Is it safe to apply the additivity rule to evaluating health effects of exposure to Farbasol?

Abstract

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.

• Authors: Z Korsak, R Swiercz, K Rydzyński
• Journal: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health (Int J Occup Med Environ Health) Vol. 12 Issue 1 Pg. 85-92 ( 1999) ISSN: 1232-1087 [Print] Poland
• PMID: 10360088 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzene Derivatives
• Solvents
• farbasol

Topics

• Animals
• Benzene Derivatives (pharmacology)
• Central Nervous System (drug effects)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Occupational Exposure
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Regression Analysis
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Solvents (pharmacology)