Carcinogenicity and co-carcinogenicity studies on propoxur in mouse skin.

Abstract

Propoxur (2-isopropoxyphenyl methylcarbamate) is a widely used broad spectrum carbamate insecticide mainly used to control household pests. Propoxur exposure is reported to inhibit cholinesterase activity in rodents. Apart from other toxic effects, propoxur was found to possess tumorigenic activity in rats after oral administration. Propoxur does not produce tumours in mice or hamsters, or bladder hyperplasia in dogs and monkeys following oral feeding. In this set of investigations the complete carcinogenic, tumour initiating and promoting potential of propoxur was evaluated in male and female Swiss albino mice, since no information was available following dermal exposure of propoxur. The animals were exposed to propoxur through topical painting on the interscapular region at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. The results revealed that propoxur has tumour promoting potential on mouse skin following a two-stage initiation-promotion protocol, but it failed to induce the tumour(s) at a significant level, when tested for tumour initiating and complete carcinogenic property.

• Authors: Y Shukla, S M Baqar, N K Mehrotra
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 36 Issue 12 Pg. 1125-30 (Dec 1998) ISSN: 0278-6915 [Print] England
• PMID: 9862655 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Carcinogens
• Insecticides
• 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene
• Propoxur
• Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Topics

• 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (toxicity)
• Animals
• Carcinogenicity Tests
• Carcinogens (toxicity)
• Drug Interactions
• Female
• Insecticides (toxicity)
• Male
• Mice
• Propoxur (toxicity)
• Skin Neoplasms (chemically induced, pathology)
• Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate (toxicity)