Placental transfer of halogenated benzenes (pentachloro-, pentachloronitro-, and hexabromo-) in rats

The present study was carried out to provide information on the placental transfer of three organohalogens of environmental concern. Pentachloro-, pentachloronitro-, and hexabromobenzene were administered per os to rats daily on days 6 through 15 of gestation at level of 40, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight. On day 22, the dams were killed and fetuses removed by caesarean section. Maternal brain, heart, kidney, liver, spleen and adipose tissue as well as whole fetus, fetal liver and fetal brain were analyzed for organohalogen residue by GLC. Pentachlorobenzene accumulated in the fetus to a greater extent than hexabromobenzene. In maternal tissues pentachlorobenzene accumulated to the greatest extent in adipose tissue, followed by liver, spleen, brain, heart and kidney. With hexabromobenzene, the greatest accumulation was observed in adipose tissue, followed by spleen, liver, heart, kidney and brain. Pentachloronitrobenzene was not detected (0.05 p.p.m.) in any maternal or fetal tissue.