Distribution of blood and tissue concentrations in rats by inhalation exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane

Abstract

The compound 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. The primary route of exposure of humans to DCE is inhalation of its vapor. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the distribution and accumulation of DCE in the blood, lung, liver, brain, kidney and abdominal fat of rats during and after inhalation exposure. Male rats were exposed to 160 ppm (v/v) of DCE vapor for 360 min and the concentrations of DCE in the blood and tissues during the inhalation exposure period and after the end of the exposure period were measured. DCE accumulation in the abdominal fat was much greater than that in the blood and other tissues. The information we obtained in this study is useful basic data pertaining to the pharmacokinetics of DCE and DCE-mediated carcinogenicity: Our results suggest that one of the factors involved in the induction of peritoneal tumors in rats exposed to DCE vapor by inhalation is DCE accumulation in the abdominal fat.

Keywords :

• 1
• 2-dichloroethane
• blood concentration
• tissue concentrations
• inhalation exposure

Acknowledgment

We wish to express our thanks to Professor David B. Alexander, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University and Mr. Yasutomo Sasaki, Japan Bioassay Research Center, Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association, for proofreading this manuscript.