Trichlorobenzenes: Results of a Thirteen Week Feeding Study in the Rat

ABSTRACT

Trichlorobenzenes (TRCBs) are industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants found in Great Lakes fish. The present study was carried out to provide information on the toxic effects of these chemicals in mammals. Groups of male and female weanling rats were fed diets containing TRCB isomers at 1, 10, 100 or 1000 ppm for 13 weeks. The group of males fed 1000 ppm 1,2,3-TRCB diet had reduced weight gain. No other clinical signs of toxicity were observed. Increased relative liver and kidney weights occurred in the highest dose groups of males for all 3 TRCBs. Of the 3 isomers, only 1,2,4-TRCB at 1000 ppm caused increases in hepatic aminopyrine demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities in male rats, and aminopyrine demethylase in females. Serum biochemical and hematological parameters measured were not affected. All