Comparative in vitro metabolism of chloroxylenol, chlorophene, and triclosan with rat, mouse, and human hepatic microsomes

Abstract

A number of studies have reported the presence of chlorinated phenols, commonly used as antiseptics, in the environment. Chloroxylenol, chlorophene, and triclosan are three such chemicals believed to have leached into water supplies through the wastewater treatment facilities. Understanding how these compounds are metabolized is important in determining the risks of chemical exposure. In this study, we compared the in vitro metabolism of these three chlorinated phenols with rat, mouse, and human liver microsomes. The structures of the metabolites formed during the microsomal reactions were identical when rat, mouse, and human liver extracts were used, but variations existed in the kinetics of the reactions.

Keywords:

• chlorinated antiseptics
• metabolites
• GC–MS

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr Jim Stanford, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA, for his assistance with the GC–MS. This work was supported by a CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) Faculty Seed Grant to A.T. Kotchevar.