylate, 1, 5, or 10 ppm. No treatment-related increases in embryo/fetal mortality or
fetal malformations were observed after exposure to any of these
acrylates. Fetal toxicity, indicated by reduced
fetal body weight, was observed after exposure to 300 ppm
acrylic acid, 100 ppm
methyl acrylate, 200 ppm
ethyl acrylate, and 200 or 300 ppm
butyl acrylate in the presence of overt signs of maternal toxicity. While there was evidence of maternal toxicity, no significant developmental toxic effects were observed after exposure to ethylhexyl
acrylate, hydroxyethyl
acrylate, or hydroxypropyl
acrylate at any concentration. These results indicate that inhaled
acrylic acid,
methyl acrylate,
ethyl acrylate,
butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl
acrylate, hydroxyethyl
acrylate, and hydroxypropyl
acrylate are not selectively toxic to the embryo or fetus.