hexachlorobutadiene - Davidborowski.com

HEXACHLOROBUTADIENE 47
2. HEALTH EFFECTS
lethality may be of concern in humans following exposure to hexachlorobutadiene. The basis for
differential susceptibility between adult and young rats may be due to metabolic differences or
differences in disposition of hexachlorobutadiene. As discussed in Section 2.3.2, hexachlorobutadiene
distributes to body fat. The smaller fraction of fat in the newborn reduces the amount of sequestered
hexachlorobutadiene; therefore, more of the compound may reach target organs (Hook et al. 1983).
Systemic Effects
Respiratory Effects. No studies were located regarding respiratory effects in humans. The only data
available indicating respiratory effects were reports of irritation of the nasal cavity in mice after acute
(15 minutes) inhalation of vapors of hexachlorobutadiene at concentrations of 155 ppm or greater (de
Ceaurriz et al. 1988). The importance of this finding to human health is uncertain.
Cardiovascular Effects. No studies were located regarding cardiovascular effects in humans. In
animals, intermediate-duration or chronic-duration oral exposure to hexachlorobutadiene at dose levels
up to 100 mg/kg/day did not cause treatment-related lesions of the heart in rats or mice (Kociba et al.
1971, 1977a; NTP 1991; Schwetz et al. 1977; Yang et al. 1989). On the other hand, heart weights
decreased significantly in mice at doses of 16.8 mg/kg/day (NTP 1991; Yang et al. 1989) or
65 mg/kg/day or greater in rats (Kociba et al. 1971). There were no histopathological lesions.
Because treatment-related lesions were not observed even at doses higher than those causing other
organ toxicity, cardiovascular toxicity may not be an area of concern in humans following exposure to
hexachlorobutadiene.
Gastrointestinal Effects. No studies were located regarding gastrointestinal effects in humans.
Intermediate-duration (up to 100 mg/kg/day) or chronic-duration oral (20 mg/kg/day) exposure to
hexachlorobutadiene did not cause treatment-related lesions of the gastrointestinal tract in rats (Kociba
et al. 1971, 1977a; Schwetz et al. 1977). Because histological lesions were not observed even at
doses higher than those causing other organ toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity may not be an area of
concern in humans following exposure to hexachlorobutadiene.
Hematological Effects. No studies were located regarding hematological effects in humans. Animal
studies evaluating the hematological effects of hexachlorobutadiene involved mainly intermediate-duration
and chronic-duration oral exposures up to 20 mg/kg/day in rats (Harleman and Seinen 1979;