Several important components of photocurable coatings were studied for dermal tumorigenic activity by repeated application to the skin of mice. The substances tested were
2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and methylcarbamoyloxyethyl
acrylate (MCEA) (monomers); neopentyl glycol diacrylate (
NPGDA), esterdiol-204-diacrylate (
EDDA), and
pentaerythritol tri(tetra)
acrylate (
PETA) (cross-linkers); and three acrylated
urethane oligomers. For each bioassay, 40 C3H/HeJ male mice were dosed 3 times weekly on the dorsal skin for their lifetime with the highest dose of the test agent that caused no local irritation or reduction in
body weight gain. Two negative control groups received
acetone (diluent) only. A positive control group received 0.2%
methylcholanthrene (MC).
NPGDA and EHA had significant tumorigenic activity with
tumor yields of eight and six
tumor-bearing mice (three and two
malignancies), respectively. The MC group had 34 mice with
carcinomas and 1 additional mouse with a
papilloma. MCEA had no dermal tumorigenic activity but resulted in early mortality. No skin
tumors in the treatment area were observed in the other groups. Additional studies will be necessary to elucidate possible relationships between structure and tumorigenic activity for the
acrylates.